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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Milk has come in - not breastfeeding

32 replies

2gd2btrue · 11/05/2021 21:59

Baby is a week old tomorrow, my milk came in on day 3/4 but it hasn't dried up yet.

It's lumpy, painful and I keep leaking everywhere. My boobs are massive (they don't usually grow in pregnancy!) And wearing a bra 24/7 is driving me mad.

Does anyone know how long it usually takes to dry up?

OP posts:

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Ninkanink · 11/05/2021 22:02

You need to empty some out. Just a bit though as you don’t want to stimulate production.

I think it took about two weeks for me, but it’s quite variable from person to person - anything from a few days to several weeks.

2gd2btrue · 11/05/2021 22:50

Oh by hand expressing? I was reluctant to do anything as I didn't want them to keep making more milk

OP posts:

Ninkanink · 11/05/2021 22:51

Yes just a little to relieve pressure. Don’t empty them all the way.

2gd2btrue · 11/05/2021 23:34

Ah will try that, thank you

OP posts:

JamMakingWannaBe · 12/05/2021 00:10

A warm shower might help.

(Not a healthcare professional - just a suggestion).

Changethetoner · 12/05/2021 00:33

When I couldn't feed my baby, a kind midwife bound my breasts with a bedsheet. It was such a relief, it really helped the pain. And after a day or so it stopped being necessary. I'm so thankful for her.

2gd2btrue · 12/05/2021 05:28

Thank you

OP posts:

shouldistop · 13/05/2021 21:37

My friend who didn't breastfeed wore 2 sports bras, one on top of the other. She said it helped.

Runway · 13/05/2021 21:42

Your body is trying to provide for your baby - it’s not a nuisance

shouldistop · 13/05/2021 21:51

@Runway op has said she's not breastfeeding so it's a nuisance for her.

Runway · 13/05/2021 23:25

Pesky bodies during what they should - should invent drugs to stop that

caramelloo · 13/05/2021 23:56

Don't have hot showers or baths as this will stimulate your milk production. Hand express just enough to make you more comfortable and wearing bras all the time is really annoying but wearing a tight fitting bra will help settle things much quicker.

Try and leave the area alone as much as possible so they're not stimulated at all.

Ridiculousradish · 14/05/2021 00:00

Fuck off with the twatty comments Runway. OP has said she's not breastfeeding. You have no idea why, nor is it any of your business.

MrsFin · 14/05/2021 00:11

I remember my midwife/HV suggesting cabbage leaves - an old wives tale, but maybe worth a shot.

MrsFin · 14/05/2021 00:12

www.healthline.com/health/breastfeeding/cabbage-leaves

Ninkanink · 14/05/2021 09:31

@Ridiculousradish

Fuck off with the twatty comments Runway. OP has said she's not breastfeeding. You have no idea why, nor is it any of your business.

It needs saying twice.

Jiggyjigsaw · 14/05/2021 09:44

The cabbage leaves should work. I'm breastfeeding and th ey have been recommended on a chat group several times to help dry up milk apart from that they will be nice and cool so that should give some relief. You should crush it up a bit so that the juice comes out. Apparently its some enzyme in the juice that helps.

Ninkanink · 14/05/2021 10:08

Yes cabbage leaves do work - my mum swore by them (she had 8 children and breastfed them all so she would know!).

Branleuse · 14/05/2021 10:10

sudafed dries it up

LakeShoreD · 14/05/2021 10:15

I know Runway is trying to be unhelpful but actually they have invented drugs to stop it and they do the job very well. I wasn’t breastfeeding so my consultant suggested it. Can’t remember the name of it though since it was not long after my section so I was on the good painkillers!

FTEngineerM · 14/05/2021 10:15

Oh god this is awful, I hated that feeling. It took 3 weeks in total but felt more comfortable after a week.

As PPs said express a little so you’re comfy, if you find any lumps massage them to help empty the blocked duct.

FTEngineerM · 14/05/2021 10:18

Taking drugs such as Cabergoline or Dostinex® to stop breast milk works best for mothers who have not been breastfeeding for long. Talk to your doctor, midwife or nurse if you would like more information about these drugs.

@LakeShoreD I didn’t know they existed, that’s from a super quick search. Why isn’t this more known about?

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LakeShoreD · 14/05/2021 10:24

I had no idea either until my consultant who delivered my second baby suggested it! When I had my first I was in agony and tried all the usual stuff mentioned on this thread and none of it really worked. With hindsight I’m actually pretty annoyed that the midwives with my first were suggesting going to the shop for a cabbage when there was a proper medical alternative.

2gd2btrue · 14/05/2021 11:21

Wow @Runway.. you know, this is my 3rd baby and the 3rd baby I have tried to breastfeed and failed miserably at (hence the milk coming in, except this time it is sticking around for longer and leaking all over the place!) 9 years ago when I had my 1st, and probably when I had my 2nd too, your comments would have upset me SO much. This time, I just think you must be pretty unhappy with your own life to go out of your way to try and make me feel shit about my decision.

The other posters are right, it really is none of your business why I'm not breastfeeding but I'll explain anyway as it's something I have spent a long time feeling guilty about.

I tried to breastfeed my 1st baby. He was huge, I was young and was told it would be easy. It wasn't. I spent a week in hospital because they wouldn't let me go home until I had established feeding. They said "his latch is perfect, I don't know why it hurts". My nipples felt like glass was slicing them off, they were bleeding and scabby. I didn't want to pick my baby up because I knew he would want to be fed if I did and I couldn't bare the pain. I switched to formula so I could go home and THEN my milk came in. By that point I wanted to run away or wish I had died as I couldn't provide what my baby needed and I wasn't a good enough mum for him. I thought his dad loved him more then I did, and he deserved better then me.

3 years later I had DD. She was even bigger so she had to have her blood sugar tested at every feed. I breastfed her, and again the glass through my nipples pain came back. And the midwives said "her latch is great, it shouldn't hurt". But I cried all the time, and her blood sugar levels were too low and we couldn't leave until she was ok. "breast is best" everyone said but my breast milk wasn't doing enough, her little feet were bruised and she screamed and again I couldn't provide my baby with what she needed. I switched to formula and we went home after 2 feeds.

So don't you dare tell me I consider it to be a nuisance. I tried with this baby but when the pain started again I decided my 2 oldest were pretty amazing even if they weren't breastfed and that this baby would be ok too as long as I made the decision I thought was best for us as a family.

OP posts:

2gd2btrue · 14/05/2021 11:23

Sorry about the long post! Thank you to everyone else who has offered advice. The fullness has eased off a bit now so I feel more comfortable, although the leaking continues. I also had no idea there was medicine you could take.

OP posts:

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