Weaning off breastfeeding can never be defined as a certain age, or certain developmental stage in your child’s life. The proper time comes down to only a couple simple items.

The first portion of the decision may come down to a lifestyle choice. Advocates of breastfeeding may hate to hear this, but sometimes our lives dictate change. If you have been breastfeeding through the first six months of your baby’s life and it is beginning to interfere with work and life you can make a choice to start weaning your baby. Plan on it being a gradual process.

The second portion of the decision comes down to your baby. Every baby has an internal clock which is going to be their own time to start the weaning process. If you are comfortable with continuing to breastfeed then watch your baby for clues. You will see them gradually decreasing the frequency they want the breast, and are more interested in solid food. This process can begin between 6 to 12 months, and sometimes as late as 18 months. As the process begins you can start offering more alternatives to speed the process if your desire.

One concern with weaning off breastfeeding is with the speed of the weaning. You can do it cold turkey but unless it is for a medical reason this produces major distress for both of you. The sudden removal of the breast will cause an unhappy baby, probably cause you to experience painful breast engorgement, and can lead to feelings of separation or depression in mothers.

The best method is to slowly reduce the frequency of breastfeeding and start offering more alternative choices. This can be in the form of more solid foods, formula in a glass, or even formula in a bottle. By reducing the frequency over several weeks it removes the stress on both of you making the transition easy and healthy.

If you are choosing to start weaning from breastfeeding because you are experiencing breast or nipple problems, but would really prefer to keep nursing, then you need to ask a few more questions. Many hospitals, pediatricians, and obstetricians can refer you to a lactation expert. This expert may be a nurse, doctor, or physicians assistant. They can give you great advice on how to overcome most problems and may delay your need for weaning.

When you have made the choice it is time to start weaning off breastfeeding it is always a good idea to replace the lost contact time with your baby with other activity. Start spending the same amount of time holding them reading books. Get down on the floor and play with them. Take them for a walk. Many times the greatest stress is not the change in diet, but the loss of attention. This is one problem you can remedy with ease. Weaning can be easy, if you just take time, and give it the proper thought.

The biggest determinant on how long you can store breast milk comes down to how you are storing it. Here are the answers for your different storage methods. All methods assume the milk has been put in a sealed and sterile container.

Storing breast milk at room temperature is the most limiting method. This only allows storage for 4 to 8 hours. This is for a fresh bottle which has not been sucked upon.

Storing the breast milk in the refrigerator changes this time dramatically. In the refrigerator the milk can be stored for 2 to 3 days and still be safe for your baby to drink.

Using a freezer changes things even more dramatically. You will need to consider what type of freezer you have and how cold it actually keeps the milk. Here are the 3 most common styles.

A single door refrigerator with the freezer compartment inside is the worst variety. It allows you to safely store the breast milk for approximately 2 weeks.

A dual door refrigerator, with a separate freezer door, allows for much colder temperatures. These freezers normally run around 0 degree Fahrenheit allowing the milk to be stored for up to 3 months. Keep in mind, this is with the milk staying frozen the entire time. Thawing the milk and re-freezing is not recommended.

The last type of freezer is the standalone freezer. These run even colder often being below 0 degrees and are normally opened less often. Storing breast milk for up to 6 months is considered safe.

Another consideration when storing breast milk is in the preparation after it has been frozen. It is tempting to throw the milk in the microwave for a quick thaw. Do not try this. You damage the nutrition of the milk rapidly and overheating is a major danger, with potential burns to your baby.

Thaw the milk at room temperature or by using a container of warm water. Once thawed the milk should be used within 24 hours if stored in the refrigerator. If stored at room temperature use withing a couple hours.

In all of these cases, once the bottle of milk has been drank from it is finished. You should not keep it any longer. One the baby had drank bacteria has been introduced and the milk will begin to spoil rapidly.

The great news about storing breast milk is the longevity. Once you mix a bottle of formula it needs to be used shortly. Breast milk is much more resilient, allowing breastfeeding mothers a chance to build up a supply for those days out, or for returning to work. Take advantage of the long storage time in the freezer and prepare yourself a plentiful supply.

Here are some of the reasons to breastfeed offered by experts, and a few counterpoints to help you make an informed decision.

1. Breastfeeding promotes bonding. There is evidence which indicate the release of oxytocin, a powerful hormone, can help a mother become more engaged in bonding. Oxytocin is released during breastfeeding.

2. Breastfeeding satisfies a baby’s emotional needs. This reason which is often mentioned by breastfeeding advocates is a double edged sword. It is true the emotional needs are better met when the baby is held closely during feeding, as is required with breastfeeding. The contention it is better than bottle feeding only holds true if parents choose to prop up the bottle instead of holding their baby. Most parents continue to hold their baby, making this reason important, but not as strong.

3. Breastfeeding gives the baby more protection from illness. This reason should be very high on your list for reasons to breastfeed. There is no doubt your baby will have less illness, and gain long term health benefits from breastfeeding.

4. Breast milk is easier for the baby to digest. Once again, this is a very strong and real reason to breastfeed. Breast milk is nature’s intended food for our babies, and is the easiest to digest.

5. Breast milk is more nutritious. This is one of those reasons up for debate. Breast milk contains all of a baby’s needs. So do most good quality formulas. Some formula brands actually provide more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients than breast milk. The unknown factor is the efficiency in absorption and the mother’s dietary intake.

6. Breastfeeding leads to a higher IQ. This statement is often made due to a study done in New Zealand. The study was done with 1000 children tracking them for 18 years. The only problem with this conclusion is there is no further studies completed to backup the claims, yet. It is still a compelling reason to breastfeed at this point.

7. Breast milk is always ready and always warmed perfectly. This is another of those claims which while true has a major hole in it. What about the mother who needs to return to work? Her breast milk is no longer always ready, and the milk is no longer warmed perfectly every time. Overall the statement holds good value, but weigh the merits of the statement for your own life.

8. The baby sucking helps reduce the size of the uterus after delivery. This is a very strong reason to breastfeed at least initially. The only fault in this argument is when it is used to convey a need for long term breastfeeding.

As you can easily see there are very strong reasons to breastfeed. The overwhelming evidence points to advantages for your baby in health and intelligence. The reason behind our brief counterpoints is to make sure you understand choosing to use formula is not a bad choice, it is just not the most preferred choice. If possible you should choose to breastfeed. If it is not possible, you do not need to feel guilty.

You may be hearing from your mother, friends, or other concerned people it is not a good idea to start losing weight while breastfeeding. Are you really going to trust their wisdom, or are you going to listen to the real evidence and visit with your own doctor?

The facts are pretty simple. Your body needs a high amount of nutrition and water to help produce the proper amount of milk with high amounts of nutrition for your baby. Notice, no where does it say anything about you needing to eat high amounts of calories.

If you want to lose weight while breastfeeding then you need to simply use common sense. Plan on trying to lose weight slowly. Losing 1 or 2 pounds per week is the perfect amount. Slow and steady allows you to eat plenty of calories, get high amounts of nutrition, and to still lose weight.

The even better news, since you are breastfeeding your body consumes more calories and converts body fat to use in the production of milk.

Make sure you are eating a well balanced diet which includes plenty of fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, dairy products, grains, and appropriate amounts of protein.

Adding in a little daily exercise is going to make the weight loss very easy while firming up stretched and abused muscles from your pregnancy. You will be amazed how fast your body can return to a normal size. Exercise is a catalyst to keeping your metabolism high making weight loss easier. Much of your change in appearance is due to muscle tone, too. By exercising gently the muscle tone improves and your shape improves, too. Check with your doctor on your exercise plan to make sure they are not recommending any restrictions.

Just keep in mind you do not want to use diet supplements or attempt to lose rapidly. Slow and steady wins. Diet supplements have the possibility of entering your breast milk. If you are considering using any kind of supplement, even if it is herbal or 100% organic you must check with both your doctor and the pediatrician first. Your baby’s safety is the first concern, not your weight loss.

What should you tell all your family members who insist losing weight while breastfeeding is not a good idea? Tell them the truth. Tell them you checked with your doctor, reviewed the facts, are getting the proper nutrition, and your baby is growing perfectly fine. When you eat the proper foods and get plenty of water your milk supply will continue to stay at the perfect amount for your baby. Go ahead and start getting your shape back, you do not need to wait until you are finished breastfeeding.

Sometimes it is not even the case of stopping or reducing feedings which causes the reduction, sometimes it just happens naturally. You can increase breast milk supply again with a little persistence, and possibly a little bit of supplementation.

One of the most effective ways to start increasing milk supply is to offer the breast more often. The more often you breast feed the more stimuli your body receives to begin producing additional milk.

If you cannot increase the frequency of feeding your best alternative is to start using a breast pump throughout the day. You may need to use the pump as many as 8 to 12 times each day to help stimulate an increase in breast milk supply. Do not be alarmed if you do not get much milk in each pumping. Go ahead and save the milk in a sealed bottle so it is available to feed your baby. Breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days giving you plenty of time to use it. Freezing allows you to keep it even longer.

If additional feedings or pumping does not stimulate added milk production you should make sure your diet and water intake is high enough. If you are not getting proper nutrition and plenty of water you will not be able to produce a high quantity of milk. Drink a minimum of 12 eight ounces glasses of water. Never allow yourself to be thirsty. An easy way to take care of monitoring your water is to use individual bottles of water. Lay out the number of bottles you need to consume in one day, and then make sure you drink all of them.

When none of these simple methods to increase breast milk supply have worked it may be time for a visit with a lactation expert or your doctor. There are a couple very effective pharmaceuticals, domperidone and reglan, which can increase your body’s ability to produce milk. They can often cause an increase of over 100% in milk production.

There are several herbal supplements which have been effective for many women to help increase breast milk supply. They include Mother’s Milk Tea, Fenugreek, and Blessed Thistle. Even though these supplements are natural herbal solutions make sure you follow their directions very carefully. Do not exceed the recommended dosage. Do not use all of them simultaneously. If you choose to try one of these herbal treatments, buy one, try it for at least one week, and then make your decision if it helps. You should consider visiting with your family doctor before beginning the herbal treatments, too. It is always wise to keep them informed.

These few ideas to increase breast milk supply should help you bring your supply back up to normal, and provide your baby with the quantity they need. Persistence is the name of the game in breastfeeding.

Is getting pregnant while breastfeeding possible? There are so many wife’s tales and stories which try to convince you there is no need to worry about getting pregnant while your are still breastfeeding. Sometimes it is the guys who want to promote this theory. The simple and undeniable scientific fact is you can get pregnant while breastfeeding.

Women who are breastfeeding get pregnant on a very regular basis. If you explore countries with very high birth rates you will discover many babies born within 1 year to 18 months after a previous baby. In most of these cases the mother was still breastfeeding. The evidence is overwhelming.

The other question is usually asked by mother who are ready to have another baby but are still breastfeeding their last baby. From what we just said you would think the answer would be an immediate yes. The problem is there is a tiny bit of truth to the old wife’s tales.

When you are breastfeeding your body’s hormone production is still affected. Your ability to get pregnant is decreased. For some women it is greatly reduced. For other women it is reduced only slightly. What does this really mean for you if you want to get pregnant again?

The real answer is pretty simple. You are simply going to need to try. If you and your husband have decided the time is right and your obstetrician agrees your body is ready, then the only way to know for sure is to try.

You may need to try longer. It may take more patience on your part, but the odds are very high you will be able to get pregnant even if you are still nursing your previous child.

Take into consideration the age of your last baby, too. If your baby has reached an age where they are beginning to desire the breast less often this could be the perfect time to start weaning them from breastfeeding. Your body will quickly start balancing hormone production and increase your ability to conceive. This choice will be up to you, your baby, and a consultation with the pediatrician.

The real bottom line facts are very simple. Never trust nursing a baby as a birth control method. Getting pregnant while breastfeeding is not only possible, but happens all the time around the world. While it decreases your odds a little it is not in any means a way to insure you will or will not get pregnant.

If you are trying to avoid getting pregnant while breastfeeding talk to your gynecologist or obstetrician and choose a birth control method which makes sense. If you want to get pregnant, do the same thing, only ask for advice on how to improve your chances. They are the experts and will get you on the right track quickly.

Before you start to begin this is an either-or decision, stop and realize many mothers are very successful at doing both. They provide their daycare center with a combination of pumped breast milk and formula to use during the day. In the evening, overnight, and early morning they breastfeed their baby.

The challenge with using both methods can come from nipple confusion as your baby tries to adjust between using two different styles of eating. Some babies take to this with no problems and other struggle.

Now, to help you make an informed decision if you are going to choose between formula and breast feeding. Here are a few breast feeding vs. bottle feeding facts.

A breast fed baby is less prone to illness. This has been shown in many studies. The antibodies which come from the mother’s breast milk helps increase the babies immunity to many diseases.

Bottle feeding helps the mother get more rest. The biggest advantage comes from the fact anyone can feed the baby. When you breast feed other people can only bring you the baby, they cannot take your place.

Bottle feeding requires guess work on the proper amount of formula the baby needs. You follow the advice of the formula manufacturer, your pediatrician, and by watching your baby. When you breast feed the baby makes the decision and you really only know if they are full or not.

Breast milk is rich in natural nutrients. Formula is high in nutrition, but is only as good as the proper mixing and the quality of the formula. Breast milk nutrition can vary by the quality of the mother’s nutrition, making it very important the mother eat well and supplement with a good quality vitamin.

Cost is always one of the biggest parts of the breast feeding vs. bottle feeding debate. Breast milk is free. You can never do better than free. Formula is going to cost you $100 or more per month for most brands.

Breast milk does not need preparation, is always warm, and always ready. Formula requires mixing, warming, and can leave your baby crying for extra time as you get the bottle ready.

The final answer in breast feeding vs. bottle feeding comes down to a very simple fact. Breast feeding is the best choice, but not always possible. You can feel confident your baby will get high quality nutrition and grow rapidly on formula, too. The choice in the end comes down to what is going to work in your lifestyle and for your baby. Do not keep second guessing, just make a choice and move forward so you can both relax and enjoy life.

Perhaps the biggest reasons the breastfeeding vs. formula debate exists comes down to two very simple facts. Breast milk is high in antibodies which help keep your baby from coming down with certain illnesses. This is a very strong advantage.

The second fact is breast milk is easier for your baby to digest. It is what their tiny bodies have been designed to digest. Your breast milk is the evolutionary culmination of the perfect food for our tiny babies. This does not mean it is the only choice.

Formula is very high in nutrition, also. Depending on the formula you choose it may even be higher in certain vitamins and minerals than your breast milk. In most countries it must meet strict nutritional requirements in order to be sold.

While baby formula is not as easy to digest there are a variety of different kinds of breast milk replacement formulations. If you discover your baby is having problems digesting one kind of formula check with your pediatrician and they can advise on alternatives which may be easier for your baby’s digestion. Most formulas use cow’s milk as the primary source of protein. For some babies this is hard to digest and is replaced with other alternatives in some formulations.

Breastfeeding has the advantage of being free, if you exclude the cost of nursing bras, nursing clothes, breast pads, possibly a breast pump, and other accessories. Formula is going to cost most families $20 per week or more.

Breastfeeding often is claimed to be more convenient because it is always ready. Tell that to a mother who is going through the mall and cannot find a private corner, or to the exhausted mother at 3AM when no one else can feed the baby. Formula does take preparation but is more convenient in location usage and in allowing others to help out.

If you ask your pediatrician he is going to tell you breastfeeding is the best choice. He is exactly right. It is the best choice for your baby, but not always the choice which is going to work. Your baby will be healthy, grow, and be just as happy with formula. You can still cuddle the baby while you feed them their bottle. The bonding experience can be shared by both you and your husband.

As you can see the breastfeeding vs. formula debate is not an easy one to answer. Do not feel guilty if you choose to use formula. It is very healthy for your baby, and is required by all the mothers who never have their breast milk come in. If breastfeeding fits into your lifestyle it is the right choice, it just is not the only choice.

Your first concern probably centers around whether your body can actually produce enough breast milk for both babies. Do not worry, breast milk is produced in the quantity which is demanded. Just as the supply increases as a baby grows, it increases when there is more than one mouth to feed. This fact does lead to a slight increase in the possibility of engorgement. You will want to work with your pediatrician and a lactation expert to verify your babies are getting plenty to eat, and your breasts stay healthy.

The second concern which frightens many expectant mothers of twins is the time required for breastfeeding twins. What most mothers learn is to feed the two babies simultaneously. Since each baby will have their own desired frequency you will need to base your feeding times upon the hungrier, more insistent baby.

Breastfeeding twins at the same time does present a few challenges. You will want to use pillows to help support the babies on each side. Each baby will be given a single breast during the feeding. On your next feeding rotate the two babies. You will discover one baby is normally a much more efficient eater and empties the breast more fully.

Is simultaneous feedings required? Not if you have plenty of time. If you are staying at home with the babies and you can feed them one at a time you will probably find it more enjoyable. Still choose to plan the eating habits for the babies offering different breasts and rotating.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is not going to be in the feedings of the babies, but in feeding yourself. You will need to get extra nutrition, and more water than you have probably ever drank before. This pair of mouths is going to be draining your system very quickly. Dual mouths can also mean a dual release of oxytocin hormones into your system increasing your thirst. In most cases this is very good thing. You need to drink plentifully to keep milk supply high.

Where a breast pump is an option for most mothers, for you it is an essential. You will want to take opportunities to pump and fill up bottles whenever possible. They can be frozen and kept for weeks, or put in the refrigerator and kept for up to 3 days. These bottles can be your life saver when you reach the end of your energy. You can turn the babies over to your husband, the grandparents, or helpful friends for a couple hours while you take a much needed break.

Breastfeeding twins does present extra challenges, but it is offset with double the benefits. You save twice the money. You get the joy of bonding deeply with twice the babies. You get to watch two beautiful babies remain the healthiest possible. The choice is yours, but breastfeeding your twins is a great investment in your time and effort.

Expectant and new mothers if you are feeling a little intimidated do not worry. Breastfeeding is natural and learning just a few breastfeeding techniques will make your life much easier.

The first item to learn is about the proper positioning of your baby. There are four commonly used holds for making your breastfeeding easier. Three are for sitting, the fourth for laying down.

The first of the breastfeeding techniques is the cradle hold. You cradle your baby’s head in the fold of your arm. Their body is across your body almost like a cross, but with their feet down slightly. Their stomach is up against your body. Their face will by horizontal to your breast. This position is very comfortable and works great for most mothers.

The second position is the cross cradle hold. You turn your baby around in your arm. Their head is held in your hand, and their body crosses over your body to reach the breast. This is another very comfortable position. Often mothers lay a pillow on their lap to help support the baby.

Your third position is the football cradle hold. You are holding the baby very similar to the cross cradle hold, but you do not cross over your body. This time the feet come around to your side, and the baby feeds on the breast on the side of the holding arm. Using a pillow for support on any of these sitting positions adds to the comfort.

The last position commonly used is lying down. This is by far the simplest. You lay on your side with your baby in front of you with their mouth brought to your breast.

The next breastfeeding technique concerns getting the baby to latch on tightly. One of the most effective methods is to gently rub your nipple across their mouth or to the side on their cheek. When they open their mouth to the widest is when you insert the nipple. You may need to lightly squeeze your breast to make the nipple extend out further for the initial latching on process. Once the baby latches on successfully they know exactly what to do.

When your baby needs to be moved, or released from the breast, make sure to use your finger to break the suction gently by pushing in on the breast beside their mouth. Their suction is powerful and needs to be released instead of pulled off. Pulling can easily damage your nipple.

The last of our breastfeeding techniques for today concerns burping your baby. If your baby is latched on properly they will be getting very little air and you should be able to wait to burp the baby at the same time you switch breasts, and after you finish feeding. Do not be shocked if your baby does not burp either time. Breastfeeding does not allow for much intake of air.

The best news about all of these breastfeeding techniques, they will feel very natural and both of you will take to them almost instantly. Relax and enjoy this great bonding time with your baby.