tips to ease the giving up bf in the early days

[cambodia]

I have had to give up breast feeding but would still like to express some - not necessarily all - the food for the next few weeks. I've been told to express 15 or 20 minutes from each breast alternately every few hours. Is this the best advice? I've already had two bouts of mastitis and keen to avoid another. Tips and advice welcome for let down to be as smooth as possible until I can easily dry out milk.

Thanks

[WLmum]

Hi, I too have just given up bf and have been expressing to make the transition to formula easier on the little tum - initially I expressed at every feed time which actually generated enough milk for every feed so it was a case of one in one out of the fridge! Then I cut down to morning, lunchtime and evening, now down to morning and evening, and I'm finding this is working well. Not going by time, but just expressing until I feel that I am quite empty but not completely drained, and milk is getting harder to pump. Am planning now to cut down by volume rather than time, maybe by an oz a day until it's not worth doing anymore.
Good luck - mastitis is not any fun!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

cambodia just wanted to say sorry that you've had to give up, have posted on your other thread and know you were having problems.

[cambodia]

Thanks to both. WLmum - that sounds like a good plan. How long did each phase take you? Trying to get a sense of time scales so feedback would be really helpful

Thanks JiltedJohnsJulie - yes, it's been very difficult but better now a decision to give up has been made

[WLmum]

Sorry for slow response - not Christmas to blame but nasty case of chicken pox for dd2! Sorry to hear that it's problems feeding leading to your decision to stop - I sympathise totally - I reluctantly gave up feeding dd1 when I just couldn't make it work. Very emotional but was definately best for us all. If it's any consolation, feeding dd2 was just fine.

Regards timescales - about a week for first phase, then 4ish days for next couple of phases - we then had a reversal as dd had bad chicken pox spots in and around mouth so went back to breast as it was easier for her. I have now stopped expressing, not quite as planned, but for the last few days have only expressed morning or evening when boobs were too uncomfy, and seems to have settled down more or less now.
Best of luck.