Should I express/pump to relieve or just leave it?

[BelleStar]

I stopped bf my 7 mo dd about 10 days ago, having cut out feeds very gradually over 2-3 weeks. However my left boob is now sore and tender. It feels quite localised - like when my mastitis started (ie blocked). This is what I'm scared of. Im doing my best not to touch it as I want the milk to dry up, but should I pump/express some to shift the potential blockage and avoid mastitis or should I just leave it? I don't mind prolonging the process if it avoids illnesses. Is it likely to turn into mastitis at this stage? For the first 3 days or so after stopping it was all fine. I had mastitis right at the beginning and it was so so awful. I don't want it to happen again! Please can someone with some knowledge tell me what to do!!?

If you think it feels like mastitis I would express or do a small feed from that side you can stop Again in a few days. Mastitis is evil!

I just dropped my 1 year old to 3 feeds and ended up with mastitis back up to 2 hourly feeds and expressing at night to clear for a while. I was the same it was fine for a few days then I got mastitis.

Currently cutting down again so fingers crossed.

I hope it's ok for you this time! I had to stop bf in order to take medication, which means I can't feed again - I'd have to pump/express. I'm so torn between leaving it (I'm worried that my poking about has made it worse) and trying to shift a blockage (which may or may not even be there as it's been a few days like this and hasn't got worse, just not better). Aaarrggh!