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Parenting
Extended breastfeeding
Fifi20000 · 27/01/2023 16:05
Hi,
I stopped breastfeeding my 20 month old around week after Xmas. It was a gradual reduction, last 2 months of breastfeeding was just a feed before bed, no feeding during the night. How long does it take for the milk to "dry up"?,
My breasts feel larger than normal and harder. Not painful though and no leaking.
ReamsOfCheese · 27/01/2023 16:07
It takes 6 months to completely dry up on average. Sometimes longer or shorter. IDK if it's down to the length of time spent BF or something else.
Montague22 · 27/01/2023 16:14
I can’t quite remember but a couple months. I have found each time that once that happens they might feel/look empty for a while and you’ll feel horrified. Then the fat lays back down and after 1 year they’ll look exactly the same as before.
Fifi20000 · 27/01/2023 16:21
Thanks for the replies. I didn't realise it could take soo long. I breastfeed my oldest until she was 2 but was already pregnant by the time I stopped. thanks for the reassure they will eventually be back to normal.
byvirtue · 27/01/2023 16:22
I bf until my daughter was 2.5yrs and the milk virtually stopped immediately. She tried a week or two later and there was nothing.
newtb · 27/01/2023 16:43
Stopped whed dd was 20 months, took about 6 months to be unable to squeeze out drops of milk.
Singleandproud · 27/01/2023 16:46
I fed DD until she was 3 although towards the end it was very rare. It took me a long time (years) to dry out completely, but I never got that full feeling or mastitis or anything.
Baconand · 27/01/2023 16:47
I fed to 26 months. DD is now 40 months and I’d say they are still in the process of settling down!
The milk was a few months but they went up and down in size and soft-hard-soft again a lot. I think we are about there now though.
I sweat that when DD is ill though and cuddles I feel could still fed her sometimes. I’m not sure it will ever completely go!
Bert2e · 27/01/2023 16:51
I stopped bf 14 years ago, I can still express a few drops. All completely normal.
Somebodyelsestrain · 27/01/2023 17:01
Bert2e · 27/01/2023 16:51
I stopped bf 14 years ago, I can still express a few drops. All completely normal.
Wow, that's amazing. I fed mine to 13 months, and then 2.5yrs, both times I could express at least a few drops until the next pregnancy. Third one (final baby) I fed until about 3ish and it took a good year before no more drops came out.
Fifi20000 · 27/01/2023 19:15
Thanks everyone for your responses, I'm honestly really surprised. I thought'd be a few weeks, especially has she's only been having 1 feed for the 2 months before I stopped xx
Eileen101 · 27/01/2023 19:20
I stopped feeding my first around 18 months and got fabulous relief from the full feeling by putting cabbage leaves, from the fridge, in my bra. Left them in overnight and it was so much better in the morning.
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