Anyone wean cold turkey and it worked? Meaning no nap nursing, no night nursing, just stopped completely?(baby is 21 months)

I have tried the slow down method so many times I have lost count, and it has not worked. Today I have attempted cold turkey weaning and I am worried about tonight, the day actually went fairly well.

A few prayers would be appreciated. I don't think this is going to work but its worth a try. I'm ready for it I think, ha ha. Seriously I feel nursing for 21months is a pretty good start for my daughter.

Yes. Exactly at 21 months. But I noticed one day as I sat down to nurse him for his nap...that he never asked for it. I just automatically did it. So I said to myself that I would not offer any more. I probably would have kept it up till 24 months, but after that day he never asked again. So that made it quite easy! But up to that day he was still nursing at nap and bed time and early morning awakening. Then...the next day without offering it to him...he never asked again. That was my last baby...now he is 11! :shock: Wow. The time flies! :?

Praying for you!! Hang in there. It might be rough for a couple days, but all will be well :) I found for me, all three times I weaned my children (whether cold or slow), it was harder for me than it was for them :D Hugs to you!!

I did but not by choice. I hurt my back and had to go on medication that was not compatible with nursing. We actually were fine as he had become accustom to the bottle and was sleeping through hte night.

when my daughter was 3 1/2 months i went back to work,
I guess my milk started getting less or something, but i clearly remember the one night, where she actually "fought" me off. I was already stressing cause she was not gaining enough weight, and she was so small, (i learn later that that stressing just dries up your milk even more) and how she just did not want me anymore. I decided then that I would have to go streight on the bottle then. (she was drinking expressed milk during the day through the bottle)
I will try to nurse for longer this time round, esp since i have learnt alot, and i don't have to go back to work. :)

Thank you moms for your stories and encouragement.

ITS BEEN 24 HOURS YEAH! Though last night was rough we and I say "we" did it. She did cry but not for more than 10 minutes at a time. She woke 3 times. The problem was I was just a walking milk machine to her. At any time during the day if I sat she nursed, and at night it was terrible, she still woke about 3-4 times a night to nurse even when well, I excused the time of her feeling ill.

Continued prayers would be appreciated. I think this can work. I keep whispering in her ear "you can do this Mandy your'e a big girl." I also noticed she is learning how to console herself back to sleep which is important that mommy doesn't continue to be the one to constantly do that for her, I blame myself here for that. It is my fault she is so dependent on me. But I am making it right now.

thanks again

ah Renee, you are doing a wonderful job!!! All will be well :D

just be careful/forewarned of engorgement
last I heard your dd was still nursing quite frequently
cabbage leaves in the bra
don't ask LOL just do it once you feel a bit of engorgement

and another "good job momma" for nursing her to 21 months :) I'm so proud of you {{hugs}}

Thanks Jeanine and Tara.

My concern is engorgement now. With my foot in a cast it makes bathing interesting but that does help with the engorment. I did use cabbage leaves before too and they work wonders. My next concern mastitus which I am prone to getting. I know the signs and if need be I will go to the doctor.

Any other engorment suggestions. Is wrapping your breasts tight with an ace bandage a good idea? I did use that before but did get mastitus too so I am afraid to try that again.

When I weaned cold at 24-ish months (he was a little older than 2), although he nursed alot, he wasn't nursing quite the same amount as when I weaned my other two (one even at 18 months). So, I didn't have any engorgement issues. With my 18 month old, used cabbage here too, and didn't have any other troubles.

Hi,
I know you can get some medication (a small pill) that will help dry up all milk, and sort out any of those problems.
Hope that helps!

Sudafed

I'm guessing that's what Mab is thinking of. Plain ole Sudafed, for sinuses...it'll help dry up. I thought about mentioning it, but, ya know, I'm not big on meds...LOL so I didn't. However, taken in normal doses, it has been known to dry up the milk.

I wouldn't apply pressure, myself..I would think that would make it *more* likely to cause a clogged duct/mastitis ??? Just my thought there.
You could still massage a bit, if you feel a plugged duct coming on, gently massage, you may leak a bit, just massage enough to try to loosen it up, warm compress/shower/etc...then cabbage leaves, replaced as often as deemed necessary.

Do not express, as I'm sure you're aware, that will only encourage milk production to continue. But the small bit 'leaked' from massaging areas won't affect that much.

Then again...if dd was nursing a LOT and your milk production is still quite heavy...I, myself, would rather express a bit, even if it prolonged the whole drying up stage, just for that relief. Who cares if it takes a few more days...to me, that's better than the pain and risk of mastitis. KWIM?

thanks again ladies!

Mandy was nursing quite frequently so I am expressing just a little to ease the engorgement because its here and just enough to ease it no more. Thanks I am now taking those little red sudafed I have to avoid that nasty mastitus that I am prone to getting. And I won't wrap, I thought that would just clog everything up too, but hubby thought it might have been worth a try. Thanks for saving me on that one Tara.

So we are going on 36 hours and she is adapting fairly well. But tonight may be another story but going by what others said it just takes some time. An hour at a time is how we are doing this.

Thanks again-- what great supporters you all are!

It sounds like your doing great. I had to wean cold turkey when my son was 6 months. I was pregnant again and not gaining weight and very tired. I had NEVER given him a bottle :shock: It was hard for the first few days, then he forgot there was any other way ;)

Praise, Praise it worked! We are on day 4 of cold turkey weaning. She is weaned, and finally sleeping long stretches. It took 3 nights each one better than the other. Last night no fuss at all to sleep, slept 8 hours holy cow, 8 hours! Though I am not sleeping as well as her yet I am so happy for her.

Its so hard to know when the right time is, and I am so blessed for that special bond we had. I now set time aside each morning when it was our special time to nurse, I sit and hug her, tickle and snuggle just so she knows that mommy still can have this special bond with her.

That is wonderful news. Glad she is getting some good sleep..!!