SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP !!....I have concrete boobs!

[diapergenie]

My 8 month old dd has abruptly decided to stop breastfeeding. She was having at least four feeds in 24 hours up until four days ago when she started refusing her feeds. She has not bf since, and is now having formula. I know that you are supposed to downgrade bf slowly so that your body has time to adjust, but because I have not been able to do this my boobs feel like they are about to explode! I know that normally women are advised not to express when ceasing to bf, but I don't know what to do, I am scared I will get mastitis if I leave it.
Should I express (which is so tedious by hand and such a pain to keep cleaning the pump)? or should I just lump(ha ha) it and wait for the milk to reabsorb?

[Katemum]

Can you express a little by hand? maybe in the shower, just enough to relieve the pressure.

[marne]

I had simalar problom after having my dd, couldnt bf, boobs were realy painfullso i expressed some even though i was told not to, least then you can sleep without feeling like you got two rocks stuck to your chest. Only done it once though. Maybe if you reduce the amount that you exprece each day!

[diapergenie]

I tried in the bath, and it felt better, but I think that expressing might just stimulate even more milk production?

[almostanangel]

warm water in the sink pop in boobs voila!

[almostanangel]

bathroom ..not kitchen in case you have nosey neighbours!

[JoolsToo]

yes aa thats the method I was given to stop milk or get in the bath and turn on your front.

[diapergenie]

yeah I think reducing the amount each day is a good idea, at least then it would be as if I was downgrading the supply naturally. I just hate using that goddamn breast pump!

[almostanangel]

jools i remember that it feels ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh... where as concrete boobs is arghhhhhhhhhhhh

[joesy]

place cabbage leaves that have been in the fridge onto your breast, this will help with the discomfort.

[JoolsToo]

aa

[almostanangel]

makes interesting summer wear too!!

[diapergenie]

I have no hot water at this time of night, so I guess I will boil the kettle and dip my boobs in a large mixing bowl before going to bed. Ah, the joys of parenthood.

[RnB]

Message withdrawn

[almostanangel]

i went to a bar bq with concrete boobs and breat pads on the hoast ,,very nice man..not thought it would be funny to have a water fight which consisted of him pouring water down my very ample bosems,nice though!!! but i poured water down his trousers!!!!!!

[almostanangel]

please add cold to the boiled water or yourll be back on here with another thread!

[diapergenie]

oh dear, the last thing any nice man wants is ice cold water on his precious!

[almostanangel]

pardon!!

[almostanangel]

lol i just realised you were answering my line re the bbq
thought you were putting ice in the bowl

[chipmonkey]

dg, if your dd is now taking formula, then you don't need to be too fussy about cleaning the pump if you don't want to. You can just throw the milk away. (I know, liquid gold but this is a convenience issue!) maybe just express a little less each day for the next few days till its down to nothing. And ditto the cabbage leaves.

[Leogaela]

drink peppermint tea. it stops the production of milk.

[almostanangel]

hows your boobs hun?