Ow! I've stopped breastfeeding and my boobs are really painful! Should I pump?

[Pegalopalus]

Hello! I think this might be a stupid question, but I finally stopped breastfeeding this weekend after 11 months. I was down to just a brief evening feed and a couple of what I thought were even briefer night time feeds. I thought my DD was hardly taking anything, but the last couple of days my boobs have been really full and sore, so perhaps I was wrong.

Anyway, I've been pumping when it gets too painful, but I am not sure if this is the right thing to do? Will it just make my body think I'm still feeding and continue to produce milk? Thanks!

It will I'm afraid! Give a day or 2, and it will pass.

Back to the cabbage leaves too... [sympathy]

You could leave it for a day or two and put up with the pain, or just pump a little bit out for a few days... that's what I did.

The milk is produced as long as it's needed so it will eventually dry up, but pumping just a little bit eases the pain IME.

Thanks everyone, I'll see if I can hold out a bit longer before resorting to the pump although I feel like they're going to explode - I'm typing with my elbows stuck out to the side, must look very odd!