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Pilgrim Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 28 2007 Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Feb 23 2010 at 9:04pm | IP Logged
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We are in the process of weaning, and it has been 8 years since I weaned a little one. Ds weaned himself, and I don't even remember engorgement, it was so nice and easy. Engorgement is currently giving me more to offer up(after all it is Lent ).
How gradually do you wean? We are mostly at once a day, has sometimes been twice a day. They did not nurse yesterday, and went until bedtime today. I was hoping for some ideas on how to work it to have as little engorgement as possible. Thank you for any replies!
__________________ Wife 2 my bf, g14,b8,g&b6,g4,g3,g1 1/2,4 ^i^
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kingvozzo Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2005 Location: Maine
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Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 12:27am | IP Logged
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Every time i've weaned, it's been unexpected, quick and painful. :-(. Sorry. For various reasons I had to wean without any notice, so I had to grin and bear it. Warm, wet washcloths are very comforting, as well as some Tylenol or advil. Hope that helps.
__________________ Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 12:37am | IP Logged
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mostly my kids wean themselves.. though I admit there have been times when pregnant that I've helped it along simply because I had to delay them do to my own comfort issues.. But even at that.. quite a few have gotten down to once a week or so before stopping entirely.. So from once a day you start skipping the occational day and then mostly always skipping at least one day in between.. and then it moves further to skipping 2-3 days.. then at most it's twice a week which then becomes once a week.. and generally once we hit 2 weeks without them nursing I'm done.. unless something really out of the ordinary happened and they just really really needed it (like a major injury or something)
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 2:01am | IP Logged
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Usually it is recommended to drop one feeding at a time and allow at least several days for the next feeding to be dropped. In your situation with twins its more like the eqivelent of dropping two feedings in a day. More engorgement would likely accompany that.
Some common strategies are help alleviate the discomfort while your body adjusts and to reduce risk of breast infection/plugged duct:
-express just enough milk to relieve the tightness
-use cold compresses or cabbage leaves on the breasts for soothing and reducing swelling
-herbs that help some women as they can reduce supply somewhat (sage, peppermint)
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Pilgrim Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 28 2007 Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 7:35am | IP Logged
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Thank you for the ideas. Yeah, we are kind of slowly weaning them down because I think it was hard for my body nursing twins during the recent pregnancy. First trimeseter is always hard and this last one was very hard. I want to let them lead, but also do what's best for my health. Not expecting again yet, but know my body and fertility, and I will porbably be within a couple months I'm sure!
It's funny because dd would probably be weaned now herself, if she didn't have her brother nursing and making her think she needed it too. She doesn't nurse very long at all when she does. She just stops and slips down off my lap. It's like a cute little otter.
Ds still wants it a little longer and more often, so we're making the weaning gradual for his and my sakes.
__________________ Wife 2 my bf, g14,b8,g&b6,g4,g3,g1 1/2,4 ^i^
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hylabrook1 Forum Moderator
Joined: July 09 2006
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Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 7:45am | IP Logged
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Are your twins eating any solid food? How often/how many times a day do they nurse?
I began by not offering the br**st, but waiting until the child asked. If I noticed that they ask on a fairly regular schedule, I would offer a drink or small snack shortly before the time I anticipated they would want to nurse. Spending extra cuddling time that doesn't involve nursing. As I'm sure you know, children nurse for many reasons other than being hungry (one-on-one time with mommy; cuddling; quiet breaks in the day; being tired; being thirsty; and I'm sure there are other reasons). In general, if you try to meet those needs without nursing, the child will learn ask for things other than to be nursed, at least some of the time This could be really helpful, in that the child will *naturally* drop some of the nursings.
After that, you decide to drop one nursing at a time, adding another dropped time after a week or two. Often children hold on to the bedtime or nap time nursing the longest; those are probably not the best times to choose for dropping feedings.
Some children start dropping feedings themselves, others stop *cold turkey*(ouch to mom), you have to move more gradually with some than with others. If you're physically uncomfortable, the things MaryM suggests are the way to go.
Peace,
Nancy
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Pilgrim Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 28 2007 Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 4:53pm | IP Logged
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Thank you Nancy. Yes they eat solids regularly all 3 meals and at least one snack. I did give them a small bottle of juice instead of nursing when it seemed they were thirsty. Also, they have taken well to milk from a bottle or sippy cup.
And the other nice thing is they do not rely on nursing for bed or nap times. Usually mid morning and mid afternoon. They usually do not fall asleep nursing. Which I am glad I do not have to contend with trying to teach them to go to sleep on their own.
I very much appreciate all these ideas and input! The cabbage does help , I bought some yesterday, I was reading on Kelly Mom and remembered my mom always swore by cabbage. Sweet relief!
God Bless.
__________________ Wife 2 my bf, g14,b8,g&b6,g4,g3,g1 1/2,4 ^i^
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