Stopping breastfeeding quickly - advice needed

[KellyI]

Hi - I have stopped breastfeeding my son at 1 month just in the last few days, cutting down quite quickly from all feeds to no feeds in 3 days. I know we should have weaned more gradually bu circumstances didnt allow.

My question is, should I let my milk dry up and do nothing (kinda sore at the moment) or should I express a few times a day to simulate feeds and then cut these down say in the next week. I have been expressing a little but would hate to be just prolonging the inevitable and wonder if I should just stop >
?

Any advice welcome or any ideas to ease the discomfort

[vict17]

Hi kelly. I had to stop at 5 weeks and my gp advised just cutting out completely as if you express in shower etc it just encourages the milk to keep coming. I took a lot of painkillers but tbh it wasn't that bad and I think I took them more through fear than actual pain!!

[mears]

Kelly1 - best not to express regularly because that will stimulate more milk production, however if you are very full and sore you could empty your breasts completely by expressing. Savoy cabbage leaves in your bra can ease the discomfort of full breasts. Remember you can always resume feeding if you are able/want to.

[mears]

Kelly1 - best not to express regularly because that will stimulate more milk production, however if you are very full and sore you could empty your breasts completely by expressing. Savoy cabbage leaves in your bra can ease the discomfort of full breasts. Remember you can always resume feeding if you are able/want to.

[Allycat]

When I stopped with first ds a midwife told me to wear a tight bra and if they are really engorged to put a warm flannel on them but not to express. Good luck!!

[KellyI]

Thanks you all. Health nurse told me to express like I would be feeding and reduce it gradually over a few weeks.....but that seems like madness !

I'm quite full and sore on one side especially but have just bought the cabbage - will give it a try.

So I just leave it all alone and wait for it to go away ? how long does that usually take ?

thanks so much

[aloha]

This isn't a criticism, and I'm certainly and absolutely not telling you what to do, but why is it so urgent to stop suddenly? Is this what you want?

[hotmama]

I think it depends on how plentiful your milk supply is. If you have loads of milk it will probably take longer and be more uncomfortable.

My hv advised me to wear a tight bra, take paracetamol and grin and bear it for a day. What I actually did was used a breastpump to express to ease the discomfort and no more - or the milk supply won't reduce. I did for this for 3 days and put up with a bit of leaking in the shower etc. Seemed to be empty pretty quickly.

[nailpolish]

kelly, dont express. i know it eases the pain but it will prolong it.

heres what my mw recommended - wear 2 tight fitting bras - 24 hrs a day, with regular changes of breast pad.

she even said to wrap a scarf tightly around the chest, although i didnt cos it was too hot.

this will put pressure on your breasts, and give support to them cos they will be ever so heavy

watch out for mastitis

it took me 3 weeks

[nailpolish]

really warm deep baths with warm flannels is bliss if you are heavy and sore

i sympathise with you, x