Trying to stop bf - engorgement pain

[Sleepyfergus]

Dd2 is about to turn 1 and I gave up bf last week – I used to do a bedtime feed and a small feed once or twice a night. I dropped the bedtime feed first, then a couple of days later (Wed) stopped the night time feeds.

My right boob feels like a beach ball, is sore to touch and rock hard. My left one isn’t as bad but I think is playing catch up. I'm wearing 2 bras and a tight vest to support them as any jiggle or movement is quite sore.

I don't remember it taking so long for the engorgement to go away with dd1. Is this too long to be like this (now on day 5)? Should I be off to the docs or is there time for them to subside normally? I'm fed up and I'm worried it may lead to an infection. I've never had mastitis so don't know if this is the start of it.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I'd give one of the bfing helplines a call. If you haven't got the numbers just google National Breastfeeding Helpline.

Could you express some for your own comfort?

[Sleepyfergus]

JJJ - I expressed a small but off with my hand pump. Enough to ease the constant pain, but I don't want to do too much as I don't want to prolong it.

Hadn't thought about a helpline, good idea - thanks

[CandyPop]

Sleepy be great if u can let us know whether u got any useful advise... Currently going through the same thing !

[TheOrchardKeeper]

I skipped the pump and just did quite a lot of 'self' expressing. Did it whenever it got really painful but it seemed to make it reduce way quicker than when I was just using the pump to express when I was sore.

Good luck! It bloody hurts at that point.

[TheOrchardKeeper]

(pretty sure it was to do with it not being like actual feeding/not sending the same/as many signals to make more iyswim)

[Sleepyfergus]

I expressed a tiny bit more off this morning. Right boob still sore if I prod it but not half as much as it was yesterday. Left boob now starting to really ache so I'll pump a bit off tonight. Will report back!

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

I just hand expressed enough off in the shower to take off the worst of the pressure - I could do it from the most painful areas that way. Not too much, but just enough.

[Sleepyfergus]

Meant to say, I haven't had a chance to try any of the helplines, been in meetings most of the day. I did look at LLL website last night and they advised what I'm doing....expressing a little bit to ease the pressure and that gradually the body gets the message.

www.llli.org/faq/weanhowto.html

[Sleepyfergus]

It's a really weird pain isn't it. Like a bruise but ten times worse. I nearly cried when dd2 banged against me the other night. I'm wearing 2 bras at the mo to try and reduce any jiggle!