Weaning can mean two things:
- introducing your baby to solid foods;
- stopping bottle or breastfeeding.
It's best to give your baby nothing but breastmilk for the
first six months of her life. After that, you can start to introduce solid
different foods as well as breastmilk. It’s advisable to continue breastfeeding
till two years or more, which known as, extended breastfeeding. When you
decided to stop breastfeed, due to own reason,this is what we called weaning the
baby from the breast.
Breastfeeding is a very special time in a mum’s life, and
giving up can be an emotional experience. You might feel sad it’s over, but
also happy to get your body back. The good news is that weaning doesn’t end the
close bond you and your baby have built up through breastfeeding. In fact,
breastfeeding is just the beginning of your very special relationship.
When is the right
time to wean my baby?
When to wean your baby is your decision and yours alone. The
problem is that everyone seems to have an opinion about the right time to stop
breastfeeding. There may be people in your life who think you’ve waited too
long if you’re still breastfeeding after three months. On the other hand, there
may be others who question you if you decide to stop after a year.
Terpulang kepada anda, kesesuaian masa dan keperluan hidup.
I am still breastfeed my 25 months old baby. You may want to bear in mind that
breastfeeding experts recommend child-led weaning. This means letting your baby
or toddler decide when she wants to stop breastfeeding.
To your child, breastfeeding is more than just food. It is a
way of getting close to you, and receiving comfort and reassurance. If you let
her give up at her own pace, there’s less chance that you’ll encounter
problems.
How can I make it
clear to others I don't want to stop?
If you feel other people are putting pressure on you to stop
breastfeeding before you and your baby are ready, here are some suggestions for
what to do. Below are the most common types of pressures you may face in the
coming months:
- My husband resents the time I spend breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is something only mums can do, so it’s natural
for dads to feel left out. Your husband probably feels like a spare part right
now, so find other ways to involve him in your baby’s care.
Put him on nappy-changing or bathtime duty, and encourage
him to spend lots of time cuddling your baby. Your husband could try baby
massage. This is a lovely way for dad and baby to enjoy skin-to-skin contact
and feel close to each other.
You husband may also be unhappy that your relationship seems
to have taken a back seat. He might even be resentful that your breasts are now
off-limits. It can be hard when you’re focusing on your new baby, but try to
make some time for your husband, too. If you want to win him round, talk to him
about the benefits of breastfeeding. Remind him that if you give up, your baby
will miss out on crucial vitamins, nutrients and protection against infection.
If your husband suggests bottle-feeding, point out that formula is expensive
and takes longer to prepare.
Finally, reassure him that breastfeeding doesn’t go on forever.
Need more ideas? Read about a dad’s perspective on breastfeeding.
- My mum says I'm just doing it for myself, rather than my baby
Breastfeeding really is the best thing you can do for the
health of your baby. And you have the World Health Organisation (WHO) and
Unicef to back you up! Both say you should give a baby nothing but breastmilk
until he is six months old. What’s more, WHO and Unicef advise mums to continue
to breastfeed for at least a year, and preferably two.
The substances in your breastmilk that protect your baby
from infections continue to be made and passed to him for as long as you
breastfeed. Your milk doesn’t stop being of value just because your baby has
reached a certain age.
Tell your mum breastfeeding is good for your health, too. In
the long run, mums who breastfeed have a lower risk of ovarian cancer, type 2
diabetes and breast cancer.
- Babies don't need breastfeeding once they've started solid food
If your baby is over six months old, he should be getting
all the extra vitamins he needs from his food.
However, this is not because breastmilk does not provide
enough goodness. It's simply a precaution in case growing children do not get
all they need from food. If your mum is urging you to stop breastfeeding when your
baby is six months old, she’s probably expecting you to switch to formula
instead. Remind your mum that breastfeeding is by far the cheaper option, and
it’s eco-friendly, too.
Once your baby is a year old, your mum may say he doesn't
need breastmilk, because he can now have cow's milk. It's true, he can. But
that doesn't mean you have to stop breastfeeding! Some mums get told their breastmilk looks watery compared to
richer-looking cow’s milk. However, you can’t tell the quality of breastmilk
just by looking at it. It looks different from cow’s milk because it’s made up
of different proteins, and reflects light differently.
- You can't breastfeed once you've gone back to work
That's not true at all. It’s fair to say, though, that
breastfeeding mums don’t have it easy in the workplace. Offices today are often
open-plan, with fewer private spaces where you might be able to use a breast
pump. The good news is that employers have become much more clued-up about
breastfeeding over recent years.
Talk to your HR manager about what you need. You may be able
to use an empty meeting room to express on a regular basis. If your HR manager
needs convincing, remind her that breastfeeding mums are less likely to need
time off work. This is because their babies are less likely to be ill.
It can be tough if your workload leaves you short of time
for expressing. You might have to consider working through lunch, or coming in
earlier. Remember that breastfeeding is temporary, and things will get easier.
You might also consider breastfeeding only in the morning
and evening. Your body will adjust to this change in a matter of days.
There'll be times when you miss your baby during your
working day. Your reunion can be all the sweeter in the evenings when you
snuggle together for a feed. Breastfeeding may well help both of you to cope
better with the daytime separation.
·
What if no one else I know is still
breastfeeding?
It can be lonely being the only mum in a group still
breastfeeding. Good friends, though, shouldn’t give you a hard time. If any of
them do, remind them that breastfeeding for six months and beyond has proven
health benefits for both mums and babies.
If you’re feeling under pressure, try contacting a
breastfeeding support group. They will almost certainly have members who are
breastfeeding older babies and toddlers. You will also be able to find
like-minded mums in our Parenting community forum and Pumping Mummies community
group.
And finally, breastfeeding is more than just a food, or even
a medicine. It is a way of nurturing your child. Tell any breastfeeding
doubters you come across that breastfeeding has been proven to help mums be
more caring towards their children.
How do I go about
weaning?
Once your baby is eating a wide range of foods you may find
she cuts down on breastfeeding of her own accord. If you want to help the
process along, follow these stages:
- Stage one:
Let your baby finish a full breastfeed, then offer her a
small portion of food. At this point you are just letting your baby experiment
with flavours and textures. She'll still get most of her nourishment from
breastmilk.
- Stage two:
Once your baby is eating well (you will notice changes in
her poos if she is), you can switch things around. At some mealtimes, try
offering food first, before you breastfeed her. Then you can start offering
something to eat before every breastfeed.
- Stage three:
Eventually, offer your baby water in a soft-spouted beaker
instead of a breastfeed.
How long will weaning
take?
You may find it takes only a few weeks to stop
breastfeeding, especially if your baby is becoming bored with it anyway. Or you
might find it takes at least a month, up to six months, or anything in between.
Believe me, I took more, as if Syakir would never wean-off. I just go along
with him, keeping in his mind that he is already grew up and need no more his ‘nenen’
yet so far nothing succeeded.
It's different for everyone, and it depends on how quickly
and how well your child adjusts. Weaning may take longer if you try it before
your baby is ready. It's best not to stop breastfeeding abruptly, as it can be
upsetting for your baby and uncomfortable for you. It could leave you with
engorged breasts and possibly mastitis, a painful breast inflammation.
A gradual approach is best. But however quickly you try to
wean, you will still need to follow the three stages listed above. If you do
this, your milk supply will slowly reduce as the demand drops.
What if my baby
doesn’t want to stop breastfeeding?
If your baby shows no sign of being willing to stop
breastfeeding, try to be patient. She enjoys being at your breast because it
soothes as well as nourishes her. With this in mind, you can help her adjust:
- Comfort her in other ways
Gradually, replace breastfeeding with other ways to nurture
your child. If you’ve often fed your child to comfort her, try other things to
make her feel better. You could read a book together, sing to her, or play a
game instead.
- Try postponing feeds
Putting off feeds works well if you have an older child you
can reason with. When your toddler asks to breastfeed, tell her you’ll feed her
later and distract her with some other activity. Instead of breastfeeding her
in the early evening, you could explain that she must wait until bedtime.
- Pick your moment
Major life events can make weaning more difficult. Has your
child been poorly? Often babies who aren’t feeling well will want to feed more
often. In fact, breastfeeding may be in a sick child's best interest.
Similarly, if you’ve recently gone back to work, or moved
house, your child may still be adjusting to this change. If so, perhaps now is
not the time to make another change in your child's life. Try again in another
month. Sooner or later, it will happen.
courtesy internet source:
http://www.babycenter.com.my/a8495/how-to-handle-pressure-to-wean#ixzz2RpzymxbY
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