Suddenly stopping breastfeeding at 10 weeks

[simonesydney]

I've been told by doctor to give up breastfeeding immediately as I have had 5th attack of mastitis in 10 weeks and am showing very high levels of infection. I've done 3 days without feeding now but have pumped a bit over these 3 days (longer and longer gaps and pumping less each time), however have not pumped in last 24 hours and breasts are now feeling quite sore and lumpy. I don't know whether to pump a little or just wait it out until breasts feel better. Does anyone else have any experience of stopping breastfeeding suddenly. Will the breasts empty themselves and how long will it take?

did he prescribe you anything to help the mastitis? did you want to stop breastfeeding?

if not, then don;t stop! someone else with some better advice will be along soon, but have a look here

www.kellymom.com

and

howbreastfeedingworks.com/tag/breastfeeding/

Doctors sadly aren't always the best people to advise about breastfeeding. I would call LLL ot your local breastfeeding support team.

if you want to carry on feeding there may be (I don't know for sure) a way round it.

Good luck

Simone....do you want to stop bf?

If this is what you want, and you trust your doctor, then what you are doing is on the right lines ie to express with gradually increasing gaps. However, you are probably doing it too quickly - very few women could stop in 2 days (which is what you have done) without the soreness and lumpiness you are experiencing, and I'd be very concerned this could lead to abscess (coupled with your mastitis).

You will find it more comfortable to go back to gentle expressing and to increase the gaps over a period of (probably) a couple of weeks.

Hope this helps.

I didn't/don't want to stop breastfeeding but have been frightened by how ill I have been (so weak that I couldn't lift baby during the worst of the attack). Bacteria levels in blood were checked and were evry high so doc did convince me that I really was seriously risking my own health to continue. I'm on antibiotics for 4th time so it really has conquered me! I will continue to pump a little to reduce risk of abscess, have also taking dostinox a drug which apparantly stops milk supply. Thanks for the advice.