Soarness After Breastfeeding for 13 Months......

I had to immediately stop breastfeeding with my second child. I was told to get out as much milk as possible and then using a bandage wrap (like you wrap an ankle or elbow with) wrap my chest as tightly as possible. Also, drink as little water as possible and limit rest (The opposite of how you increase milk). Every evening before bed I would shower and empty my breasts as much as possible. It gets better and better and finally stops. The wrapping helped me tremendously with both the milk production/lumpiness and the pain. Be very careful that if you develop a hard lump that you squeeze the milk out because you can get a clogged or infected milk duct - then you will be in for big trouble! Good luck.

I also wrapped my breasts with ace bandages until the firmness quit. Good luck. Put some padding under the bandages for leaking problems.

I had to stop breastfeeding abruptly a few weeks ago because my daughter was diagnosed with Galctesemia. A rare genetic metabolic disorder. Milk proteins will store in her brain and liver and will poison her...she will outgrow this as she gets older and produces more enzyme to metabolize Galactose. Anyways I was so upset by the diagnosis I could not bring myself to pump while we awaited final diagnosis. The best thing to do is not to pump more than a few mls to relieve discomfort. DO NOT USE HOT WATER. This will initiate let down and more milk. Use Ice packs for 20 minute intervals. The cold stops the milk from forming. Also get some sage(in the spice isle) put 1/4 teaspoonful on a small piece of bread roll it up and swallow. Do this 3 times a day. Milk will dry up super fast. Bendaryl at bedtime is a drying agent and helps too. It will get better and took me about 3 days. Ice is the best!!!!!!!

An old method of this is to be bound. Sounds strange but it works. With your husbands help or another adult get a large pillow case and wrap it around you where you bra would be pull it tight and pin it with safety pins it will take a few days but will help with the swelling and stop the milk. You would be able to forget the cabbage (not needed). Good luck
My son did the same thing and I was told by mother-in-law she was sure that he would be nursing when he went into Kinder-garden this still makes me laugh.

I breastfed also for 13 months. I did feel a bit sore for a few days but I was really surprised that I still had milk for about a month after I stopped. Then suddenly one day it was gone. I didn't pump as that makes your body think you need more milk. It will get better. But if you start getting flu symptoms see a dr as you could have an infection.

Hope this helps.
S.

Congratulations on several points, S.! I too nursed all 4 of my children and loved it. I had to wean my last child suddenly at 10 mo.due to meds which would have been bad for the baby. I was told to bind my breasts with an ace bandage and wear it day and night.(That was 20 yrs ago-there were no sports bras at that time.) One breast did leak more than the other. Check with your lactation specialist, maybe that is not the best remedy anymore. Kudos for recognizing he was ready to wean and taking advantage of his signals. Some moms don't recognize the baby's signals or love the emotional bond so much they overlook the child's lead. My first baby weaned herself to a cup at 9 mo old. That surprised me because she was still so young. I too, was sad for a time but that passes because they become more mobile and start getting into things. Plus, they get more active with hugging, kissing and snuggles. Once you have to put on your running shoes to keep up with their rapid progression, that excitement takes the place of sadness. LOL

Here is what I did last year when I gave birth as a gestational surrogate and knew I could not nurse the baby, or pump and send them milk. I thought I would try and dry up naturally but after 3 days I could not stand the pain!

I pumped, just a little, just enough to empty the breasts. I extended the time between pumpings from every 4 hours to 6, then from 6 to 8 hours, then from 8 to 12 and so on, until I 'weaned' myself. It was a more natural way to do it, less painful and more like how a baby would naturally wean themselves off.

BTW, I have nursed 8 babies so I know how to wean them off the breast, and just found this to be the next best thing.

I would contact a La Leche League leader. LLL Leaders are accredited and experienced nursing mamas. She will be able to give you good, SOUND advice.
http://www.llli.org//Web/Texas.html

hth
K., mama to
Catherine, 4.5y
Samuel, 17m

soak in warm water and wrap your breast or wear a tight sports bra. plus massage both breast. I've been through this 3 diferent times and it can be painful. I used motrin for the pain try and take it before it starts hurting that way you wont have the thoughts of it hurting for hours before releaf. when you soak in the bath or shower some milk will come out but dont try to get alot out cause your trying to stop the milk flow, you want to just relieve some of the pressure. I hope this helps you some. It will take a couple of weeks for your milk supply to stop and quit hurting as much.

Wish you well and the best of luck.

S. I soooooo feel your pain. I just stopped nursing my son at 12 mths 3 weeks and it took about 1 full week before I felt any relief and 3 whole weeks before the lumps and swelling went away. Hang in there it just takes time.

when I stopped they told me to use the pump to relieve the pressure and cut out one session each time. The lumps may be clogged milk ducts and you just massage them and let the milk flow out. As for the leaking they sell disposeable and washable breast pads at both walmart and target. Or you can use wash cloths in your bra to absorb however much is comming out. I personally have never heard of using cabbage and I can just imagine wearing that around all day. But that's how I did it so you may want to give it a try. You're still going to feel full and heavy and you're gonna swear that your boobs were made of rocks but it only takes a few days. Good luck.

Hi Shelly,

All my boys also weened themselves cold turkey. It was good in some ways, but also dissapointing in others and painful. Earth mama angel baby has a product called no more milk tea. It is supposed to help with stopping your milk supply. Their other products work very well. I just love the peaceful mama tea(helps with stress and anxiety) and the stretch oil(my stretch marks are actually fading). So I think the no more milk tea might help you. Here is the link:

earthmamaangelbaby.com

Sincerely,
mommy of 3 boys and girl on the way M. K

Peppermint also can cause your supply to dip, so I'd go buy a package.

If you are at all sore, you should pump a little. Not enough to keep encouraging the milk, but enough to relieve the pressure so that they feel soft. If they get hard and lumpy again, pump a little more as if you were weaning the baby. It might take a week or so, but it should eventually ease off. Good luck and congratulations. It's great that he weaned himself. Weaning a child when they are not willing is the hardest thing to do!

Are you soaking the cabbage leaves in ice water? That seemed to help me with the swelling. Even though it's almost 11 years ago, I still remember the feeling! A good tight sport bra, and wearing an ace bandage over the bra was a good source of support and relief. Take care & hang in there; it'll get better...
Amanda

You don't have to use cabbage leaves. They have some cooling pads that would help relieve you (try Babies R Us in the front where the nursing supplies are.) I believe sage helps dry milk, you could take some sage.

I've never had that problem but I weaned them rather then stopping cold turkey and I'm sure that helped. You can pump A LITTLE just enough to relieve the pressure. That will help give your body more of a slow wean feeling and should help tremendously. Just don't pump a whole lot because it will tell your body to keep making milk.

Hope it helps!
S., mom to four girls ages 1 year to 5 years.

I heard that if you put hot compresses on your breast that it will help. Like hot wet wash clothes. My son weaned himself when he was 10 1/2 months old and it really hurt my feelings too, but then within the week he cut his first tooth. It will just take a little while and your breast will be back to normal. But as Mom's we will always have that feeling and know when our little ones are hungrey. God bless.

It sounds like you have a clogged duct, which if left untreated, can lead to mastitis. I would try using moist heat (a hot, damp wash cloth or stand in a hot shower) and massage your breasts where they are lumpy and sore. Also, you may have to pump off just a little bit to make you comfortable so that you don't stay so full (just for a minute or two). I just had my second baby 2 weeks ago and I had lots of problems the first week when my milk came in, so I feel your pain (literally!). It shouldn't last much longer, but you'll have to manage it in the meantime. You might try calling the lactation consultant again or your OB if you want some other ideas. Best of luck to you and congrats on breastfeeding for so long! I nursed my daughter until she weaned herself at 10 months. I was sad too, but we do the best we can and you made it for over a year. Great job mom!

Wear two sports bras if you can! I might even pump so your breasts aren't full. Then put the bras on and don't take them off for as long as possible!! This will keep them from getting so engorged that they are hard, lumpy, sore, and uncomfortable. This info is from my gyno...and I tried it and it worked. Best of luck.

S., it takes about a week to a week and a half...

turn on your shower to the warmest setting you can stand and get in..let the water hit your sore breasts. express some milk while in the shower if you have to to relieve some of the pain...Massage the lumpy areas while you are in the shower...

In between showers, you can use a warm moist towel to relieve some of the hardness and pain. Especially when your son is fussy.

Other than that, I feel for you, I remember when my oldest stopped, it was hard going while I stopped producing.

Good luck!!! ;-)

I would go see your OB. If the pain is that bad and the fool proof remedies are not working you may have a clogged duct. I don't recall my breast ever getting lumpy after weaning so to me that signals a possible problem.