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.

Myth #1 – A lot of women cannot produce enough milk for her baby.

False! Most women do have enough of a milk supply. If the baby is not gaining weight adequately or is actually losing weight, it is usually because they are not latching onto the breast properly. While the mother is still in the hospital after the birth, it is important that she take advantage of the services of a lactation consultant to ensure that the baby can and will be able to feed properly.

Myth #2 – Breast milk will go bad if the baby does not/cannot nurse for a few days.

False! Unlike cow’s milk which can sour within a few days if not consumed, breast milk is protected and not exposed to outside elements which could cause it to go bad. The breast milk will be just as good a few days later as now.

Myth #3 – Mothers who have had cosmetic breast surgery cannot breast feed a baby.

Another falsehood! Many women who have had breast augmentation or reduction have gone on to nurse their babies. It is important for women to consider the possibility of nursing future children when going for cosmetic breast surgery as some procedures do reposition the nipple and areola. If this is the case, then in some instances, breast feeding can be inhibited.

Myth #4 – Moms who breast feed have to follow strict diets and not consume alcohol or spicy food.

False! For the most part, the body digests and processes all the food a mom eats before the body makes breast milk. An occasional glass of wine or even a beer would not hurt a nursing baby. Little alcohol is passed through breast milk. The same goes for the spicy foods. Some people do claim that mothers who consume gassy foods like beans or broccoli will have a greater chance of having a baby develop colic. However, there is no conclusive research that supports the theory.

Myth #5 – Breast feeding is a great alternative for birth control.

False! There have been quite a few nursing babies who got a little brother or sister less than a year later. While in many instances ovulation is suppressed during breast feeding; only abstinence will ensure that no little surprises happen. Nursing mothers can safely take low dose birth control pills without harming their baby.

False! A history of breast cancer in the family may put you at a higher risk of getting breast cancer but this disease isn’t selective and can effect any women, healthy or unhealthy. 80% of women with breast cancer had no initial identifiable risk factors.

Myth #2 – Younger women are more likely to get breast cancer than older women

False! In fact, as women get older, the chances of getting breast cancer increases. Age is one of the biggest risk factors in breast cancer.

Myth #3 – Stress can cause breast cancer

False! No study or research has shown that stress, anxiety or depression leads to or causes breast cancer.

Myth #4 – Breast feeding can cause breast cancer

False! Breast feeding doesn’t cause or lead to breast cancer. In fact, current study and research suggests breast feeding may well slightly help reduce the risk of getting breast cancer.

Myth #5 – Antiperspirants can cause breast cancer

False! This is a myth spread by the internet and simply not true. No research or study suggests using antiperspirants influences breast cancer.

Myth #6 – Breast cancer only affects older women

False! Breast cancer risk may increase with age but breast cancer can and does affect women of all ages.

Myth #7 – If you are at risk of breast cancer, you will get breast cancer

False! Some women who have one of the numerous risk factors such as inherited gene abnormality or old-age, don’t go on to develop breast cancer. While you are more likely to develop the disease if you are at risk from it, breast cancer is not a certainty.

Myth #8 – Birth control pills can cause breast cancer

False! The link between birth control pills and breast cancer is tenuous. Higher dose pills were in the past linked with an increase in risk factor but research and study today confirm that birth control pills do not lead to or cause breast cancer. Indeed these pills can help combat ovarian cancer.

Myth #9 – Regular self breast examination is the beast way to diagnose breast cancer

False! Film-screen mammography is the best form of breast cancer diagnosis. However self and professional breast examination is still very important as it is the most practical form of diagnosis.

Myth #10 – Breast cancer is a death sentence

False! Many women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer have went on to recover and live a long life. The key is early detection and subsequent treatment. With modern treatment methods, research and study always ongoing, breast cancer isn’t the death sentence it was once perceived to be.