Weaning

I've spent approximately 4-6 hours cumulatively over the past 2-3 weeks researching weaning.  Surprisingly there is not a lot of medically/scientifically based information out there.  

It appears to me that the people who bother to write and publish information about weaning are those who strongly advocate prolonged breast feeding, and "baby-led" weaning.  The technique behind baby-lead weaning is simply letting the baby decide whether he/she is ready to wean.  Typically this takes at least 2-2.5 years, and more likely up to 4 years.  Websites and books will also provide supporting evidence for why nursing a 4 year old is natural and beneficial.  They will also provide arguments for why a mother should not succumb to the pressures of family, friends, and society to wean before baby is ready.

The idea of following through with baby-led weaning is disconcerting to me, to say the least!  But with the overwhelmingly one-sided information that's out there, I was starting to think any other way of weaning was a detriment to the baby.  What made it even more difficult for me to decide what was best for me and Kira was the flowery language used to describe a long "goodbye" to an intimate and beautiful relationship between mother and baby, and how the baby will need EXTRA cuddles.  Imagine my guilt.  Luckily one of my favorite doctor-to-be friends gave me some perspective.  She reminded me that Kira is not going to remember being weaned and she's not going to be permanently emotionally damaged if I wean her before she is "ready".  And, the best way to handle the change is to do it with consistency!

So, now that I am confident about weaning, my next task is to figure out exactly how to do it.  Many resources online, (Babycenter, kellymom, La Leche League), suggest removing one feeding at a time.  Kira feeds 8 times per day, i.e., every three hours. (She was doing 7 feedings per day when she was sleeping through the night from 12 am to 6 am, but now that she's teething, she wakes up in the middle of the night wanting comfort).   To start weaning, I would replace one of these feedings with formula.  In a few days, or maybe in a week, I would have two feedings with formula and the rest of the feedings I would nurse.  This allows the mother's body to gradually reduce milk production.  It is also less jarring for the baby.  The websites suggest replacing the feeding which baby "needs the least."  This was a bit confusing for me.  Kira needs all her feedings.  As an example, the websites say to leave the morning and night time nursing for last.  However, Kira also depends on nursing in the afternoons for naps.  So, I'm a little torn as to which ones are "least needed."

I was also confused about how to incorporate solids into the weaning process and this was the main question I wanted answered by Kira's pediatrician.  Unfortunately, he had no suggestions for a structured process.  He says I will just have to play it by ear.  Solids should sit in her system longer than breast milk or formula, so as she eats more solids, she will need fewer feedings.  His suggestion was to aim towards having a breakfast, lunch, and dinner of solid food and to supplement with formula/breast milk when she's hungry.  If I were to not introduce solids yet and just introduce formula, she would continue needing to eat 8 times per day.  This all means that I need to pay attention to Kira's signals, rather than watching the clock, which is currently my primary factor for deciding whether she is hungry.  So, I'm a little tentative about the whole thing.

Today is our first day of weaning.  At her 12:30 feeding, I cracked open a bottle of hypoallergenic formula and put 2.5 oz in a bottle.  I knew for sure she would have more than 2.5 oz, but I didn't want to waste too much formula, so we started with 2.5 oz.  I don't think Kira enjoyed it.  She arched her back a lot, seeming that she just could not get comfortable.  And, she had a perturbed expression on her face, seeming that she did not like the taste.  She kept spitting the nipple out and putting it back in her mouth, getting formula everywhere. And she whimpered and cried.  Finally after what seemed like hours, she finished the 2.5 oz and burped.  I filled the bottle with another 2.5 oz, but Kira would not have any of it.  She was even more resistant the second time around, and I was getting tired.  So, I nursed her.  She was so contented, she fell asleep while nursing.

So much for consistency.  This is going to be difficult.