finished bf'g - engorgement help... and emotions

[madcows]

hi there,
i gave my 5.5 month old her last feed on sunday, and still have v painful boobs. Anyone know how to relieve it, and how long it will go on for? I've pumped a bit but that was agony (and i'm used to pumping having done it every day for 5 months).
Also, my emotions are all over the place - is this normal?
thanks!

[daisyandbabybootoo]

when I stopped bf DS, I expressed off, gradually reducing the amount to ease engorgement.....I used warm flannels or cold cabbage leaves for relieving the discomfort and took painkillers. it was ouchy at first, but took a week or so to get back to normal!

[MrsFish]

Ditto what daisy just said. I stopped at 5 months too, was expecting it to take a month to completely stop but only took about a week

[madcows]

What about the emotional side of it... I've been all over the place. Have others had this?
thanks

[moondog]

Do you have to finish b/feeding?

[MrsFish]

I can't remember being overly emotional I'm afraid

[hotmama]

Hi there madcows

I did become a bit of an emotional wreck - I kept stopping and starting with dd2. I wasn't very successful bf dd1, so I was determined to bf dd2 for longer - which I did. I did find it hard to stop - but did eventually. It is quite normal to get a bit emotional - all those hormones raging around.

You could express just enough to reduce the engorgement - any more and you'll just fill up IYKWIM. Warm baths are good as is taking paracetomol. HTH

[Slink]

Hi CAN I JOIN IN.... my dd is 6 and half months and i have tried to get her bottles with no luck, she will drink water FINALLY from a glass but very messy, i feel i need to as i want to loose this blasted baby weight and got herbal tablets and can't take them if breastfeeding.

I did not bf dd1 so quite proud i have done it this long but want dh to take over now. having said that sore boobs and tears your scaring me...

[hotmama]

Slink - dd2 was a nightmare taking bottles. The Tommy Tippee Back to Nature ones worked a treat and dd2 took to these straight away - just make sure your lo is hungry.

[laundrylover]

I found it very emotional when I stopped at 8 months first time even though I was mix feeding by then. Second time am still going at 15 months.

Slink, I've just lost 2.5 stone at Slimming World - you get extra treats if your're breastfeeding!