Ep. 9: What Does It Mean to Wean?

In this episode of the Journal of Human Lactation podcast, hosts Adina Kopinsky and Jill Demirci speak with Dr. Melissa Theurich about her Breastfeeding Measurement article “What Does It Mean to Wean?”The conversation explores how the term “weaning” is inconsistently used across cultures, research, and clinical care, often leading to confusion. Dr. Theurich and her co-authors propose replacing the term with five more precise alternatives to improve clarity in research and practice.Key takeaways:"Weaning" can mean starting solids, stopping breastfeeding, or changing feeding methods, all depending on contextMisuse of the term “weaning” can impact research quality and patient careClarity in language helps clinicians communicate better and supports stronger scienceLinks to the article: ⁠Breastfeeding Measurement—What Does It Mean to Wean?Theurich MA, Fischer L, Gencel-Augusto J, Chetwynd E. Breastfeeding Measurement—What Does It Mean to “Wean?”. Journal of Human Lactation. 2025;41(2):185-190. doi:10.1177/08903344251320034Join the Conversation: Connect with us on social media at Facebook⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@JournalofHumanLactation⁠⁠⁠⁠; Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@journalofhumanlactation⁠⁠⁠⁠ and X⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@JHL_Lactation⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us continue to bring you the latest in lactation research. Don't forget to follow us on social media for updates and join our community of passionate lactation researchers and advocates