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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Is this normal?

13 replies

livingstonbach · 30/03/2011 20:04

DD is 15 months and she stopped bf 10 days ago :(

We were down to only a couple of feeds a day at the most by then, so my breasts have felt fairly normal for the last few months.

For the first few days after stopping everything felt fine, but now my breasts are so sore, and the area around the nipple is really lumpy and very painful. Has anyone else experienced this? Any idea how long it will last for? Or should I be worried?

TIA

OP posts:
vintageteacups · 31/03/2011 00:16

Are you leaking milk? Can you hand express some out?

ShowOfHands · 31/03/2011 00:30

Same happened to me. I was fine for a few days and then was very sore, lumps around my nipples and was very uncomfortable. I didn't express or do anything. Kept my bra on, used a warm flannel to reduce discomfort when in the bath and it stopped after a few days.

It is normal. They do say you can express off a tiny bit for comfort but go easy or you'll just stimulate your body to make more. It is sore. Ibuprofen might help but don't worry that it's anything uncommon.

Original poster
livingstonbach · 31/03/2011 07:08

Thanks so much for reassurance. Will grin and bear it!

OP posts:
vintageteacups · 31/03/2011 11:27

No more than 15 secs a breast - or you'll have let down and make more.

TruthSweet · 31/03/2011 14:09

livingstonbach - I'm only going to say this as you put a Sad after your comment on your DD stopping bfing so I hope I'm not speaking out of line.

Have you considered that it might be a nursing strike rather than weaning? Normally self weaning happens between 2.5-7y/o and takes a long time (months/years) with gradual dropping of feeds rather than a few feeds a day and then no feeds within a short space of time. Obviously if you are ultimately happy that you have stopped bfing then ignore this but if you want to continue to bf your DD then it is possible to carry on (though it might take perseverance and a week or two).

On the pain front SoH & vtc are correct - just (hand) express to comfort and take meds (if appropriate for you) if needed.

Original poster
livingstonbach · 31/03/2011 17:15

Now that is interesting TruthSweet - I hadn't considered that at all.

Will look into it. Thanks.

OP posts:
Pseudocreme · 31/03/2011 23:10

Good point, I didn't pick up on the fact that you might not have wanted to stop.

It is rare for them to self wean this soon. I assumed you'd chosen to stop. Nursing strikes are common. You can offer again if you'd like to continue.

Original poster
livingstonbach · 01/04/2011 15:49

I've offered several times over the last 24 hours, but she's showing no interest at all. We had a bath together, lay skin to skin, and nothing. I'll keep trying though.

I am sad to have stopped as I always thought we'd be going until she's at least 2, but I always said it would be her choice, not mine. Which I thought this was! Info from TruthSweet was really useful, thanks again.

OP posts:
TruthSweet · 01/04/2011 16:48

Has your dd been ill, teething, change in routine or had a fright whilst feeding recently?

Nursing strikes can last up for a while even two weeks before they put down the pickets and get back to nursing.

If you keep the offering low key and offering a quite nonchalant, it doesn't matter to me way (no crying and begging them 'please have milkies, just for mummy!!!!!' Wink) then it won't be stressful for you or them and if they really don't want it they won't feed. This way you are giving them the chance to restart nursing when they want, if they want.

My elder two had a nursing strike that lasted for about 2 weeks when I was 6m pg with DD3 after we had been on holiday for a week. It was quite stressful to me for both to finish bfing at the same time but I tried to keep the mithering to MN and not real life so it didn't affect the DDs. They both broke the strike with in hours of each other. DD3 has also been on a nursing strike after being hospitalised for bronchiolitis.

Original poster
livingstonbach · 01/04/2011 19:26

Nothing untoward jumps out at me TruthSweet, she hasn't been ill or anything and we don't really have a routine to speak of.

I'll keep it low key as you suggest. Thanks again for your help, really appreciate it.

OP posts:
TruthSweet · 01/04/2011 20:16

Well by routine I didn't mean did you put her down for her 11.45 nap at 11.47 Wink

More has she been apart from you more than normal, started nursery, been walloped at toddler group, been to the dentist, gone on holiday/trip, that sort of thing. Sorry I should have been a bit clearer Smile

Offering on waking from sleep is also a good way to allow nursing to resume as sometimes they can be too sleepy to remember they haven't been nursing for a while and latch on. Try not to worry if the latch is a little sloppy so long as it's not hurting you, you can work on the latch later when she is nursing more often (though if she is really bad latching and it hurts then obviously encourage a better latch).

Original poster
livingstonbach · 02/04/2011 18:40

The only thing I can think of is she goes to a childminder once a week (has been since she was 9 months). We had a three week break from the childminder for various reasons during February, so it could be that I suppose? I imagine three weeks is a very long time for a baby and it must have been hard for her to return after that time.

I'll keep trying and the offering on waking sounds hopeful!

OP posts:
TruthSweet · 04/04/2011 22:37

How's it going livingston? Hope things are going well (how ever they are going).

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