Stopping expressing

[ceb80]

DS is almost 5 weeks and we have had problems with BF since day 1 as a result he has been having EBM and formula.I now have mastitis and have had to have my medication changed for a different condition that is not compatible with BF. Do I just go cold turkey and not pump at all as he will now be exclusively formula fed, or just pump a litle bit to relieve the pressure?

Help my boobs hurt!

I am not an expert but I understand cold turkey hurts, so if I were you I would express, and cut the sessions when you do so down gradually. You could give your lo the expressed milk so that he gets it for a wee bit longer. You have made a hard decision to stop, well done for doing it as long as you have!

A friend of mine had a very similar history and decided to stop bf, she did it gradually until she was ding three bfs a day - morning, middle of afternoon and before bed - and at that point decided to carry on with these three and use formula for others. Her mastitis etc cleared up and she says she really quite enjoys it now as there is less pressure on her to 'succeed' with it.

I am not suggesting you do this, but I am adding it in for info for you and others who might be reading! I am bfing and think its one of the hardest things I have ever done - its okay now (apart from recurring thrush but that's another story) but for the first 8 weeks it was really tough.

Thanks dan for your kind words, I agree BF is one of the most challenging things I have done! Will express a little a couple of times a day and gradually cut down.

Have you checked with the Breastfeeding Network about that medication?

Was going on GPs advice, shouldn't I?

Sorry to post and run. No, don't go on GP advice alone. The BFN have a database of drugs and the amount that gets into breast milk and babies. It's run by a pharmacist. I used them when I needed to take some medication for my painful mouth ulcer. Details are here I phoned and found them extremely friendly and helpful, and also very reassuring as she explained why the drug would be safe. It has to be worth a phone call before you make such a big decision.

Incidentally if it is ok for you to continue taking this new medication and still give your baby breast milk, have you considered trying to BF direct? My DS1 would not latch on at all (apart from once in the hospital and that was because he was made to be a MW) and so I expressed for him. He latched on after 8 weeks which is apparently the age a lot of them 'get' it. Unfortunately it didn;t work out in the end, mainly because I was very ill and then I got thrush, but it does for plenty of other people. If it something you want to consider then it is not too late, although it would be a challenge. Having exclusively expressed for 18 months in the end, and now BF my new 4 month old DS2, I can say that persevering with BF is definitely a lot easier and nicer. Sorry if I am off the mark though and you don't want to try. (If you do then you would get lots of advice and support if you started a new thread in this topic and also any of the BF groups would help you, LLL etc).

HTH.

I've just done this ceb80,I was mixed feeding and giving EBM but stopped pumping a week ago.

My HV advised me to cut out one expressed feed for two days, then another for two days, and so on to give youself a gradual decline. In reality I was not able to pump enough for all the feeds so I cut out one pumping session per day starting with the 4am one, then the tea time one, then eventually the evening one. don't pump so much that your supply is stimulated, just enough to relieve the pressure and fullness.I did experience some discomfort on about day 4 but took ibuprofen and used hot flannels. A friend also advised to massage boobs from time to time to keep from sore build-ups.

after a week I am not getting anything except a little dribble in the eve or if my baby kicks me in the boobs (!)HV expected it to take 2 weeks but I wasnt producing all that much.

I hope this helps you if it is what you want to do.

Thanks TPL, very sound advice but have made my decision to stop. I would love to feel that I could carry on but I couldn't cope with the disappointment if he never latched. Feeding has been really distressing for both of us hence why I went with the expressing. Will check with the breastfeeding network re my medication.
Titmouse my milk has decreased a massive amount already and my boobs feel so much softer than yesterday, will try the hot flannels too.

Fair enough. I know just what you mean as I went through exactly the same with my own decision to stop trying to BF. Anyway you have made a wonderful commitment to your son with these weeks of expressing. It is so hard but you have given him the best start regardless of what you do next

ceb80 - glad things are going in the right direction. I too started expressing because of a lot of distress and upset with mastitis etc, my little one is nearly 5 weeks too so it sounds like we've had similar experiences.