Can I stop my milk production? DS 2.4 weeks. Desperate :(

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DS is 2 weeks and 4 days. I tried breastfeeding from the start and it seemed to be going well but then I started to get sore nipples which cracked painfully and DS does this thing at every feed where he crosses his arms over his face and 'hits' me in the chest so this was also very painful. We also had latch problems as my nipples are big. Since 2 weeks old I started expressing using a Tommee Tippee electric pump but now have a blister on one of my nipples where it hits the side of the pump when expressing. This also happened using my friend's Medela pump and also when using my manual pump. Hand expressing is not an option for me. I simply don't want to as it is too time consuming and I can't get it right. Also suffering with blocked ducts although I don't think it is mastitis yet, but I have achy, flu-like symptoms which I believe are related.

I have decided I would like to EFF him and want to dry my milk up. I am getting so miserable having painful boobs and nipples, I can't pick my baby up and hold him close because my boobs are too sore and I am starting to feel jealous of DP because his time with DS is unsullied with pain and soreness.

We have been to breastfeeding support groups and received some good advice on how to attempt to continue breastfeeding but I am past this point now (none of it worked - I blame my bloody huge nipples) and truly believe EFF would be better for my health and in turn the health of DS - he doesn't need a stressed out crying mummy and I feel this could lead to PND if I don't sort it out quickly.

So, does anyone know how I can dry up my milk? I have googled it and come up with a load of results about breast binding but that sounds painful and ineffective so I want to know if anyone here has done this successfully and how?

Thanks, and sorry for the long back story, I am still trying to justify it to myself that this is the best thing to do really, it has been a very painful time physically and emotionally recently and I'm in a bit of a state.

A couple of my friends did this and found it easier to drop one breastfeed, leave it a few days, then drop another one, and so on until all breastfeeds were replaced by formula feed.

I'm no expert and exclusively breastfeed so have no personal experience, but I expect an NCT breastfeeding counsellor would be able to help you through the switch over.

with my second daughter i was very ill when she was two weeks and i had to stop feeding - basically dont do anything to your boobs - it will be uncomfortable for a few hours\days but the milk supply will gradually go on its own - however took a couple of weeks to completely go.

howbreastfeedingworks.com

cabbage leaves are suppose to help when they go hard and lumpy

Etalb, what do you mean don't do anything with your breasts? Let them get engorged and then wait for the milk to go? Thanks.

Thanks for the link Barry, will look now.

Think about going to your gp for abs if you are feeling fluey as you may well have mastitis and its much better to sort this out early.

FWiw, your nipple shouldn't rub on the side of the pump. I'm always adjusting the position when I start pumping to avoid this.

IMO I'd deal with the blocked ducts / mastitis before quitting or it'll be agony as draining the breasts is needed to deal with this well.

The first few weeks are often hellish afaik. But if you can get through that, it's lovely, easy and so convenient. My DD had her 1st jabs today and boob soothed her afterwards!

I WAS TOLD TO PUT CABBAGE LEAVES IN MY BRA !!!!!!!!!!!!!STARNGE BUT IT WORKED AFTER A FEW DAYS NO MORE MILK WORTH A TRY

yes dont do anything - cabbage leaves maybe - you are going to get engorged if you baby is not feeding - but if you stimulate them at all then the milk is not going to go. It worked for me - was just trying to help!!!

Thanks Etalb, that was the approach I was going for but it was so painful! Everything seems painful at the moment - pumping, breastfeeding, trying to stop the milk, etc etc, I just feel like whatever avenue I try I am fighting a losing battle. :(

I am giving breastfeeding another go - I gave the National Breastfeeding Helpline a call and had a chat with someone who suggested I swaddle DS to combat the hitting. We have done two feeds today and it has really soothed the pain in my blocked breast. These feeds were skin to skin, nice and relaxed with him upright bobbing his head to root for the boob. The latch isn't good - damn huge nipples - but at least we have done a few days of bottle feeding to give my nipples a chance to recover a bit. Going to try the swaddling at his next feed.

I really, really wanted to EBF, not for the 'earth mother' status some of my friends seem to be obsessed with, but to be honest because I can't afford formula and haven't got the time (houseful of pets to look after too!) to be faffing with sterilising bottles etc. Going to give it a good go again. This illness is draining which makes it harder - will give the GP a ring in the morning.

Thanks for all the comments. I will refer back if I go back to plan B (drying up milk!).

just a quick point, medela do different sizes of breast shield for their pumps but I could only find them online (amazon as always!). The one they supply is the second smallest they do, there's about 3 larger I think.

Thanks binky, that's good to know.

The swaddling worked a dream, hopefully it will make the next few tries easier, then we can work on the latch.

Just leave your boobs alone. Sore for a few days but then will be ok. Its tough I know and hopefully once feeding goes ok you will be more relaxed.

PS - I find that a soother or bottle can soothe a crying child as much as a boob - I did both.

Poor you!!! I remember those times and it was so painful! I got help from the llli.org forum and my gp and was finally painfree after 6 weeks. Now dd is 4 months and i love it, it is so easy now and i am so glad i don't have to prepare bottles at night and always have an easy way to soothe her at night when she is very upset, i don't know how eff people do it! I totally understand what your going through but trust me there is lots of help and support out there and think about what's easiest for you over the next year.

Second the nipple shield size. Medela pumps are size M when u buy, i don't have large breasts or nipples as all and even then i had to buy L (27mm) so u may need XL. try to get it fast and express.

If it works well, why not keep going. If not, at least u can relieve your breasts. If u want to stop keep expressing but decrease amounts daily, don't just stop from one moment to the next.

Lottery - just wanted to say Good Luck with giving BFing another go. It's really not the end of the world if it doesn't work out but you should be really proud of yourself for putting so much into it. Lots of us BFers aren't earth mothers, just ruthless pragmatists.

Good luck with it all and remember you have nothing to justify either way

I have no idea what happened, but suddenly latching isn't painful, and it isn't hurting my nipples when he feeds?! Although it tickles a bit but maybe that's normal? The health visitor visited yesterday and said it was - she is also putting us in touch with a specialist who will come to our home.

We have been at it again for 2 days and 2 nights now and I honestly don't understand what's different but we are currently pain free. And baby isn't having the painful wind he was having with the bottles. Which is obviously amazing and I am feeling so positive today but I'm still taking one step at a time because I know something could change just as easily again.

Sanam, what changed with you? It is brilliant things got better after 6 weeks, did you change your approach drastically or were you a bit like me going "eh?!" when the pain stopped?

TCOB, thanks, I do feel better about myself for giving it another go. :) And just to say I didn't mean all BFers are earth mothers in the negative sense - sorry if I sounded rude - I just have a couple of friends (well friends of friends really) who make out BF is the ONLY way and anyone who doesn't BF is a second rate mother. While it is my preferred way I just don't agree, and I know this is true of most lovely non-judgy BFers, their opinions have just been grinding on me lately with all my strife!

Anyway thanks again for all the support - will keep you posted. :)

So happy for you!! I think your pain might have been painful letdown from engorgement/blocked ducts, at least that's what happened to me. I always thought dd had an awful latch until i suspected oversupply was a problem (bc of her weight gain, fussiness and engorged breasts). I then started hand expressing a bit before each feed so that dd wouldn't be overwhelmed by fast letdown and the pain was gone and her fussiness too.

Also at week 12 my supply regulated (body only produces what baby needs) and since then it has gotten very easy and convenient. Good luck!

Really pleased it's getting better - and please don't think I was getting all hmphy about your earth mother comment. Lots of BFers are earth mother types, and there's nothing wrong with being called one - unless you are definitely not one in which case it feels a little strange!
It does tickle for me still at nearly 7 months but weirdly I notice it more when expressing.
Hope today has been another good one for you and DS.

Oh well done, that's marvellous, what a turnaround!!!

what a fab turnaround

It could be that you just did a teensy, seemingly insignificant tweak to your latch and that has made all the difference. also he may have cleared a bit of the blockage so is able to latch better, or maybe just that it's taken these two weeks to get it right.

Good Luck.

the website someone mentioned earlier is good www.howbreastfeedingworks.com

as is www.kellymom.com

and of course MN is an invaluable source of support and information.

keep an eye on potential blockages though as mastitis is pretty nasty.

Not read all the posts, so apologies if already suggested, but I have been EBF for 3 months now (1st baby) & can really sympathise as I found it really difficult & painful to start with. I know everyone will say the same & it's hard to believe, but it really does get easier!

I found nipple shields (the super thin Medela ones - get the largest size) a total godsend. They allowed me to carry on feeding while my cracked nipples healed. Do give them a try if you are in pain again. They really helped my baby get a good latch too (I have very flat nipples). We don't need them anymore, as we eventually got the hang of it as he got bigger, but there's no way I could have carried on had it not been for a great BF counsellor & nipple shields.

Well done you for persevering.

That's brilliant, really pleased for you.

Just came on to see how you were getting on and so pleased to hear that things are getting easier for you. The first few weeks are such hard work in all respects so struggling with feeding is the last things you want! Good luck.

Thanks all. :) Bit of a tough night, DS wanted to be on the boob permanently. I think he missed it so much the few days he was without it he's now making sure I can't get away again!

I have mastitis which I went to the doctor about and now have antibiotics. We are feeding from that boob first most feeds and it really soothes the blockage. Most of the fever has now gone too, that was the worst bit.

Breastfeeding specialist came today to sit in with us but sod's law would have it he couldn't wait til she came to feed so had finished by the time he got here but he went on for a couple of sucks and she said my technique is good - ie, I am shoving him on hard enough - this might have been the trick actually, I was a bit scared of breaking him before but now he's put on a pound he can withstand it. He really is putting on weight well, lovely and chubby, so I guess I am doing something right.

mamaGool I tried nipple shields but without much joy as I couldn't get a seal (weird shaped boobs?!) but I might try the Medela ones if my nipples get really bad again, thanks for the tip. The ones I had before were just Boots ones and really not the right size for me.

Thanks for all the support! Feels like we're making progress now. A few days really does make all the difference at this stage!

I think it's quite important that you have the right size shields (as with pumps) & your BF specialist should be able to help/advise. Sounds like you're going great guns now anyway & don't need them, but if for any reason you get sore again, here's a link to the Medela ones (you can see from the reviews that they were the only shields most mums with large/flat/inverted nipples could use):
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d.html/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/277-5251808-1757706?a=B001A57OQM

Well done again - I bet your bubba is over the moon to have mummy's boobs back!