Stupid question... but what happens to the milk in your boobs once you've stopped breastfeeding?

[SlinkingOutsideInSocks]

DD, 16MO, had her last breastfeed a week ago. We were just down to one feed a day, the first thing in the morning one, so it wasn't like a sudden stop.

When I stopped feeding DS at 13MO I did it the same way - very gradually cutting down feeds over a period of months - and it worked perfectly well.

However this time, my breasts feel uncomfortable; not engorged, but uncomfortable. I really thought my supply was so finely tuned, that the milk only came in when she was put to the breast, but I guess not.

Two days after stopping I did actually try to put DD to the breast a couple of times, to release the pressure a bit, but she simply was not interested and wouldn't feed.

My breasts definitely feel as if there is milk in there and they are really quite tender. What happens now? It has been a week since I fed her.

I don't have an expresser, BTW.

Can you hand express? The milk will be re-absorbed, but as you're having some engorgement there is a risk of mastitis as there is milk sitting in your milk ducts that your body's not absorbing back quickly enough.

If you can't hand express you might ask you local children's centre, health visitor, midwife, friend whether they have an expressing unit you can borrow for a few days just to take the edge off gently?

Thanks so much for replying. They're not engorged at all anymore, but are still really tender.