What happens to your milk

[raindrop83]

I'm planning on formula feeding my baby (please let's not go into that debate, it's my decision) Just wondering what happens to your milk? I've heard once it comes in it's quite painful, do you need to pump to get rid of some or will that only make you produce more? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've formula fed my 3 DC from the start. Nothing happens to your milk, it just doesn't get used. You may get engorged breasts a few days after your baby is born, which can be a bit uncomfortable. Just have some paracetamol handy. It passes in a few days and after that it's just as normal.

Oh and you will probably leak some milk, but very little in my case. You don't need to pump, it stops after a while.

Don't pump. It'll reabsorbed in a few days. You'll likely be uncomfortable for a few days so wear a well supportive bra.

Do not pump as that will tell your body to make more. Your breasts will ache, but you can take ibuprofen to help. Chilled cabbage leaves in your bra will also relieve the pain, or lansinoh make boob shaped gel pads. It takes around a week for the engorgement to go down, you will leak milk throughout that time and possibly longer so you still need breast pads.

When I stopped bf my breasts were quite full/hard for a few days, then just reabsorbed the milk and went back to normal, I assume it would be the same when your milk first comes in. If it's very uncomfortable you can hand express a bit to relieve the pressure, but try not to do it to much as it will make your body produce more. Paracetamol/ ibuprofen if you're uncomfortable, and breast pads as you will probably leak a bit. (Oh the glamour of motherhood)

Don't pump as that will encourage milk production. You can hand express if it gets really uncomfortable.

I bottle fed both of mine . My breasts got hard and full for a few days - I just kept my bra on and didn't touch them or express at all. I had hot showers to give me some relief and they just settled down after a few days. I think the secret is to give them as little stimulation as possible.

If you don't want to breastfeed at all you just leave your boobs well alone. Day 3ish they get hard and lumpy and sore and you'll find a bit of leakage on your breast pads. Just don't mess with them at all and it settles down in a few day's.

Thanks all, that's been really helpful. What happens if I give it a go for a few days and then decide I definitely want to formula feed? Is that more confusing for the baby than to formula feed from the start?

It won’t really confuse the baby and colostrum is so good for their digestive system. It’s worth giving it a go. What sure you watch lots of videos of how to get a good latch and read up about bf in the early days.

I bottle fed my last and will bottle fed this bubs in November. As far as I can remember my breasts became engorged on day 3/4. Seriously painful, won't ever forget it but cabbage leaves worked a treat, along with paracetamol & a really good supportive bra. It's didn't last too long, maybe into the following day but no longer than that. Every woman is different though remember that x