Here is an article by Diane Wiessinger that I came across a number of years ago.  Diane highlights the many gifts of breast milk as your baby ages.  Sometimes this is just the boost and motivation you need to continue on; and sometimes it is the reassurance you need to allow yourself to wean knowing you have provided a special gift to your little one.

Ultimately, supply is managed through the process of supply and demand. An empty breast produces milk faster than a full breast. When a breast is full, the protein FIL (feedback inhibitor of lactation) is present in higher concentrations and signals production to slow. As well, as the breast fills, the walls of the aveoli stretch and do not allow prolactin to enter. These two things combine to slow production. The other aspect that is important to understand when trying to lower supply or wean is that your body will usually continue to produce as much milk as is being removed; that is lactation works on the basis of supply and demand. The other factor that comes into play is storage capacity. Some women are “blessed” with a large storage capacity which is great in that they can often pump less often but maintain supply, however, it also often makes it more challenging to reduce their supply and wean. Read More…