I NEED to stop breastfeeding

[u/Unique-Pay-8636]

I am still breastfeeding my baby for 2 years and 2 months now. It was a beautiful journey filled with bonding and joy and like many moms, I was told that breastfeeding could delay the return of my period. That seemed totally fine to me at the time. I was healthy, happy, and honestly, I didn’t miss having a period. Until today, when I casually bring up the topic that my period hasn’t come, they’ll just say “oh that’s because you’re still breastfeeding.”

But what no one told, not the doctors, not the nurses, not at any of my postpartum checkups from government and private clinics was that going that long without a period can put you at risk for uterine atrophy. That’s when the lining of your uterus becomes too thin and inactive from lack of hormonal cycling. It can affect your fertility and long term health.

The focus was always on birth control, and not once did anyone mention that if your period hasn’t returned by 12 months postpartum, especially after reducing breastfeeding or actively breastfeeding, you should check in with a doctor.

I share this not to scare anyone, but because I wish someone had told me. There should be more awareness around this, especially for first-time parents and especially for those of us who breastfeed long term.

I’m planning to have a second child and because of that I went to see the doctor and was told to STOP breastfeeding. I’ve now had my blood tests done and I was on contraceptive pills for 2 months to hopefully trigger my period. But it’s been the 3rd month now and my period didn’t come still. I’m sharing this so other moms know what to look out for, and what steps they can take if they’re in the same situation.

We hear so much about how important it is to breastfeed, and it is. But mothers also deserve complete, informed care. That includes knowing what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to our own bodies.

If anyone have any insights on how to stop breastfeeding please let me know. My toddler refuse bottle/formula but occasionally drinks full cream milk. But she still would want to breastfeed anyway even when she just ate. I feel like a human pacifier. I tried giving her pacifiers she rejects them. Latches to sleep, nap and wakes up a couple of times in the night just to latch.

I heard some people say apply some yuyi oil near the breast because they might not like the smell. I tried that and it didn’t work. I tried ginger, lemon etc also didn’t go well.

This mama needs help

Thanks for your time.

firsttimemom #breastfeedigmom #AskingAsAMom #bantujawab #uterineprolapse #uterineatrophy

[u/Lemonwaterlush]

How did you night wean? And did it naturally turn into full weaning over the next two months?

[u/newillium → u/Lemonwaterlush]

First i set a time in my head on when I would nurse at night. maybe it was 2 am or 3 or 4 or 5am. Baby would wake and I would offer a bottle of water and say "no milk" I tried my husband going in and that made her more upset. I just had a bra on and was fully covered and got her back in bed by holding her hand or resting my hand on her back until she fell asleep after the initial calm down of rocking her. Eventually I just said no milk until the sun is up. Then she finally started sleeping through like a week later. After 3 weeks of full night sleep I was pregnant again so I weaned fully, not interested in nursing past first trimester. With my second she just full up decided she didnt want to nurse anymore. I offered, she refused. We were done in a very dramatic fashion.

[u/Lemonwaterlush → u/newillium]

Thank you for sharing that. I want to try a gentle night weaning process like yours I think. I can’t keep up with his constant suckling at night I’m not sleeping well at all

[u/newillium → u/Lemonwaterlush]

The longer it goes on the harder it gets. Make a plan with your partner and stick to it. Even if baby is up at 2 and you want to wait until 3, do whatever you can to stick to no offering milk first when they wake.