So I now have very painful, engorged breasts. Any suggestions on what I should do? Do I just deal with it until it goes away? Is there anything I can do to make the milk dry up faster or at least help the pain? Thanks for your help.
My doctor told me to wear tight fitting bras, avoid ALL stimulation to the nipple (including letting shower water hit the nipple), take advil for the pain, and just be patient. If you ever get a fever or have a red, warm area, get to the doctor ASAP because it might be an infection. It happened to me a few times. I think it was about a week or so before I had relief.
This process is much easier to control if it is gradual, but you have no choice. I would pump just a little bit to relieve the discomfort, or express in the shower, as others have suggested. Definitely do not let your breasts become engorged because you may get terrible inflammation. In my case, after gradually decreasing the breastfeeding, the process continued for one week, after which there was milk but the breasts were not engorged. You have to simulate gradual weaning, so that your body can adjust. Just listen to your body, because everyone is different.
I learned from my lactation consultant that when a baby *suddenly* stops nursing, it's not self-weaning, they call that a "nursing strike" - (you know, like workers being on strike.) It's very rare for a baby under 18-24 months to wean all by themselves, and it happens gradually.
The best way to handle it is to get them back to nursing, because it's still the best food for them. (Unless you absolutely HATE nursing and you've been dying to get to this point.) But most moms that have made it as far as you have (congratulations, by the way), want to make it at least up to 12 or 18 months.
Either way, you'll want to PUMP to stay comfortable (not engorged), and reduce the risk of a plugged duct, mastitis, and (unless you want to quit) keep up your supply. To maintain the supply, pump more frequently - get an inexpensive manual pump if you don't already have one. Isis makes one under $50.
If you want to end nursing now, pump just enough to relieve the pain and pressure. If you don't own a pump, hand expressing should be enough to get over the pain, (Yeah, I mean like milking a cow. It will probably take a little getting used to - you may need to get in the shower and try it under the warm water, but once the pressure is off, you'll feel much better.)
To get her back on, try nursing as she's dropping off to sleep or right when she wakes up. There is more info here about nursing strikes and tips to help coax a babe back to the breast:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.h...
Make sure you check out the links at the very bottom of the page specifically about nursing strikes, including "Surviving a Nursing Strike."
Good luck!!!!!
I am not kidding. Go buy cabbage. Put the leafs (raw and cold) inside your bra covering your boobs... it ABSOLUTELY works. I was amazed how much it helped.
Well, a bottle is easier than a breast to get milk from so why should she work so hard to get the milk?
I would pump and give the breastmilk with the bottle and quit the formula. Was there a good reason to start formula two weeks ago? If you were concerned about production as she was nursing sessions were increasing, that could have been caused by her seeking comfort from teething.
If you want to continue breastfeeding, because you don't *have* to quit, then LLL can help you with that.
You've worked hard breastfeeding for 10 months. Congrats for making it so far! :) If I were you, I'd pump a little out for comfort's sake and then celebrate with a glass of wine, which will help your milk dry up faster! Good luck!
I know it can be very painful but the best thing to do is leave them alone. Try not to touch or stimulate them at all. When you take a shower do not let the water his them either. If you start to feel feverish call your doctor as this maybe an infection in one of your milk ducts.
So u really don't know what to do? Really?
What do you want to do?
If you want to continue giving her breast milk sometimes, then pump.
If you don't, then let the milk dry up.
People say use cabbage on your boobs at night... ice... I don't know. I don't really believe in those. Just give it time and they will dry up. Ice might actually make it feel better though, but not speed the process up. By day 3 you should feel a difference especially since you don't feed during the day anyway. Good luck!!
Don't pump, but using your hands in a warm shower, massage some of the milk out only to the point of it not feeling so bad. Unfortunately, you will have to deal with some discomfort until your milk dries up. I know there are lots of wives' tales, but none of those ever worked for me. Using ice packs when possible, taking the hot showers to allow some milk release, and then taking some Tylenol is what worked for me.
My sister was an OB/GYN nurse and she always said to wear cabbage leaves in the cups of a good fitting bra. Ever since the Dr.s quit prescribing the Rx that helped dry up the milk, the cabbage leaf method has been the only thing I've heard of that helped.
My son quit cold turkey on me when he was 7 mos old. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot to do except suffer through it with frozen veggies on your boobs. I feel for you...it's horrible! Hope it passes quickly!
I would pump a little here and there to where it doesn't feel so bad (but don't empty your breast). I would eat cabbage..that always does it for me. I've accidentally ate cooked cabbage..cole slaw and mine diminished some. lol.
Cabbage Leaves! Put cabbage leaves in your bra (yes it stinks and sounds crazy!). When they wilt put a new set in. It draws the milk out and it will all be over with within a few days. Not to mention the cold cabbage kind of feels good for a bit. It works.
Try cabbage leaves and a sports bra. Sounds silly but the cabbage leaves help to draw the milk out.
