how long will my boobs hurt after stopping BF??

[Cornberry]

did my last feed on saturday night (sniff) and on sunday and monday I expressed a bit every few hours thinking it would help to avoid getting engorged. yesterday they were big and tonight they are getting pretty sore. I'm scared to get mastitis. Any ideas of how long before I can expect them to go down?? thanks!

[Rpj16]

About 36 hours of pain unfortunately, but then it will get better slowly. Just expect to get through a lot of breast pads (I used 3 at a time to make one big pad!) If its very bad, have a shower and press on them firmly, but don't actively express.

You have to just stop really, if you keep expressing it will delay the time. Pain for 36 hours, and then the worst is over. I feel for you

Good luck!!

[Cornberry]

thanks :( mine aren't leaking. is that how the milk comes out?

[Sleepingbunnies]

How long did you feed for? If you wean gradually you shouldn't get any engorgement?

[Rpj16]

Oh, I think the milk become reabsorbed. I stopped rather abruptly during a horrific bout of Mastitis, and I had oversupply at the time. It won't be as painful as I said if you have been stopping gradually.

Does it hurt right now? Maybe take some ibuprofen to help?

[lastnightiwenttomanderley]

How many feeds a day were you doing? My 9mo was on 3 bf a day when I got horrendous mastitis after a duct infection. I then replaced two with FF and so am only BF once a day. I imagine if I were to stop now it would be much easier than going cold turkey at, say, 5 months when he had about 6 feeds a day.

[Cornberry]

LO is 9 and a half months and i've been stopping gradually for the last month so I was hoping to avoid this. My boobs were doing fine and I was down to two feeds a day, then decided to do one last feed, and then they ballooned! They hurt when touched now. I'm just keen to prevent any problems...

[Rpj16]

I would take some painkillers, they could help stop a fever before it starts, and drink lots of water. And try not to worry. If you do get Mastitis, which hopefully you won't, you can be safe in the knowledge you won't get it again as you have stopped breastfeeding! (positive spin) Well done for going so long as well :)

[Cornberry]

Thanks. Have woken up with more painful boobs so going to take some ibuprofen..

[Cornberry]

ok boobs (one in particular) still full and rock hard... Any ideas?? When do I start to worry that they will never go down and maybe explode?!

[Rpj16]

Can you ask your HV? Aaw must be really sore :(

[eurochick]

I squeezed out small amounts in the shower for a few days when they were hard like that. They dried up pretty quickly.

[jacksoncannery]

I took max dose of sudafed, painkillers as needed and put chilled cabbage leaves in my bras. The worst passed after about 3-4 days, normal after 10 days or so. I also squeezed little bits in shower, just where I could feel lumps forming to prevent infection.

[Cornberry]

I asked my GP yesterday and he had a poke and said to wait a few more days... it's been almost a week since my last feed! It's not possible for them to just stay like that right??

[LadyNicholasdeMimsyPorpington]

How you feeling today OP?