Rock hard boobs of firey, throbbing pain

[Baloonphobia]

Baby is 5 days old and I'm formula feeding. Just wondering how long the engorgement typicslly lasts? It seems to get worse at night. Is this normal? I'm wondering if it's something to do with my painkiller regime for my stitches. I'm like Dolly Parton, had to try sleeping on my back last night.

Mine only lasted 24 hours but I did start to pump the next day. If your not Breast feeding are you making sure your expressing/pumping to get it out? I’m sure you need to get it out or else you’ll end up with mastitis which can be really serious

I'd hand Express it out and give it to your baby. Mastitis is awful and those early antibodies are great for your baby. You could even try a feed a day.

Have you tried a warm flannel or warm bath?

I had a hot flannel (as hot as I could take it) on them whilst I laid in a warm bath ... took quite a lot of the milk out

I stood under a hot shower and gently expressed enough to get them soft. Kept my maternity bra on 24/7 except when in the shower. It lasted for about a week before subsiding. Good luck !

A good bra, as little touching as possible, more painkillers! I found the engorged boobs worse with an ill fitting bra x

When I was weaning (slightly different as DS was 18 months) the advice was to hand express enough to be comfortable. I never really expressed much but just used to press on the hard knots further up the breast tissue away from the nipple causing a little fountain of milk...it was just enough pressure off without stimulating more. You can also take a decongestant to help dry up your milk. Cabbage leaves are amazing for short term instant relief.

Thanks everyone. I might up the painkillers
, hit the shower and wait it out. I very much would like to avoid mastitis.

I have a 5 day old too 👋🏻 my boobs have just started to go down. Milk came in day 3, it's like an instant crazy boob job isn't it! I left them alone totally, a tight fitted sports bra with cabbage leaves is your friend. An enzyme in cabbage helps them go down keep it in the fridge. Pop the leaves in your bra, don't be tempted to express just leave your boobs alone and they will go down. Mine are almost back to normal now.

Painkillers every 4 hours (paracetamol and ibuprofen) Sleep with an extra quilt bunched up between your arms, as if you are hugging the quilt.

Savoy cabbage leaves - put them in the fridge first. They look hilarious but are soooo soothing. But soak them off in the bath. Trust me, it's no fun peeling off rock hard cabbage leaves off already extremely painful boobs.

Should all be over in 2-3 days. I found the pain of milk coming in lessened with each baby, if you plan on having any more.

As others have said cabbage leaves don't use a pump as this stimulates but you need to hand express to comfort levels. You can collect iiand mix with formula for a antibodies kick.

And don’t freak out when your boobs have perfect cabbage leaf indentations. Buy lots. Change frequently. Cold cabbage is very soothing.

Slightly better today. They're definitely worse in the evening. DH is getting me cabbage from the shop. He thought I was winding him up.
He quite likes my new 'look' but told him that if he touches me I'll cut off his hand.