To ask what I can do about my exploding breasts?!

[Spice17]

HELP! Did my last express of breast milk 12pm yesterday and am using the cold turkey approach in drying my milk up (can't see the sense in expressing a bit, as assume my breasts will then just produce more milk again?)

Must have missed something in the pregnancy and baby books because I can't believe how much it hurts and how thouroughly miserable I feel, can barely pick DD up.

Firstly, how can I make it more comfortable? Accidently hit myself in boob earlier and shouted like I did when I was in labour - ouchie, ouch!!! Secondly, when will the Lolo Ferarri faux boobies deflate? Supposed to pop into work tomorrow but fear I will be leaking and crying all day!

And finally, why do I feel so incredibly rubbish and sad? Worst day I've had since DD was born. Guessing because I feel guilty for stopping but milk was lessening anyway, just feel like shite :(

[kinkyfuckery]

I'd hand express a tiny amount, enough to give you some relief, but not as much as to stimulate a huge amount more.
I've heard cold cabbage leaves in your bra help with pains.

[BubblegumPie]

You may well end up with mastitis if you don't express. I would express slightly less each day to lessen your supply gradually, rather than put yourself through this pain. Although as far as I am aware many women never breastfeed or express and the milk dries up without any complications, perhaps one of them will come along in a minute with different advice.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

Could you wear two bras on top of each other and put thin ice pack things between the two bras?

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

The hormonal changes could account for part of how you're feeling.

[fluckered]

you should express and leave as long as you can between expressing you will eventually dry up. but you have to relieve some milk now or you will end up with mastitis. hot shower/hot face cloth around them or even dipping boobs into sink of hot water will help. dont go cold turkey express a little else you risk infection.

[diddl]

I think expressing to relieve the pain-& decreasing the amount expressed.

Cabbage leaves & cold compresses?

[Sparklingbrook]

I did the cold turkey thing twice. i just wanted to put them away. it was a bit like a boob migraine for a couple of days but did subside.

[FutTheShuckUp]

Not expressing doesnt cause mastitis- think you are thinking of engorgement.
Express a very small amount of milk- the more you express the more you will produce. Try hot flannels hot baths and savoy cabbage leaves in your bra.

[McNewPants2013]

have you taken some painkillers.

Apply cold compress and express small amounts to relief the pressure

[FreyaSnow]

I fed less gradually, and had no pain. There was eventually just none left.

[trashcanjunkie]

Are you definately ready to stop? Feeling really sad might be an indicator that you're not.... If you are ready to stop, doing it gradually is a much better idea. Take a little less off each time. If that's not possible, then taking a little bit off will ease the pain. Get into the shower and hand express, it's quite soothing. Alternatively you can ask for medication from the gp. Good luck and let us know how you get on

[mummymeister]

sorry no easy way round it unless you just dry up naturally. i did the hand express a little bit then gradually less and less and for a while got DH to do the late evening/night feeds as this apparently helps.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

at the description of 'boob migraine' which describes it exactly!

[trashcanjunkie]

yes painkillers too!!

[Sparklingbrook]

Three. I had to put the car seatbelt on v carefully. This was all 13 and 11 years ago now but the boob migraine will not be forgotten

[HollyBerryBush]

You are going to laugh - old cabbage leaves down your bra. It works. I don't know why - but it does

[fluckered]

FuttheShuckUp engorgement as op seems to describe can lead to mastitis

www.babycentre.co.uk/a251/mastitis

[McNewPants2013]

don't use heat as this will worsen the situation. Don't know why but thats what the HV told me

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

I just hand expressed a little in a hot bath when it got really sore. It does get easier.

[FutTheShuckUp]

Oh right. Never heard that before!

[Imnotaslimjim]

My friend has recently gone through this. Tried the same approach as you, and ended up with lumpy, very painful breasts. After a week she went to the dr and he advised expressing just enough to be comfortable. She had a bath that evening, and expressed a fair bit. The next morning she had no milk at all

[wibblyjelly]

When I did this, I expressed a little less each day.

[Tailtwister]

I'm sorry you're having a rough time OP. I would hand express a bit (can be easier in the bath or shower), just until you're comfortable and continue with this until eventually your supply stops. The emotional aspect is probably hormonal, which won't make you feel better but at least is an explanation.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Spice17]

Thanks so much all, think I will express a little on the pump, never seemed to be able to hand express, so perhaps that the solution, oh the relief will be to die for!

So, I just express less? Maybe once a day for 5 mins instead of what I was doing??

No one told me this was so unbearable :) at 'boob migrane', so true!

Trash I think I do feel ready to stop to claw some time back with DD mainly but feel so horribly guilty at the same time. FWIW, DD hasn't seemed to mind just having FF so far (I've been upping it gradually over the past few weeks)

[Annunziata]

A hot shower helped me (although it was years ago, advice might have changed). Sympathies, its agony.