Not bf and breasts are rock hard and sore, what should I do?

[CagneyNLacey]

I had my 2nd child 2 days ago and wanted to bf but once again I messed up the latch and my nipples are ribboned, bleeding and in agony. I've switched to formula but my breasts are so hard and sore and I'm already feeling a bit physically frail after an awful birth, can anyone advise me on how I can get them back to 'normal' please?

Wear the tightest, most supportive bra you have, day and night for at least a week!

You can also get drugs to stop your milk coming in. I took them and there were no side effects bar increased dopamine production. My husband wanted to try one because in men apparently they cause multiple ejaculation! ;)

You say you wanted to breastfeed, two days in is really early if you get the right support you know?

Assuming you feel it's the right decision for your family to ff, your milk will be just coming in, so try and wear a supportive bra, don't touch them too much. If you really need to, you could express off a tiny little bit, but expressing will just stimulate your supply, so don't do it too much!

The only way I got any relief at all was to press rest hot flannels on my breasts at any given opportunity.

I don't think they generally give drugs to stop milk coming in in the UK because of potential side effects. Does the name indicate you aren't in the UK Alpine?

sorry that should just have said 'rest hot flannels'

please don't wear a tight bra, you might end up with blocked ducts/mastitis

have you had any support with the breastfeeding? if your baby is only 2 days old then it certainly isn't too late for a breastfeeding counsellor to help you get the latch right and allow your nipples to heal

if you don't want to do that then I would advise hand expressing just enough milk off to make you comfortable. try and only do it when you really need to, as obviously you don't want to stimulate your breasts to keep producing milk... just enough to ease the pressure and make you feel more comfy
it should settle down within the next few days

congrats on your new baby :)

No, I'm not in the UK, but I am in a country generally more "cautious" about dishing stuff out.

alpine, can i ask when it was you took them?

bromocriptine/parlodel used to be used but it can have very serious side effects which is why it is no longer prescribed.

cabergoline is safer, but still has quite a lot of nasty side effects associated with it, and as such it is only really prescribed when absolutely necessary.

it's far better if the OP can allow her milk to dry up naturally.

Thanks so much everyone, was worried about posting. I know it's only very early days to give up but I just cant face it again, tried and failed with my 1st child only a year and a half ago and it blighted the first few months with her.

Thanks again

Aww , why were you worried? It is totally your decision and most people will be nothing but supportive. I only mentioned bf to check your message wasn't an indirect request for help with that.

Might have to be a bit stern about one thing though - try not to say you've failed or messed up. It's possible to be your own worst critic sometimes. It didn't work out- that's not the same as you 'failing'

I took cabergoline - didn't have any side effects.

OP - big congrats with the new baby. :)