Stopping breast feeding -2 weeks

[TurquoiseDreamCatcher]

Hello,

I want to stop breast feeding my baby, she is 2 weeks old. So far our breast feeding journey has been an utter nightmare.

She was initially in intensive care and fed through a tube and bottle fed. Then she hasn't been able to latch on to my inverted nipples. We used shields, but that has caused trauma to my nipples and baby hadn't gained enough weight.

I'm now incredibly poorly, I'm on antibiotics for a unknown infection and my blood pressure is plummeting every time I stand up so I've been put on bed rest.

Breast feeding isn't going to work for us and I want to know how to decrease my supply. Baby is happily having formula and expressed breast milk. I've been pumping twice a day for the last couple of days to relieve the massively swollen boobs.

Can anyone advice on how to return my boobs back to normal without them getting swollen and engorged?

Thank you.

So sorry that you've both had such a rough start. How are you both now?

You basically just need to pump a little less each time. Breastmilk is supply caused by demand, the less you express the less is made next time. Do it sloooooowly or you'll get mastitis which you don't want, especially as it sounds like you're already feeling really awful. Xx

Yes, you need to gradually reduce the amount you pump off and increase the time between pumps. The less milk you express, the less your body believes it needs to make. My LO is also 2 weeks old and I dried my milk up by just not touching my boobs for several days but it wasn't fun at all so if I were you I'd just keep expressing less gradually. It'll take longer but you won't feel worse on top of your existing illness!

Congrats on your little one and I hope you start to feel better soon!

So sorry you have had such a rough time. Try the national breastfeeding helpline for advice www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk

Also did you know you can feed lying down, basically just lying next to each other with you both on your sides. Really good when you are exhausted. Lots of pictures here - www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/feeding/early-days/breastfeeding-positions-which-are-best-for-you

Went through something very similar - I'm sorry, it's tough! I managed to avoid mastitis by tapering off the pumping and massaging my boobs in a hot shower whenever I could sneak off for one. It took about 4-5 days and I woke up quite a few times with leaks. Good luck! Your baby will be thriving x

I've heard that putting cold cabbage leaves on your breasts eases the pain a bit

Dark green savoy cabbage leaves will help with pain - as dark as possible and crush them before putting them in your bra. You can use them for as long as possible as you're stopping supply but anyone reading just looking for pain relief, don't use for too long as they can limit supply

Decrease how much you pump, the more you pump the more you make. As above, cabbage leaves can ease engorgement.

Thank you all, I reduced the amount I pumped. I still have a bit of milk now but it's much less. My boobs are still reactive to the baby and start to fill up and tingle whenever baby cries.
I gave breastfeeding my best shot but it's not the best option for us. I'm glad I tried though!