Ouch! engorged breasts on giving up bf - to express or not express?

[PollyParanoia]

Hello, yesterday I did my last feed for my 9m dd (and hurrah for that, I feel like burning my manky old nursing bras). I had cut down to just evening and middle of the night feeds. I didn't think I'd get engorged as didn't when I gave with ds, but I've got porno breasts that are agony. So much so that I feel slightly dizzy with the pain.
I'm torn as to whether to express or not. I don't want to stimulate supply but at the same time I'd be more comfortable if I got off the worst of it. Have done a couple of small expresses, starting with pump and then doing a bit by hand. Milk fair squirting out. Such a waste.
thanks,
Pol
ps for anyone who answered my how much milk does a 9m old need question, she seems to be chugging it back now.

[3andnomore]

maybe express just a little, just to eaase the engorgement....possibly you only need to have a nice hot shower or bath and "stroke" down your breast to release the most urgent of milk, just to get comfortable...apparently cabbageleaves are meantr to be really good for engorgement pain, especailly cold ones...

[PollyParanoia]

I so should have anticipated this and made sure there were clean flannels and cabbage leaves knocking around. I just didn't think I had much milk left. Typical - either not enough or too much.
Will have a shower I think,
thanks, Pol

[luckylady74]

bind your boobs - sports bra or what ever - i was told by hv not to express - i also found icepacks good, but did get ice burns!

[Nat1H]

don't express - it will prolong the agony. Green cabbage leaves are very soothing - the darker green the better, and even better if they have been in the fridge first. Take paracetemol to ease the pain. I felt like I had a viral infection when I stopped - felt awful for a few days. It will get better! Keep your chin up.

[3andnomore]

hm...expressing will only "activate" milk stimulation if done to much...just to ease of pressure, especially if not manulally proerpy expressing will not really prolong or stimulate anything....it will jsut give a more confortale feeling and reduce the risk of mastitis

[meandmy]

express a little till its comfortable or use a warm flannel to help ease (you will leak though)

[PollyParanoia]

Haven't been online (too busy cradling my engorged breasts ). Avoided expressing for the reasons suggested here and have just grinned and born it. Almost a week on and they're still really full and spherical, like posh spice's but without the ribs sticking out beneath them. I'm amazed that I still was producing so much milk.

[cheritongirl]

hi Polly, yeah i have up bf my 10 mo last week and am still feeling decidedly "full" but its getting easier. Had to resist the urge to bf him again tonight as he was nuzzling sooo cutely - but really i have had enough of bf and being bitten, even though i loved it. Ah well..

[VengefulSquirrel]

Hi Polly and Cheriton,

Amazing that you guys are discussing this, as I was going to start a thread about this.

My dd is 6mo and I am wanting to cut down bf as life is about to grind back into gear with work etc. Not straight away, but in the next 8 weeks or so.

I am really dreading the engorgement side of things...HV told me that when lo was taking solids, the milk would just go down gradually. Has this been your experience? (sounds unlikely!)

Also, my dd doesn't seem to be taking less milk. She still feeds at 8am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and then sometimes once or twice in the night.

Aargh! Where do I start. Feel like I can't solve this, it is too hard. She won;t take a bottle...what do I do? What will I give her to drink instead?! And how??

Sorry for slight hijack. Tell me to piss off if you want and I Will start a new thread.

Thanks