Any tips on helping milk to dry up?

[Beingblonde]

I stopped breastfeeding 8mo DS more than 2 weeks ago but my right breast is still really engorged and sore. I did stop gradually and my left boob seems to have got the message, but I couldn't sleep last night because of the other one! Any tips?

TIA!

[organiccarrotcake]

It can take one side longer than the other and it's really important that you try to avoid continued engorgement, otherwise it can lead to mastitis - but I guess you know this.

Can you express? The best thing to do is to take off enough milk for comfort, but not actually drain the breast. Try to do this as many times a day as you need for comfort and it shouls slowly start to reduce production over a week or so (or however long it takes for you).

Well done for the 8 months, that's brilliant!

[TheChewyToffeeMum]

Make sure you have a good supportive bra too.

[WhatSheSaid]

I had the same thing 2 weeks ago when 10 mo dd suddenly decided to stop feeding. Cabbage leaves v good - savoy cabbages. If you express, just express a tiny bit so you are more comfortable, if you express too much it will encourage the breast to keep producing milk.

I had one side that took longer to settle down than the other as well. Cold cabbage leaves from the fridge or freezer were brilliant. Be careful if you feel fluey or achey as stopping suddenly can bring on mastitis - ibuprofen is good for countering it as a first step.

[Beingblonde]

Thanks very much for the advice. I will try cabbage leaves and to express a little - though I could never get much out even before I stopped feeding! I was concerned that expressing would encourage the boob to keep producing milk, as WhatSheSaid said. Hadn't thought of mastitis (duh) despite having suffered from a nasty bout a couple of weeks in... hmmm. No chance it will just settle down on its own?!