The best way to drop feeds... stopping breastfeeding.

[MammyShirl]

My dd is almost 8 months, I have cut down her milk feeds to 4 a day. I have replaced her second (lunch time) feed with formula milk about 2 weeks ago, my breasts have still not adjusted so I cant drop a second feed yet!!! Any advice? my breasts do hurt in the day, they dont get engorged now but they still get lumpy and tender. I guess my body is going through alot during this weaning off process so I accept there will be pain but can you tell me if this pain is normal. I dont want mastitus a fourth time!!! So can you tell me if this pain is normal and tips on drying up your milk... most books say drop one feed a week but as i said i dropped one two weeks ago and there is no way i could drop the next one yet. mucho gracia!

sorry for bad grammer and repeating myself, trying to type and sing nursery rhymes at the same time!!!!

What about just expressing a bit off so you don't get too full, but not a whole feed worth? That might help for now.

hello
do you mean i should replace the second feeds with a bottle and express a little bit out? sounds like a good idea but i am just worried about getting mastius as that would mean my breats would have to go from8am to 8pm with justa hit of expressing. i might give it a go next week - thanks

It takes a while for your breasts to adjust and it can be quite painful, but it does settle down. In fact I found when I went to 2 feeds a day it was actually better than when I was doing 3 feeds. The problem is with 3 feeds that during the 12 hour day your breasts are being stimulated 3 times thus getting a signal to produce that amount. Then when you go through the night stretch without stimulating them, they get quite engorged and painful. But when it's just one feed every 12 hours it seems much more manageable. So much so that I've continued doing it much longer than I'd planned. My daughter's 13 months now and I cut her feeds down at the same time you are.

Mammyshirl - I believe I have already posted to you about a similar problem..... maybe I am confusing you with someone else.... not sure -it's been hectic !

Express a little.... just to feel better - and if you want to drop BF after lunch, just express 2 or 3 oz - or what ever to feel (breast wise) better. It will ache for a while but you must persevere.

Mastitis is because of a blocked milk duct and if you are cautious it probably won't happen.