I just weaned by almost one-year-old. Over the last six weeks, I dropped one nursing a day to help with the engorgement of my breasts. Over the last two weeks I was just nursing her once a day, in the morning. Now I haven't nursed her for 48 hours and my breast are hard and hurt and it is really painful. Last night, I iced them, I've massaged them while in the shower. But I'm surprised that they are still the way they are. Any suggestions out there? I don't remember having this issue with my older daughter. Thanks!
Thank you for all the suggestions. I ended up expressing a little in the shower, and just a little more last night. Together with hot press and ice packs and a couple of ibuprofen, looks like I'm on the mend. They are still tender and a little hard, but MUCH better! Hopefully just another couple of days. THANKS!
I just went through the same thing. I took sudafed and rubbed peppermint lotion on them - it really worked!
Go get a head of cabbage and take off several leafs clean them then kind of break them with your hands to get them to release the powerful agent that helps in relief and to start drying you up, then size them to fit in and on around your breasts in your bra. If you don't want the cabbage touching your bra, first put in washcloths or maybe wax paper. Do this for an hour or two at a time for as long as it takes to make the pain go away and to dry you up to the point of relief.
Here is an old wives tale that really worked for me. Take a leave of cabbage straight from the fridge and place on your breast. I do not know what is in it that helps but it does. With me the discomfort only lasted a few days, so hang in there!
This was the hardest thing for me! Cabbage leaves work. Cold ones. This will go away in about 2 weeks.
Good Luck!
Green cabbage leaves....weird I know. As long as you aren't allergic to sulfa drugs. Take a few leaves and moisten them a bit and crack the veins and lay them on your breasts as compresses a few times a day.
I understand your pain.
Anytime I would sit down, I would put a heating pad on them and massage.
I am going throught this same thing right now! I haven't nursed my daughter since Friday. I pumped just enough to make my breasts not hurt (very little) and they have been full, but fine since I did that. I just don't know how long it takes to dry up completely or when to shop for new bras...yea!! ha Sorry I really couldn't be much help!
Take meds for pain and put a VERY tight fitting bra, sports bra, or ace bandage around to bind them. You may also put cabbage leaves in your bra as something in the cabbage helps with drying your up. Do not express because that signals that the milk is needed.
From my experience, it should take a few days to a week to get back to normal. In the mean time, hang in there!
Actually a warm shower is a great relief or a heating pad. Also just express a little milk to relieve some of the swelling. It will dry up. But I know it is so painful right now.
Congratulations on nursing for a year!
My first bit of advice is to to contact a LLL Leader. Consult is FREE and she will be able to help you do any troubleshooting. LLL is not just for nursing, but weaning too. There are quite a few LLL groups and Leaders in Austin.
http://www.lllaustin.org/
LLL recommends dropping only ONE nursing per WEEK to avoid plugged ducts, mastitis, etc. At this point, it seems that "pumping to comfort" would be a really good idea. This would relieve pressure and help your body to adjust more gradually.
You may have heard, cabbage leaves help some women more than others.
Lastly, please be hyper-aware of your body, especially your breasts, right now. Is the discomfort a general breast thing? Or are there any specific spots that hurt more? Is there any streaking? Red spots? Warm spots? Do you have a fever at all?
Below is the LLL Answer Pages link. I think you might find some of this information very helpful in your weaning process. http://www.llli.org/nb.html
Also, kellymom.com is an excellent website on breastfeeding. It has a pretty good search engine. I searched "plugged duct", "mastitis" and "weaning" and found some good information.
HTH and please email me if something I wrote needs clarification or if you have any bf/weaning related questions.
K., mama to
Catherine, 5.5y
Samuel, 2.5y
EDD 9/15
