Stopped Nursing

Oh Nicole, I remember that pain! I think the cold compresses are better to reduce the swelling. What I did that helped immensely was to express a little bit of milk in the shower to take the edge off. I hope this helps and you have much releif fast!
A.

Hi Nicole- I had this same problem with my 3rd daughter but not the first 2. The pain was excruciating and after a couple of days I caved. I went ahead and nursed her one more time. She nursed and still didn't regress to want to nurse more.
(I think I had let down when I saw my sister hold her baby after giving birth) All it took was that one last time.
Good Luck
B.

Here are some things that might help:

Parsley, Sage- try drinking tea with these

Decongestants,Antihistamines- sounds like you are trying this already to an extent. Might find out what you can take that won't interact with your allergy meds. I've heard Sudafed will really reduce supply.

For pain and to keep healthy- Vitamin C, Echinacea, Ibuprofen, Lots of rest so you don't get a plugged duct or Mastitis. Call dr or midwife if you have fever, severe pain, redness/swelling, and/or flu-like symptoms. If untreated, you can develop an abscess that will have to be drained and is VERY painful! Raw cabbage in bra is also helpful to relieve the pain.

Try not to squeeze or massage too much in hot shower, because you are stimulating your supply by doing this.

Hope this helps and you feel better soon!

Amanda
Aspiring IBCLC

Hi Nicole,

Like what Andrea said, the trick is to wean slowly, each day cutting out one feeding, until you get to only one feeding day, then stopping. Your breasts will adjust and slowly dry up that way. Since you've already stopped nursing though, pumping will do the trick!

Good luck!
J.

Nicole,

I THINK you are supposed to wrap them up pretty tight (like with an ACE bandage). That's supposed to help, from what I remember.

T.

Hi Nicole,

I had the same problem. I called the breastfeeding hotline (800-994-9662). She recommended cabbage leaves in your bra - changing them every couple of hours. They also recommended squeezing about tablespoon out to release some of the pressure. It took me about 3 weeks or to stop producing milk after I totally stopped breastfeeding. Funny I stopped over a month ago and the day other I leaked a tiny bit.

I nursed my two daughters each one last time about 3 days after I "stopped" to empty out my breasts. Nursing is so much more effective than the pump. I did continue to make milk for a while after that, but I was never engorged again to the point of pain.

This is going to sound nuts, but I swear it worked for me and women in my family have been doing this forever. Cabbage leaves! Buy a head of cabbage at the store, and place leaves over your breasts, insert them in your bra, whatever you want, but it really does help. No idea why it works, but it has been done for centuries.

Hi Nicole,

I stopped nursing at the same time as you so I can relate.
I drank sage tea (you can get it at Vitamin Shoppe on 75th St in Darien)for the first few days and other than about 2 days of discomfort I have been fine.
I have also read to put cabbage leaves on your breasts to aleviate the swelling. I didn't have to, but I was prepared.
Good Luck!
M. W.

souns stupid but cabbage leaves, they lower your supply and reduce cracking, and soreness..i had to stop nursing( i had knee surgery so i had no option) and thats what i had to do

nicole
go to whole foods and get sage drops. you put a few drops into water and drink it, do this 3 or 4 times. it will take less than 24 hours. they also have sage tea but it doesn't work as fast as the drops. i have done this both times after 12 months of nursing/pumping.......it works like a charm.

I know this sounds crazy but it works-CABBAGE. Buy a head of cabbage keep it really cold and put the leafs on your breasts. I wore a tight sports bra. It was INSTANT relief and your milk dries up within a few days. Hope it helps good luck!
A.

Just wanted to add.....DO NOT wrap in an Ace bandage or otherwise bind your breasts. That can lead to mastitis and, MAN, you don't want to get that...it is pure misery!

If you have a pump, you might try relieving the pressure by occasionally pumping off just enough to make you comfortable. Don't pump anymore than that as it will make your body think it needs to make more milk. Also, fresh cabbage leaves in your bra should help. Crush them a little and then place in your bra and wear them constantly, replacing when wilted, for 48 hours.

Don't know if this is an option for you, but what about nursing again, maybe just once a day and then just gradually decreasing the length of time you nurse each one. I bet because you were feeding two babies, you would have to wean twice as slow for your body to adjust properly.

Wear supportive bra, cold compresses/ice if necessary, green cabbage leaves two or three times daily inside bra if necessary. Do not allow breasts to come into contact with warm/hot water in shower as this will aggravate problem. Keep hands off breasts, try not to touch, pump, or stimulate as this will increase milk production. Ibuprofen for comfort. Any signs of mastitis, warm red lumps, fever over 101, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, call your health care provider right away. Good luck! J., CNM, IBCLC

wear the tightest most fitted sports bra you can find or wrap yourself with an ace bandage - if there is no room for them to fill up they will eventually empty - it took me 2 weeks to go from a Double DD down to a C but they eventually returned to "normal" - whatever that is nowdays. Best of Luck!

don't do warmth! I had a week of excruciating pain but then was fine. You can squeeze a few drops to relieve some pressure but no more than that--warmth and pumping will make you lactate more! I did the cabbage leaves thing and it really helped--keep them in the freezer, once i started those it was jsut a few days before I was done. good luck! Youc an also buy these round gel ica packs to put in your bra, I had those and jsut kept my breasts on ice 24/7, it really helped. I cannot for hte life of me remember where I bought those, they were recommended by another mom.