Reducing Baby’s Breastfeeding

After the age of one, your baby will be drinking less breast milk as they derive most of their nutrition from food. Breastfeeding around bedtime and upon waking may still be part of baby’s daily schedule and this contributes to the emotional bond between mother and child. However if baby is attempting to derive most of their nutrition from breast milk then steps need to be taken to discourage this behavior. Breast milk may not be adequate to sustain a growing child at this age and if the toddler is averse to food, you should consult with a pediatrician to discuss the matter further.

‘Cold Turkey’ Breastfeeding

If you are planning to stop breastfeeding, then going ‘cold turkey’ may be the best option. A baby or toddler cannot understand that they will only get breast milk at certain times if they have been previously used to being breastfed whenever they demanded. It may be a bit of an upset, with a lot of tears and power plays, but once your baby realizes that you will not relent, he/she will have to succumb. Of course, it is not advisable to shun your baby because you have stopped breastfeeding. Find other activities to ensure that you baby does not feel neglected as they may misunderstand your efforts of holding back breast milk as emotional rejection.

Bottle Feeding in Place of Breast

The debate continues to rage as to whether babies should be switched from breastfeeding to bottle feeding as a means of being weaned off breast milk. Bottle feeding should only be considered if your baby is still too young to drink from a cup or straw and has rejected the breast. Alternatively, bottle feeding may be necessary for those working mothers who have to return to their career but their baby may not be at the age to give up suckling. If you have to bottle feed, do not always choose a baby milk formula. If you can express your breast milk and store it for baby’s drinking at a later stage, then this should be encouraged. In the event that this is not viable, then a baby formula will suffice but speak to your pediatrician and carefully select the brand and type of baby formula.

Breast Milk to Fruit Juice

Another common practice that should be discouraged is switching a toddler to bottle feeds of fruit juice as a means of weaning the child off breast milk. This is never advisable as fruit juice can be detrimental to the child’s newly formed teeth. Tooth cavities, weak and brittle teeth, as well as a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, like indigestion and diarrhea, can be triggered by an excessive intake of fruit juice.

Breast size and shape is a common concern for breastfeeding mothers since there are many fallacies surrounding drooping breasts linked to breastfeeding myths. Unfortunately, many new mothers today opt not to breastfeed out of fear that weaning their child will ultimately lead to drooping breasts, and that firming after breastfeeding cannot be corrected without surgery. This reduction in breastfeeding globally has significantly contributed to infant mortality. The World Health Organization estimates that globally, some 1.4 million children would not die in the first year of life if their mothers chose to breastfeed.

Cause of Breast Drooping and Firming

In breastfeeding women, the breast is primarily composed of ‘milk glands’ that empty into lactiferous ducts, which secrete milk through the nipple. Connective tissue, adipose (fat tissue) and ligaments known as Cooper’s ligaments play an important part in the size, shape and firmness of the breast.

Fat plays an important part in providing an energy supply for milk production and contrary to popular belief, it is not the sole reason for larger breasts in breastfeeding women. The enlargement of the milk glands and lactiferous ducts is what contributes to the larger breast size, which is also the reason why the breasts slightly decrease in size once the milk content empties. However there is an increased fat concentration within the breasts of lactating women.

The connective tissue, composed of elastin and collagen, coupled with the Cooper’s ligaments maintain the firmness of the breast. However, the action of gravity and stretching by enlarged breasts in lactating women, will stretch the ligaments and connective tissue and hamper firmness. This ‘hanging’ breast image associated with long term breastfeeding is known as Cooper’s droop, named after the Cooper’s ligaments.

Breast Support for Breastfeeding

Nursing bras should be selected carefully as they have multiple functions for both breast health and convenience for the mother. A good nursing bra will :

1. Allow for the convenience of  easy exposure of the nipple for baby to drink.
2. Ensure comfort of the breast by allowing for varying size and weight of the breast.
3. Provides support to maintain breast firmness and prevent or limit drooping.

Milk contained within the breast of lactating women stretches the connective tissue of the breast. The action of gravity on the engorged and heavy breast will add further strain on the Cooper’s ligaments. Over time, both the connective tissue and Cooper’s ligaments cannot continue to maintain breast firmness due to prolonged stretching. This leaves the breast  flabby and drooping, with layers of loose skin.

Breast Size, Shape and Firmness after Breastfeeding

To a certain degree, the breasts will restore its shape and size after breastfeeding. However in women over 35 years, this is less likely to occur due to age-related changes coupled with the effects of breastfeeding. Within days of discontinuing breastfeeding, the size will significantly diminish. After a few weeks, and with a good support bra, some of the drooping will reduce. Two to three months after breastfeeding, any extra or sagging skin will noticeably diminish to the point that there is some firmness of the breast. A complete resolution of drooping breasts is not possible, just as the areola and nipple size will never return to the state that it was prior to the first pregnancy.

Surgery may also be considered to help correct the drooping and size of the breast after discontinuing breastfeeding. This breast augmentation surgery will drastically reform the breast but should not be considered for the first 6 months after discontinuing breastfeeding as natural processes may correct much of the drooping.