09/26/2025
Conversation with a mother this morning, on a referral for weaning:
"My pediatrician told me I have one month to wean (her toddler) because he is having tonsils and adenoids out and I won't be able to nurse after surgery."
Back story is that this kiddo relies on nursing pretty heavily for a multitude of reasons, so I feel the need to issue a PSA about a few things.
a.) If you are nursing your toddler and you both wish to continue doing so, there is absolutely no reason you MUST wean due to a procedure like this. You can usually nurse directly shortly after a surgical procedure. Even if you can't, it does not mean you must wean for good if that isn't what you want and if it's not in the best interest of your kiddo....you can protect supply while working the rest out.
b.) Nursing can provide a valuable source of comfort + hydration/nutrition and prevent complications like dehydration during illness or post op. (Pictured is me, nursing my similarly aged son, during his hospital stay with Kawasaki disease....for 7 days prior to this admission, he would ONLY breastfeed. It kept us out of the hospital for much longer than we would have otherwise needed to be admitted, because he would not eat or drink otherwise.)
c.) To abruptly wean a toddler or infant if not medically necessary can cause undue distress on both mother and child. The advice to wean MUST be rooted in either the family's goals or because there is no other reasonable alternative.
The majority of my day as an OT/lactation consultant is spent dispelling myths and misinformation about breastfeeding. I feel so much stress for families inundated with misinformation.
Please, medical teams, take into account the individual circumstances of families when making breastfeeding recommendations!
