Weaning...how do I do it?

[kelly617]

Please don't hate...I'm just trying to protect my son.

I work in aerospace, I'm an airline mechanic and I work with really nasty chemicals. I take as many precautions as possible but I'm still worried. My son is 8 months old, for the last 6 months I was allowed to work away from the airplane and all the chemicals. But my light duty is over and now I have to go back to my regular work. I'm not comfortable breastfeeding if it could possibly expose him to these chemicals.

so how do I go about this...right now he's getting some formula and some breastmilk. Is there a pill to dry up milk? Do I just stop cold turkey? I'm worried about the pain and getting mastitis.

Has anyone been in this position before? has anyone worked with hazardous chemicals...did you still breastfeed?

[collinsmommy0]

Normal weaning advice is drop 1 feeding per week to avoid clogged ducts & mastitis.

Not sure about the chemicals. I do know that no matter what you eat your milk will be the same (healthy food, unhealthy food, barely any food)

[kelly617]

I'm just nervous....I know there are several chemicals that when they contact your skin will accumulate in your liver...and my body is big...can handle little doses of it
But his body is sooo little I feel like any exposure will have a BIG impact on him

Thank you by the way for the info!

[gdiamante]

You can take estrogen birth control. Start tomorrow., dry by Saturday. HOWEVER... you say you've been onl light duty for the past six months and he's eight months old... what did you do in pregnancy? And right before? Because that's the bigger danger than breastfeeding. Indeed, the breastmilk might protect him.

[kelly617]

Oh I was on light duty and away from chemicals while pregnant...and then I got 8wks maternity leave...I was allowed to go back on light duty for 6 months because I was breastfeeding

So I've been away from the chemicals since I found out I was pregnant at 5wks....hopefully I didn't do any serious harm before I knew I was knocked up

[aehanrahan]

Your body filters out most of the stuff that you're exposed to before it gets to your milk. I would be concerned about the chemicals in the formula. I think that your milk would be more protective than dangerous.

[lilahsmommie]

You are more likely to expose him to chemicals from your hair and clothing and skin, not to mention the natures that are in formula.
Your body is a babies best defense.

[gdiamante]

Quoting kelly617:

Oh I was on light duty and away from chemicals while pregnant...and then I got 8wks maternity leave...I was allowed to go back on light duty for 6 months because I was breastfeeding

So I've been away from the chemicals since I found out I was pregnant at 5wks....hopefully I didn't do any serious harm before I knew I was knocked up

Hopefully so. If you haven't seen any issues already, then you're likely clear. The biggest problems with exposures are to your genes, not to your milk... they'd have happened before pregnancy and can continue happening now. If you're following all proper protective procedures then you're as safe as can be and more likely safer than the air your baby is breathing!

[MaryJarrett]

Also, remember that before you even got pregnant, those chemicals have been building up in your system, and he was more exposed to them during pregnancy even though you weren't in contact with them. Be sure to try to cut back on 3rd hand exposure (your clothes, skin, hair, nails, etc-shower and change clothing) before handling him if you are worried about it. 

[Scarlette12]

You'll fine hun, just make sure to take a shower and scrub yourself clean as well put new clothes on.. (:

[lifetimelove]

I was in the air force for 10 years and I'm now a spouse. I've known a few (not many, because we know it's not a popular career field for women) who nursed while working with aircraft. They didn't have issues. Are you active duty?

Anything absorbed through your skin will be filtered very well before reaching baby. Just make sure that you take care of any contact issues by cleaning thoroughly. The health cost of formula would be greater to me than the very minor theoretical risk of the chemicals getting through your bloodstream into your breastmilk.

For me