What are the common misunderstandings about weaning? Don't empty your breasts

Breast milk is naturally the most nutritious food for babies, but every breastfeeding mother will eventually face the issue of weaning. Below, the editor of No. 5.com will take you to see what common misunderstandings there are in weaning? Don't empty your breasts.

What are the common misunderstandings about weaning?

Myth 1: Drinking a lot of malt water

Modern pharmacological research believes that malt contains ergotamine compounds, which can inhibit the secretion of prolactin and thus be used for weaning. During weaning, drinking hawthorn malt water can relieve breast pain and milk stasis during weaning, and can be used instead of water for drinking during weaning. However, diet is only an auxiliary role, and weaning cannot be successfully completed by drinking malt water alone. Moreover, after drinking a lot of water, the body accepts a lot of water, which provides favorable conditions for lactation, which is counterproductive. It will also increase the burden on the body's kidneys and affect health. It is recommended to take concentrated malt water, with 60-120 grams of raw wheat or fried malt, one dose per day, decocted in water, twice a day, one bowl each time. Then, under the premise of ensuring the body's daily water supply, reduce drinking water and block the favorable factors for milk production. In terms of diet, pay attention to reducing or avoiding eating high-protein, high-fat nutritious foods, especially old fire thick soup, pig's feet, crucian carp and other milk-producing foods. The result of not avoiding food is to prolong the weaning time, which makes both the baby and the mother uncomfortable. Mothers remember, avoid food! Avoid food! Avoid this food! You can also take vitamin B6, three times a day, 2 tablets each time.

Myth 2: Emptying the breasts

One of the important factors for successful weaning is to reduce the stimulation to the mammary glands. Whether it is sucking for the baby or expressing milk with a breast pump, it is a stimulation to the mammary glands, which invisibly "notifies" the body to continue to secrete milk. It is a big mistake to empty the breasts every time the milk is swollen. After emptying, the body will default to the amount of milk required, and the same amount of breast milk will be provided next time, and the milk will naturally not be completely weaned. When the milk is swollen, it is painful. You can let the baby suck or use a milking tool to squeeze out some breast milk. The amount of milk squeezed out should be based on the breasts not being swollen and hard. You can stop when the breasts feel soft. Slowly, the body mechanism will adjust the default milk demand and reduce the secretion of breast milk. It does not mean that the mammary glands will be completely stimulated immediately.

What to do if you want to wean early

Don't hit me, hold it back. The holding back here means holding back slowly and gradually. Only by holding back, that is, the milk swelling, or not emptying the breasts all the time, will the breasts receive the signal that the mother does not need so much milk, and then slowly reduce the production of milk. The whole process will last for several weeks or even months. First, you should try to reduce the feeding time of one meal, starting with the one that the baby is least eager to feed, and replace it with formula milk or solid food. You can also try to replace it by playing games or taking a walk or eating other foods. You can give your baby a few weeks to adapt to the reduced meal. The feeding before going to bed is the most difficult to ignore and should be put last. Some babies even need one or two months to adapt. Try to avoid being with your baby in an environment where you often feed, such as a sofa, bed, etc., to attract your baby to want to feed. Take a non-active and non-rejecting approach to your baby. Once the baby insists on eating, you cannot directly refuse. To extend the waiting time of the baby, the mother can be busy or let the baby busy, and promise to wait a while before feeding. Or feed under certain conditions.

Should mother and child be separated during weaning?

It depends on the individual! If the mother is very anxious and reluctant to wean the baby, she will be at a loss or even irritable when facing the baby's crying, then it is best to ask a relative who is familiar with the baby to help take care of the baby, because the mother's anxiety will be transmitted to the baby, and the weaning process will become very painful. If the mother is calm and can rationally accept that weaning is a good thing, it is best for the mother to accompany the baby, so that the baby can feel that although the baby is weaned, the mother's love is still with him, which will give the child good spiritual nourishment.

What should mothers do if their breasts swell during weaning?

You can use a breast pump to suck out milk until it stops swelling or you feel comfortable. Generally speaking, you can stop after the breast pump has sucked out a burst of milk. You can apply cold compresses to your breasts after feeding, which will reduce milk production. Do not apply cold compresses before feeding. Mothers can wear a supportive bra to lift heavy breasts and relieve discomfort. If there is too much milk, or if the mother has special reasons and wants to completely stop breastfeeding, she can seek help from a doctor and take medicine to reduce milk production. If you have a fever, or your breast skin is red, swollen, or painful, you must go to the hospital in time.