Drying Up - Peoria,IL

frozen cabbage leaves worked great on me too. I was engorged for 5 days, it was hard but my doctor recommended cabbage leaves and try taking sudafed or an allergy medicine. They told me if after 7 days if it hadn't cleared up then to call back, luckily it stopped after 5 days but I did leak a little each day for about a month.

Hi, I know someone mentioned this, but the cabbage leaves really work. I actually had them in the frig, then I put them right in my bra, and then went about my business. They seemed to "wilt" alittle, which is funny. But I did that several times, and it was great.

Good luck to you.

Take care,
M.

When I weaned my second son (he actually went on a nursing strike)and I was very sore, the midwife told me to nurse him for about one minute and that was enough to relieve the pain. It really helped alot. A.

J., if it turns out that you are NOT pregnant, if the pain is really a problem, ask your doctor for a prescription for dostinex (generic name is cabergoline) - of course you would not want to take it if you are pregnant. I think that doctors should prescribe this more for weaning moms, if they are really uncomfortable. I only had to take it a couple times and then everything was fine. Much more effective than cabbage leaves!

first of all Kudos for the extended nursing. I nursed my 3 angels for about 13 months each. Awesome! First off, find out if you are pregnant first. My drying up lasted about 2 weeks. The first week was pretty bad as far as comfort level, then the next week was real sore, but slowly got better each day. I always made a LOT of milk so I don't know if it took longer for me or not, but with my youngest I weaned REAL slow and just kept the nighttime feeding for like 1 1/2 months/. Hard to give up as it's my last baby. ALso, 4 months after I stopped nursing, I had my first mammogram and after being squeezed, I leaked milk to my surprise!

Warm moist towels may help with the pain. The doctor can give you pills to help dry you up too.

C. T.

This may sound crazy, but it works to dry you up and take away the pain within a day. Go buy a head of cabbage and get it REALLY cold. You peel a couple of pieces and they fit your breast perfect! It doesn't smell the best but I was desparate and it worked. once it gets warm change it with fresh stuff. Good luck!

cabbage leaves is the way to go.

I don't know about the soreness. I would see if a local la leche league leader can answer that question.

When I was pregnant with my second, my breasts didn't hurt when nursing until 8-10 weeks.

Take Sudafed, if you are allowed to while being pregnant. My firend use to work in a dr office and they would tell women to do this "off the record". But make sure it's okay while you're pregnant, I don't remember.

Another vote for the cabbage leaves. That is what I used and it worked wonders. It took me a very long time to dry up and I thought I had developed an infection. Doctor checked me out and said it will be sore and could take months for the soreness to go away.

Good luck!

It's gonna take a bit longer to adjust. Cabbage leaves work wonders. Do not bind your breasts. You could develop a breast infection from it. When my daughter self weaned at 23 months, she was fine as well, but I was FULL for about 3 weeks and then I was fine. Expect your hormones to fluctuate as well, so go easy on your emotions for the next month or so.

I would suggest hand or machine pumping off some of the milk...just for comfort. It probably will take about a week or so for your body to adjust. Hang in there.

Try cabbage leaves- don't exactly know why, but they're supposed to help!

All the books say not to bind, but I called my OB and she told me to get a bra that is a couple of sizes too small and wear it 24 hours a day. It worked right away. Cabbage leaves suck! They stink so bad that I couldn't stand it for more than a couple of hours!

Old time remedy...big time relief...Cabbage Leaves. Wash them, put them in refrigerator and then put one in your bra, each side. It feels great, nice and cold. Not sure if it helps dry you out, but it help alleviate some of the pain and swelling. Also, take Ibuprofen, it will help too.

Good luck!

I weaned my son at the same age and was preg at the time. Being pregnant does make things sore... we were down to one small nursing snack/day when i weaned so i didnt hAVE any engorgement. you can pump every couple days to relieve yourself until the rest of your milk is gone. congrats on making it as far as you did!

In "the old days" the dr. use to bind our breasts for a couple of weeks to help stop the milk from developing. The pain is from milk not being extracted. If you pump, the brain doesn't tell the mammorys the difference; same as nursing.

Someone recommended to me to keep pressure on your breasts, such as wearing a tight bra. This should help. Take Tylenol or Motrin for the pain. It took me 2 weeks to dry up completely, and it took my mom 4 weeks, so everyone is different. I have also heard that the cabbage thing works, but have not tried it myself. Good luck.

J.
IF you are pregnant then you will be more sore. The sore can last 7-10 days while your body readjusts. to get some relief try warm compresses. Also try drinking raspberry leaf tea it help me.
J. O

J.,
There is a product called "Soothies" that you put in your bra to help with the discomfort. They look like a gel-filled donut and after being in the fridge for an hour or two they get cold and stay that way for a long time. The cabbage thing, though, is cheaper and works just as well! It will pass before you know it!
T.

I remember hearing that putting cabbage leaves on your breasts helps hasten the drying up process. I know it sounds a little weird--but I would line your bra with cabbage.

J.

Angela is completely correct. this helps a lot. I also know that is takes awhile to dry up if you are constantly around crying kids. either your own or someone elses. if you are pregnant you will dry up rather quickly.

Just keep the girls bound up tight in a bra until the soreness goes away. Keeping them bound in a bra 24 hours a day, only letting them out to change to a clean bra. If you are still sore in three days take the test and call your doctor! Good Luck!