If you don't breastfeed...

[Honeybee79]

Then how long until your milk goes? Had my dd on Friday, not bfeeding and I'm in agony! Taking paracetamol and iboprofen but otherwise leaving well alone.

Anything else I can do to help with the discomfort?

Thanks.

Cold cabbage leaves in your bra, alternate hot and cold on your boobs to try and get the circulation going and to hopefully ease the pain. You can hand express a tiny amount (and I mean literally just let the pressure off to be less uncomfortable rather than actually being fully comfortable). Decongestants like Sudafed also dry up “secretions” which includes breastmilk so you could try that. You should be over the worst in a few days and hopefully start to feel better not long after. Do keep an eye on your temp and general wellbeing though in case you start to develop mastitis.

Thanks

I second cabbage leaves. It is painful isn't it, I remember well as I hadn't really thought about it. I'm expecting my second in a few weeks and won't be bfeeding so will be stocking up! X

A week.
It really is horrible and IMO they should give you the drugs to stop it. I took cabergoline (anti prolactin drug) with no side effects to prevent OHSS so should have been given it when DS couldn’t be. I don’t know why they don’t- it felt to me like I was bein punished for something that wasn’t my fault-DS being early so unable to do it.
Anyway- yes cabbage leaves, some say sage tea, decongestants as supposed to help. I drank a lot of wine too!

Takes a week or so... i tried cabbage leaves and they did nothing. I took ibuprofen and paracetamol with a hot water botyle on my chest for comfort. The soothing heat really helped.

Thank you! It really is bloody painful. I'm now 7 days pp so hoping that the end is in sight. Agree re a couple of glasses of wine!

Oh I’d avoid heat! I put warm compresses on my boobs to increase supply.

Cabbage and sudafed! And if not feeding you should be able to take cocodamol if pain v bad (as long as you have help in case drowsy etc.).

On kellymom they have a section of foods to avoid if you're breastfeeding, eat everything on that list, lots of peppermint mints.

A colleague of mine who had children in the 80's said she drank Epsom salts, but that doesn't sound very safe to me.

I won't be drinking Epsom salts any time soon!

I used Lemsip max strength and it was a godsend. 3 days and it was like the Sahara!

I've just remembered that I was told specifically not to wear anything tight when getting used to feeding, perhaps a tight sports bra might help with the pain while you wait?

You don't wear tight things as it will dig into your breasts and be painful. Not sure how that will prevent milk production.