I'm stopping breastfeeding after 4 days, need advice on how.

[Steadyon]

I have decided today after having my baby on sunday that breastfeeding is not for me. i have sensitive and slightly inverted nipples which means i cannot get them erect enough for Beth to feed from directly. have had to use nipple shields, but this is not easy. the thing is she swallowed a lot of gunk in late pregnancy and poo'd in my belly as was 16 days late. I therefore had to express in hospital and feed her the colostrum by syringe/bottle as she thought she was full and had no interest in breast. My milk only came in yesterday afternoon so she has not really been on the breast that much, not for the want of trying. My boobs are not getting fuller and a little sore, so need advice about HOW TO STOP in the best way. i can handle a bit of pain and expect this to hurt, but it is stressing me out so much think beth is also getting stressed with my efforts. i have heard to hot compress the tops of boobs to not stimulate the ducts, also cold cabbage leaves to ease discomfort. am worried about stopping and getting mastitis, scared to read up about it too. going to tell midwife tomorrow so will get advice, but if there is anyone who has gone through this at this stage I would be very grateful for advice.

[birdofthenorth]

Congrats on your DD. Lovely name!

I'm afraid I haven't weaned off BF yet so can't give great advice, sorry (someone will come on & help properly, I promise). I just wanted to say during those few days while your milk is coming in it might be hard/ uncomfy to give up straight away, I remember my boobs being Luke rocks then. If you can manage to keep trying for a couple more days your boobs ought to calm down a bit & that make weaning her off easier?

Also, on day 4, my hormones were a mess & I was in floods of tears- so well done you for sounding sane & together!

[birdofthenorth]

Like rocks, not Luke rocks, sorry!!

[birdofthenorth]

Bump.

Someone give the OP some better advice please! Hand expressing? I don't know what to advise!

[littletime]

my friend gave up after two days, she said she just put on a tight sports bra and didn't take it off for two days and plenty of breast pads. She also said it didn't hurt as much. Hoping you can relax a bit now you've made the decision and enjoy your little person

[Mampig]

Best (and quickest) thing is just to go cold turkey!! Dose up on paracetamol and or neurophen, and wait... and wait some more. When they get hard, put in the cabbage leaves..aaahhhh, thats better! Pointing the shower head on your boobs can help scatter the milk too. Also some people use epsons powders to scatter the milk but you'll need to google how this is done as I've never used them. I wouldn't put baby on boob as your body will get confused at this stage. Be prepared for pain, and not being able to lift your arms (if it gets really bad), but you may fare out ok with just mild discomfort = everyone's different! Good luck, and well done for making the right decision for you!

[fifitot]

Borrow a pump and express a bit, doing less and less every day so you can wind down gradually. You could even gave your baby the expressed milk!

It's probably a long winded way to do it but easier healthwise. Just stopping cold is going to be painful and likely to result in blocked ducts.

Cabbage leave supposedly help with inflammation. Take plenty of ibuprofen too.

[sittinginthesun]

I had to quit at day 10 with DS1. Warm flannels, savoy cabbage in your bra, and hand expressing helped. I lay in the bath and expressed every few hours or so. Take paracetamol too - you feel a bit fluey when your milk cones in.

[milkysmum]

Hi. I breast fed for about a wekk before deciding I could continue know more for very similar reasons to you OP. It was 3 years ago and am trying desperatly to remember exactly what I did! Think I just dosed up on paractemol and brufen and did a little hand expressing each day just to take a bit of pressue off. Lot's of breast pads will be needed initially. Your midwife may be able to advise but some of them tend to put the pressue on to continue with breast feeding so be prepared for this just in case. You have to do what feels best for you and your little one. Good luck- it won't last forever!

[Sexonlegs]

I gave up after a week with dd1 and didn't even go there with dd2. I seem to remember as others have said, just going for it. I thought expressing would just mean more mils is produced, so I never did that. I just wore bra's all the time with cabbage leaves in and dosed up on nurofen. I think it took about a week to pass.

Good luck :)

[Eglu]

I think after such a short time that it is perfectly okay to go cold turkey. It will be sore and you will be ongorged but it shouldn't last much longer than a couple of days.

Sorry you've had such a struggle.

[Steadyon]

Thanks all so much for advice, have gone cold turkey and am not in too much pain, thank god for ibuprofen eh! midwife said that after such a short time, this would be ok. I am however suffering from blues big time though, so trying to cope with that. need x

[sittinginthesun]

It will pass. I cried for 3 days with DS1, even though there was no real alternative. It will be ok. Hugs. Xxx

[HandMini]

Have that glass of wine!