Stopped breastfeeding - now what?

[Rachie1986]

So I dropped to 1 feed a day for the last few days and from today have stopped.
But reading very mixed advice on what to do to help the uncomfy overful bit go away.
Some say to express, others say don't.
Some say right clothes, others don't.
Some say hot showers. Others say no hot showers.
Some swear by cabbage leaves, cold compresses, safe tablets, sudafed, vitamin b6.

What has worked for you?
I've struggled giving up each feed so don't expect the next few days (weeks?) to be easy...

Hot shower. Let boobs drip. Anything more like expressing will keep sending the message to your boobs that they need to keep producing.
Do you feel ok about stopping?

Oh - and reverse pressure massage can be helpful if your boobs feel particularly swollen in one area. Google for videos, diagrams etc

Thank you.

I'm ok about it, a bit sad but it's got to be done for return to work etc. more stressed about being uncomfy etc at the moment really!

How old is your baby? How long have you been cutting back for? I ct back slowly over almost 4 months when DS was between 14-18mo so I just stopped at the end and had no discomfort. Milk and boobs had plenty of time to adjust slowly.

She's 7 months.

Been cutting down for ages, dropped to 2 feeds from 3 mid July, then to 1 feed last week.

One side is much better than the other. One is very full and sore, 48hra after last feed (so missed 2nights).

How long will it last?

Can you not keep feeding her morning and/or evening - or do your work patterns not allow for it?

(Sorry I know its not what you asked, but if she's going to childcare then the antibodies will help her fight off infections & its a nice bonding moment when you are together again... you probably know all this...)

I went cold turkey.

Took and 1 and half weeks for all pain and engorgement to go. After 5 days it was much more manageable.

I didn't express and no showers (as in no water on the area for 5 days).

I did have sudafed, sage tea 6 times a day, vitamin b12 200mg for 5 days and green cabbage leaves. I think all of above is worth a shot (nothing to loose).

I went cold turkey too. Ten days of discomfort/pain and then it was gone, overnight.

Painkillers and hot showers. I didn't express, did massage though.

And a big yes to cold savoy cabbage leaves and cold packs.

Going to breastfeeding charities like La Leche League or consulting an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant will give you the latest research based recommendations. If weaning goes too quickly you will become engorged which if not dealt with can lead to mastitis or worse, an abscess. Expressing to comfort, using cold compresses, gentle massage and cold cabbage leaves while taking weaning slowly will be correct information. Advice to wear tight clothes, use hot showers, or not to express will worsen the engorgement and is NOT recommended. Those ladies who suffered pain for several days were lucky not to get mastitis but the very real risk was still there. Expressing to comfort (ie just enough to make you comfortable) will not perpetuate your milk. See this link Breasts Full and Tender for how to deal with engorgement at any time.