would be grateful for some advice before boobs explode

[Carrie06]

Hi everyone, i have been lurking on this thread for the past 7 months and really enjoy reading all the posts. I have been bf my 7 mth old and gave him his last feed on saturday morning.

I had reduced his bf fairly quickly over a 2 week period as I am ill and have to stop before surgery next week. It seemed to be going ok as he wasn't feeding that much during the day but mainly at night, during the night and in the morning.

The morning feed was the last one I dropped but since Saturday my breasts just seem to be permanently engorged and nothing is really helping. I tried cabbage leaves which were quite soothing but the pong began to make me feel a bit nauseous. Have been having warm baths, showers, using hot/cold flannels, taking ibuprofen etc but nothing is really helping. I expressed a few mls on Sunday and Monday but was worried about stimulating supply so probably didn't express enough to relieve the discomfort.

I would really appreciate any advice as worried about developing mastitis. Are things likely to improve over the next few days? I thought my boobs would have got the message by now.......

Hi, not much useful info I'm afraid but didn't want to read and run!

You are right to be very watchful for mastitis. Keep a close eye on your temperature and if the pain appears to be coming from a particular area of the breast or if you get the tell-tale red patch get yourself to the doctors asap. Mastitis can develop very fast in a breast that isn't getting drained adequately (or at all in your case). Trust me, I know

Finally, if cabbage isn't your thing you could try something like this

Hope you feel better soon

Thanks so much, popped out to Sainsburys and picked one up; just waiting on it cooling down in the freezer. Really appreciate your suggestion.

Just hope it works out for you and you feel better soon in time for your surgery

I'd say pump a tiny bit more off or pop the baby on the breast for a v short time (e.g. after he has had a full bottle feed and so is not really hungry put him on for 30 seconds or so). It'll relieve the pressure but won't do much to re-stimulate the supply. With all 3 of mine after I had supposedly dropped the final feed I think I did put them back to the breast v briefly (after a full bottle feed) a couple of times over the course of a week to relieve pressure. It settles down very quickly though, so in a day or two you will be fine.