I've been slowly weaning my 1 year-old for the past 2 months, and gave him his last feeding 9 days ago. I thought I did the weaning process nice and slowly, but one of my breasts is still lumpy (clogged ducts?) and very sore. The other is fine. I didn't have this problem with my first son, even though I weaned him more quickly. How much longer till my breasts return to normal (new-normal, that is!)?
Thanks! The cabbage worked wonders. I always thought that advice was just about having something cold near the lump, but there must be some sort of plant hormone at work, because my lumps definitely diminished after just one night. Having cabbage leaves in my bra definitely freaked out my husband, but the laughter induced by his reaction was almost a side benefit of the procedure!
All I can say is, I had 4 kids and BF 4 times, and each time was completely different from the others. I think the longest was with my last, and the discomfort lasted about a month. My ex-SIL still had milk and rare, slight discomfort a full year after quitting BFing, so I guess there's really no telling, sorry :(
Stand in the shower and lightly press the milk out, focusing on the hard lumps, just a little at a time. Also, put crisp cabbage leaves in your bra next to your breast. once the leave go limp, replace them. It helps dry them out, sounds weird, but it works!
And oh, I don't know if this is normal or not, but I stopped nursing a year and a half ago. And every now and then, I still feel 'let down' (esp if I hear a baby cry) even though I'm all dried up and have some breast tenderness. Maybe it's the same thing as phantom kicks. Anyone else experience that?
Cabbage! Get white leaf cabbage- take a spoon and smooth the veins- place in your bra (pick a bad one b/c it will stink it up horrible) It will also stink up your whole house but worth it! Keep them in as long as you like. This is also how you lower your milk production if you over produce - but in that case just do 5 min b/c it works so good so fast. Also lay in hot tube and try to rub them out. Been there, sounds odd I know but it works. I got this info from Plano Presby mom store- you can also call them- they rock!
If you have a pump go ahead and pump - there is no reason to be in discomfort. I would pump every couple days (whenever I started feeling uncomfortable I would pump). Just don't empty completely, pump just enought to relieve the pain. Eventually your supply will diminish to nothing. Good luck!
