Any tips for suddenly stopping breastfeeding

[Rainbowsunshine81]

Any tips for not gradually stopping breastfeeding, haven't fed since Tuesday, I've tried to hand express for comfort as my boobs feel really full, hard and uncomfortable, hand expression hasn't worked as I don't think I've been doing it properly. I do have a manual breast pump, would I be ok to just use it to express a little bit for some relief or would I just be making it worse. How long can I expect this to last for?

Yes definitely pump a bit, just enough to be comfortable. Otherwise the risk of mastitis is high.

@Springadorable Thank you, how much would be ok to pump, without encouraging more milk.

How old is the baby you’ve been feeding/how much were you feeding? The more you were feeding the longer it’s likely to take for your body to settle. Definitely do pump to avoid mastitis and reduce that gradually over time. How long it’ll take exactly is very variable woman to woman so hard to give exacts.

Enough to take the pressure off. Cabbage leaves in the fridge really do help too. Prepare for a hormonal crash!

How far into breastfeeding are you? Can I ask why you’ve completely stopped? I don’t think it’s good for you to just stop both in terms of infection and the hormones unless this is when your milk has first come in? Pumping a few times will help massively to prevent issues

Pump as little as possible - Ie only if you feel uncomfortably full. Savoy cabbage leaves from the fridge work well and hot flannels in a bath

Pump enough to not be actively sore, but not so much your boobs are soft. You should find you go longer and longer between pumps.

@Apksbdv it's been two weeks, initially hand expressed colostrum, then pumped as my little boy was in the neonatal unit and having a tube down his nose, then that was removed and I was then trying to breastfeed and continue to express.
I don't think he was latching on properly and I was becoming sore, then a night or so ago I was really full, he was becoming more and more upset and I was, then I was having to remember to pump, then trying to get him to feed, I was finding it too much and also I have my older son to think of too.
I know it's not ideal to stop suddenly.

@Springadorable I've just pumped a little but not so my breasts feel soft and I didn't do it for very long. This is the first time I've pumped since Tuesday.

@MissHollysDolly This is the first time I've pumped since Tuesday, have felt uncomfortably full and hard. I've put some Savoy cabbage leaves in my bra that have been in the freezer.

@BuffaloCauliflower He's two weeks old, was varied as we've been continuing combination feeding since we've been home from hospital. I've pumped just a little now, this is the first time I've pumped since Tuesday.

@Heartsonaspot I've got cabbage leaves in my bra from the freezer. I've noticed I've been bleeding today.

Completely understand where you’re coming from @Rainbowsunshine81 i had to pump while my DC was in SCBU and I definitely couldn’t have pumped, bottle fed and looked after a toddler. In your situation I’d just pump to reduce the rock hard pressure when you need to but not a full feed. Hot flannel in the shower might also help.
Hope you and your baby are doing well.

Cabbage leaves. Lots of

This is the latest info for mastitis

I also recommend this video:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBOH9DbtF5i/?igsh=MWZmaDcxYTVuY3h5bQ==

The blood is a warning sign as is feeling uncomfortable. Please ask to speak to your local feeding specialist team, they can help.

@Apksbdv I just started to feel like it was consuming me, feeding, pumping, making sure our other son getting attention and so on.
I just pumped a small amount but not where my boobs went completely soft. I have been using warm flannels and cold flannels. Also cabbage leaves that I've had in the fridge.
Recovering from a c section too and I think I've been over doing it a bit. Baby is gradually putting his weight on which is good

@Mulledjuice I was getting referred to the infant feeding team, but haven't heard anything from them yet. Thank you for the link to the video, I'm definitely keeping a eye out for mastitis. I've pumped a small amount and just for a couple of minutes, I've made sure my boobs aren't completely soft. I just don't know how often I should express as I don't want to encourage supply to go up.

@Purplesphere11 I've got cabbage leaves in my bra from the freezer and also had them in the fridge.

Please ask the midwives again about the feeding specialist team, are you on the post natal ward?

@Mulledjuice we've been home two weeks now, one of the midwives who came out said she was doing a referral to the infant feeding team, but haven't heard anything.

Sorry to hear that. See if you can find your local La Leche league meet, or NCT breastfeeding café (ours does online drop-in sessions as well as in person with play area for small children) or Breastfeeding Network meetup. They were so helpful when I was starting to (failing to!) breastfeed, and when we "got it" and when stopping.

I'm sorry you've had such a time of it.

@Mulledjuice I've been on the La Leche website and that's really helpful and I've spoken to the national breastfeeding support line who were helpful.
I've expressed a little bit of milk for a bit of relief.