Stopped breastfeeding - what to do about the engorgement, lumps and pain?

[NichyNoo]

DS2 is now almost 6 months and over the past 10 days I have reduced his breastfeeds so that, from last night, he is now 100% formula fed.

I have always had an over-supply problem in my right breast and it is now huge, rock solid with massive lumps and wedges in. Very painful. The same thing happened when I weaned DS1 and the doctor gave me some tablets to stop milk production but I was living in a different country then so don't know if a UK GP would prescribe those?

Any advice on what to do please? I had expressed a small bit to relieve the pressure but it doesn't really relieve it much. I read on Kellymom that sage can help so have had a teaspoon of dried sage (!) I'm taking ibruprofen. All the advice for plugged ducts etc. assumes you want to keep the milk supply (i.e. expressing) but I am desperate for it to stop. I have had mastitis in the past with DS1 and was so ill. I absolutely cannot get it now as I have baby and toddler to look after.

Thanks for any advice.

I dropped one feed a fortnight/week waiting until I didn't feel over full at the next feed before dropping another, and had no issues. Any chance you could reinstate a feed/ two and do it more gradually? Understand if you don't want to.
Hope someone can suggest something if you want to drop more rapidly.

Can't really for various reasons. I've always had over-supply so don't know if reducing slowly would help. Breast now has wedge shaped rock-lump. I have tried expressing and massaging it out but it isn't shifting. Oh dear.

Oh no! Have you tried the breast feeding support group. Ours have midwives who gave advice about these things.

Sorry to hear expressing hasn't helped, next suggestion was going to be try expressing all you can each evening then gradually cut that back.

Think might be best to go to GP sooner rather than later and see if they'll give you those pills you've had before.

Hope it's ok x

Cabbage leaves inside your bra help a lot - I kid you not.

Thanks - I've been walking round all day with cabbage leaves in my bra and have used hot flannels to try to express the massive hard wedges out but to no avail.

Does anyone know if they will definitely develop into something worse if I leave them or if they will just disappear? I don't know if I can make a GP appointment for a problem that isn't there yet (I still feel fine, no fever).

My breasts are fine apart from the tops of each which have a wedge (like a 2 inch slice of cake) which is rock solid and very sore.

I'd be inclined to see a gp I think. Sorry cant help more

A friend of mine recommended making a large bowl of fennel tea, letting it cool and then immersing your breast in the infusion. Apparently it draws all the milk out.

I'm still here.....been expressing small amounts to relieve the pressure but it is getting worse I saw the GP today who said she can no longer prescribe tablets to stop milk production and has prescribed me antibiotics in anticipation of the mastitis that is sure to follow my rock-like breasts

She said not to express at all. But surely I need to get rid of the milk that is there? It is sooo painful