Weaning Questions
How long will it take for my body to stop producing milk?
Upon weaning, how long will it take for my breast size to reduce to pre-pregnancy size (or smaller)?
How difficult is it to get the body started again once milk production has ended?
Should I expect plugged ducts, leaking, etc. along the way?
Are there any other things to consider?
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2 comments:
How long will it take for my body to stop producing milk? This varies from woman to woman and it makes a difference how much or how little little won was nursing. I would guess since you have been working towars this for quite a while, that it will be a few months, like three. Some women can still produce milk if they try at a year, but that is unusual.
Upon weaning, how long will it take for my breast size to reduce to pre-pregnancy size (or smaller)? That too can take a year or so. If your body is the same size it was pre-pregnancy, then it may be sooner.
How difficult is it to get the body started again once milk production has ended? I'm assuming that you mean relactating... That depends. If you went camping and were stranded with no other food source, I think the body would kick in quickly. The pathways are now open. The mammary glands seem to stay available for quite a while just in case.
Should I expect plugged ducts, leaking, etc. along the way? Have you had lots of problems with this along your breastfeeding journey? If it was fairly gradual, I wouldn't expect it. I think you would know by now. Any hard painful lumps?
Are there any other things to consider? I definately got an energy boost when I weaned both boys. Yours may be masked by your new undertaking, but the feeling I had was... oh yeah! Here's my body! That feels good! And, I can do so many things! Including wearing a dress with no boob access!
Thank you, P for your plethora of information! I think it's going to be fairly easy - little won isn't having major meltdowns (yeah!) and I don't seem to be having anything physical happening. Just feeling full and a letdown-ish thing every now and again. The milk will probably take a full year to dry out for me given my over production and abundance of milk (lots of clogged ducts along the way), even despite our gradual slowing of nursing. I must say, I'm really looking forward to the boost in energy and getting used to my body again! It's been a long time!
xo,
M
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