Reasons to Wean? Or not?

As La Leche League Leaders we are often called or emailed when a mother has questions or concerns about weaning. We are hoping to discuss some of them at our Mt. Pleasant meeting this morning.

Here are a few of the most common ones.

Sometimes the mother and nursling will decide it is indeed time to wean. Other times the mother will find strategies or information to help her continue nursing her nursling and meet her breastfeeding goals.


• I have to have a medical procedure such as an MRI, X-ray, CAT scan, ultrasound, mammogram.

• I need to take a radioactive drink for a test in the hospital.

• My baby is sick and requires hospitalization.

• I need to be hospitalized due to an illness.

• I resent nursing all the time and want my body back!

• I want my child to eat more. The doctor advises that we wean to improve appetite.

• I need to get my baby on more of a schedule and nursing isn’t working into our schedule.

• The baby has a rash or colic and I think is allergic to my milk or something in my milk.

• I need to lose/gain weight or I am losing/gaining weight. I want to begin an exercise program or diet plan.

• I want to be able to have a drink of alcohol with dinner and to go out with friends and drink.

• I am getting a lot of pressure about weaning from my close relatives/friends/neighbors.

• I have a business or vacation trip planned in the near future.

• The dentist tells me that I must wean because nursing is causing cavities.

• My child is xyz weeks/months/years old so I think it is time to wean.

• I am having a surgical procedure or other medical procedure that requires anesthesia.

• I am going back to work or school soon and can’t or don’t want to pump while at work or school.

• My partner is jealous of nursing time and wants to spend more time with me.

• I am anxious about nursing in public at this age and the reaction of strangers.

• I need to take a medication so the doctor said I need to wean.

• My toddler is starting a new daycare/my child is starting preschool.

• My baby is teething, has teeth or has bitten or I am afraid will bite me!

• My pediatrician/friend/mother says I need to start solids because the baby weighs xyz.

• My friends who have babies have weaned by now. My sister weaned her children by this age. My mom or mother-in-law weaned her children by this age.

• My 6-9 month baby keeps getting distracted and seems to be self weaning.

• I feel like a human pacifier! I feel touched out.

• The baby suddenly refuses to nurse. Is this a nursing strike or is it time to wean?

• Nursing is taking up a lot of time in my life. I can’t get things done that I need to do.

• Nursing is not going well! I am in pain, I have mastitis/thrush/blisters/etc.

• I am trying to get pregnant and am concerned that I won’t have fertility.

• I am pregnant and am not sure if I should wean.

• What does “don’t offer, don’t refuse” mean? When can I start this?

• My child is a mamma’s boy/clingy girl, too shy.

• I am exhausted and need to sleep. Should I night wean or just stop nursing?

• I feel guilty that I enjoy nursing too much.

• I have to start a chemotherapy in the near future.

Friday December 3rd Free LLL Meeting

Come join us this Friday at the NEW permanent location!

The First Friday of the month: Friday December 3rd, 2010 at 10:15 am.

Our new permanent location is St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at 440 Whilden Street, Mt. Pleasant. The parking lot is on Venning Street and so is the entrance to the church. We will have signs directing you to the room.

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

La Leche League International is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization that provides breastfeeding information, encouragement, education and mother-to-mother support. Please join us and feel free to bring a friend.

Thank you

Thanks to all who attended our Autumn Harvest. We had a wonderful time and ate some terrific food. The kids all had so much fun. It was nice to see so many toddlers toddling around and babes in arms of moms or dads. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

LLL of Charleston West Ashley November 19, 2010 at 10:15 am

Please join us for La Leche League of Charleston / West Ashley

The Third Friday of the month: Friday November 19, 2010 at 10:15 am at the John Wesley United Methodist Church 626 Savannah Hwy

La Leche League Meetings are open to all women interested in breastfeeding. Babies and toddlers are always welcome and meetings are always FREE.

If you know someone who may be interested in more information or attending a LLL meeting, please forward this on to her or bring her with you! It is always nice to have the support of friends!

Our Mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

How do you know your newborn is doing well?

Excerpt from THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING 8th Edition

Chapter Six: The First Two Weeks: Milk!

Pg 110: How to Know Your Baby’s Doing Well

• Weight gain. Look for a return to birth weight by two weeks. An average gain after that is roughly 1 ounce (30 g) a day, but your baby may gain somewhat more or less.

• Diapers. Look for at least three “okay” (thumb and forefinger circle size) diapers each day during the first month or so.

• Your breasts. Look for comfortable nipples, a milk release within a minute (usually much sooner), and noticeable softening by the end of most nursings.

• Nursing behavior. Look for open eyes when the feed starts, periods of slow (about one per second) sucks with periodic pauses, and finishing within a half hour at most feeds.

• Disposition between nursings. Look for the baby falling gently asleep toward the end of the nursing (or contentment for at least a while before he nurses again), limp hands, and an unworried expression most of the time.

• What doesn’t matter. How many minutes on each breast, whether he falls asleep at the breast at the end of the feeding, or whether he nurses long enough to “get to the hindmilk.”

La Leche League of Charleston November 5

La Leche League of Charleston in Mt. Pleasant meets on the first Friday of each month at 10:15 A.M. In November that will be the 5th.

Our new permanent location is at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at 440 Whilden Street, Mt. Pleasant. The parking lot is on Venning Street and so is the entrance to the church. We will have signs directing you to the room.

La Leche League International is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization that provides breastfeeding information, encouragement, education and mother-to-mother support. Please join us and feel free to bring a friend. Meetings are always free and we encourage you to come while pregnant and to bring your nursling to meetings.

November 20 Autumn Harvest Potluck

Autumn Harvest Breastfeeding Celebration

La Leche League of Charleston, SC is thankful for our moms and little ones!

We’d like to celebrate together by inviting you and your families for a potluck harvest in celebration of breastfeeding.

Please bring some type of food to share with others that your family enjoys eating.
In addition, if your child or children don't mind sharing, feel free to bring outdoor toys, balls or bubbles.

Saturday, November 20th
1 - 4 pm

RSVP to Brittan at tgotbeter@gmail.com for the location and directions.

This event will be held only in weather suitable for outdoor activities.
Please check back to our blog that morning for any updates if inclement weather.