Which feed to drop last

Some moms eliminate one nursing a week. This allows your milk supply to decrease slowly, without fullness and discomfort. Choose the feeding that is the least important one for your baby, then you can approach it in a couple of different ways. While you are eliminating this feeding, nurse at the other times as usual. Once you have eliminated the one feeding, and are comfortable no fullness at all then you can move on to the next one you want to eliminate.

Just approach it the same way, and remember to nurse as usual for the remaining feedings. Be prepared to slow the pace if your baby becomes fussy or clingy, gets ill, or seems to be teething. Naptime, bedtime, and first-thing-in-the-morning feedings are usually the last to go. You can either express at work and give your breast milk to your child's carer, or provide formula milk while you're away.

If your employer is not familiar with the rules around breastfeeding and expressing in the workplace, it's worth sharing the ACAS guidance on pregnancy and maternity with them, or contacting your union if you have one. As with work, going on holiday does not mean that you have to give up breastfeeding. In fact, breastfeeding can be more convenient while you're away.

If you breastfeed, you do not need to worry about boiling water and sterilising feeding equipment. Plus, if you're flying, there's no need to worry about restrictions on carrying bottles or cups of formula through airport security checks. Breastfeeding also helps to equalise the pressure in your baby's ears on take-off or landing. If you get pregnant again while you're breastfeeding, it should not affect your baby or the pregnancy. However, you may feel tired, and changes in your appetite and emotions can make breastfeeding more challenging.

Occasionally, women are advised to stop breastfeeding before getting pregnant again, particularly if they've previously had a miscarriage or premature labour. Do not be put off feeding an older baby and a newborn tandem nursing. The more milk your babies take, the more your breasts produce, so it's possible to feed more than 1 baby.

Read more about breastfeeding and medicines. Stopping breastfeeding does not always have to be permanent, but starting again may take a lot of time and not everyone will produce enough to meet their baby's needs. It partly depends on how well-established your milk supply was already. Stimulating your breasts by expressing breast milk and offering the breast to your baby regularly can encourage your body to start making milk again. You can ask a midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding specialist for help if you would like to restart breastfeeding.

There's no reason why you should not continue breastfeeding your child into their 2nd year and beyond. You and your toddler can continue to enjoy the benefits of breastfeeding for as long as you want to. Page last reviewed: 2 March Next review due: 2 March How to stop breastfeeding. It's up to you and your baby to decide when you want to finish breastfeeding. How long to breastfeed It's recommended that you breastfeed your baby exclusively give them breast milk only for the first 6 months of their life.

Read more about the benefits of breastfeeding Stopping breastfeeding gradually There's no right or wrong way to stop breastfeeding.

Carrying on breastfeeding while giving your baby some formula can work very well. Weaning is likely to be a big change for your child. For many older children, breastfeeding is more about security and comfort than about food, so weaning can be quite stressful. This will give your child time to get used to the idea and can help to make the change easier. Here are more tips that can help. You can start with the tip you think will suit your child best, or use a few if that suits you both:.

Your child can also have tap water. To drop the morning feed , try to be up and dressed before your child wakes, then offer your child breakfast.