9mo baby started to self settle and sleep without night feeds - tips to avoid mastitis?

[MadMonkeys]

I had mastitis several times with each of my children when they were newborn. Dd2 has started self settling the last couple of nights (hurray!! I can sleep for more than 2 hours for the first time in months) but by the morning my boobs are soooo full and sore! Is there anything I can do to help avoid mastitis? She went to bed at 7 and already one boob feels rather full. I know it will take a few days for my body to adjust to the change in feeding patterns.

I should have said that up until a couple of nights ago she was feeding every 2 hours or so, so this is a big change in feeding. She has fed more in the day since the night feeds stopped and stuffs her solid meals down like a gannet :)

It's great lo is sleeping. I found if you express before you go to bed it helps with fullness. It took a week or two for my boobs to adjust to long spells without feeding. Now my last breastfeed is @ 6pm. Lo wakes at 6am....

Yes, I'll see what I can do by hand, I have a bit of a fear of breast pumps as one ripped my nipples to shreds in the early days. Thanks.

To avoid becoming engorged I would try some gentle hand expression - on order to stop you from being over full but not stimulate your breasts too much.