Toddler self-weaned - how long do breasts stay engorged? ...and should i be expressing to relieve the fullness?

[Plonker]

My 15 month old has self weaned. She had her last feed over a week ago and my breasts are feeling horribly full.

The weaning was gradual so i haven't gone from feeding her 5 times a day to nothing. On this basis, i (rather naivly it seems) expected my boobs to just go back to normal. My boobs have other ideas

They are getting very very uncomfortable - how long does this feeling last and should i be expressing to relieve it a little? I have been avoiding doing this in case i re-build more of a supply.

Also, i am rather over-endowed in the boob department and was hoping that they would shrink a little when i had finished feeding, but obv a the mo they are even bigger . Will they go back to normal? Or even shrink a little? Or should i let go of this wishful thought ...?

Good question...will happen to me soon (I hope, DS is 2) so will watch with interest.

Bump

Anyone?

my dd weaned cold turkey at 18 months. i had a couple of days of engorgement but it went quite quickly. i didn't bother to express. they have never got smaller though... (i as 36e pre kids & am now 36g after 2, dd was my 2nd). but i'm a fair bit heavier too. hth.

Don't express and get yourself a Savoy cabbage (cold from the fridge) and cover your breasts with them.
It's wonderfully soothing! My DD2 self-weaned at 11 months and i thought i was going to explode! Also take some painkillers if it gets too much.
But after about 2-3 days it all goes away.

Forgot to say, bruise the leaves before laying them on.

Warm bath helps, and if you are v engorged you could gently stroke to release some milk - but it's got to dry up so best not tell your boobs they still need to produce. My dd did it v gradually and finished at 20 mths but ds decided much more suddenly at 18 months so I had a weird week or so after that - felt quite emotional about it - but all did return to normal and I went back to pre-pg size. Hope your norks feel better soon!