Weaning off BF - do you have to express?

[rosalue]

DD is 16 months and I've been advised to stop BF for medical reasons. We'd already been down to just one feed before bed for a while.

We've now skipped it for the last two nights and my boobs are now very sore. Will that settle on its own - i.e. will the milk effectively dissipate - or is that running a risk of mastitis?

A few things I've read have said you can express just enough to ease the discomfort but I'm not massively engorged so wondering if that might just prolong the process?

Thanks for any help!

Absolutely leave them alone. Expressing will only encourage them to make more

I think if you are very sore, I'd hand express just a small amount (I mean a really small amount, a few squeezes in the shower or something, not using a breast pump).
However, across two DDs I had mastitis 3 times so it may be that I worry about that more than is actually warranted.

Hand express a little off in the shower to see if that eases the discomfort. I think you run the risk of mastitis if you don't.

Thanks, all! Will give the shower a go. Living in fear of mastitis as I'm also pregnant at the moment (first trimester) so fever would be a bit of a nightmare.

If you're pregnant you might be better off. I had to wean suddenly at 14 weeks on medical advice and didn't need to express at all. But I did go on progesterone and that might have suppressed my supply.

Had a good go in the shower earlier and it did make a difference but now they're super hard and painful again. Bit odd because she was down to just one short evening feed a day? About to pop out for some cabbage leaves. Just starting to feel a bit desperate in terms of mastitis!

For anyone that has similar in future, I would definitely try cabbage leaves and an ice pack in your bra! Brought the inflammation down quickly and soothed it in the meantime.

Now I just need to find a good recipe for the rest of the cabbage...😅