Breastfeeding - Murfreesboro, TN

Updated on March 23, 2008
N.R. asks from Murfreesboro, TN
19 answers

I'm trying to stop breastfeeding but my breast seems to be full and its hurts. What can i do to relieve the pain without having my baby feed from it or pumping?

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So What Happened?

Right now I have a tight bra on with some cabbage leaves, however I do feel alot of lumps and it hurts. Hopefully it will go away. Thanks for all the advice I will keep u posted on the outcome. Thanks for all who annswered my question

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K.

answers from Charlotte on

My doctors told me to stand in the shower and press a warm wet washcloth in a downward motion to express out some of the build up. If you are not feeding the build up or pumping it, then you risk a clogged milk duct and absess. Good luck.

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L.H.

answers from Nashville on

I have heard using cabbage leaves works wonders. I would look this up and see what the internet says about it!

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M.T.

answers from Nashville on

You can't. The best way to do it is to spread the feedings out hince..... weening. If you feed every 5 hrs then try to skip one feeding and go 10. do that a couple of days and then go 15 hrs. Do that a couple of days and then go 20... until you get to 2 days and then 4 days and then eventually you won't do it anymore and you won't notice them being full.
But that is the best way to do it without hurting and being miserable.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Raleigh on

Talk to your doctor. They can give you something to dry up your milk. Good luck!

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M.P.

answers from Fayetteville on

You may have mastitis - is your breast hot to the touch with red streaks? I had mastitis with me 3rd son 9 days post partum, it is extremely painful. You need antibiotics for mastitis so you may want to make a doctor appointment. On another note, I nursed all 3 of my boys to 13 months + and with two of my three boys I just quit one day because they were biting and I was blistering/bleeding like they were newborns. I didn't do anything with tight bras/ace bandages and I didn't wean. I did leak in the shower and I was extremely full/hard for about 2 weeks and I was still leaking a tiny amount over a month later but it will pass. If your baby is older and you're not nursing as often as a younger baby it won't be so horrible to wait for it to pass. Good luck.

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B.D.

answers from Clarksville on

i used to get in a hot tub as hot as you can stand and soak up to your breast and it will relieve them.

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C.B.

answers from Nashville on

You can try cabbage leaves. Not only will it stop the hurting it will pull the milk out. You want them to be kind of cold before you place them on your breast.

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C.G.

answers from Greensboro on

There is not really alot that you can do that does not involve pumping. It will eventually stop, but you have to endure the pain for awhile. At least that is what I did, but my son is now 10.

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C.G.

answers from Owensboro on

I'm a grandma now, but what I used was just warm compresses. They feel good and help ease the pain. It can cause you to leak milk, which also helps the pain of engorgement. You can lightly massage the lumps in your breasts where the milk is accumulating, while the warm compresses do their work.

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S.B.

answers from Knoxville on

How often are you BF, if still BF I would stretch out the times of the feedings or just limit them to nap and bed time. YOu could try wearing a snug sports bra to help and if they get engourged try some cold cabbage leaves to help with inflammation. Or you could stand under a warm/hot shower to get some relief.
My son weaned himself when we went to Disney World at 10.5 months and he learned to drink from a straw all at the same time. That seemed to help him not want to BF anymore.

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D.H.

answers from Owensboro on

You may try putting warm towels on your breast. Good luck. D..

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K.C.

answers from Chattanooga on

Hello N.. I breastfed my four girls including a set of twins. It is very difficult to stop cold turkey without going thru all of the pain. Especially if your baby is very young and has been breastfeeding exclusively without any other food. So my advice to you is to pump just enough to relieve the pressure. Don't empty your breasts completely. Then, your body will slowly stop producing the milk since it is on supply and demand theory. You only have to do the pumping for a few days b/c the less milk means less engorgement pain. So the pain will become easier to handle. I would use warm compresses also. I tried the cabbage leaves once but I could not stand the smell! I know you did not want to use the pump but that was the only thing that worked for me. Good luck!

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M.C.

answers from Nashville on

Drying your milk up is going to take some time. It will usually get worse before it gets better. It took me right under two weeks. You want to try and wear a good tight sports bra (as close to 24/7 as you can). It also wouldn't hurt to wrap an ace bandage tightly on top of that. Since you won't be nursing anymore, I would take some Advil or Motrin pretty regularly for the discomfort you're going to have. Another "set back" will be the shower. Warm water anywhere near your breasts will make your milk run. So, as horrible as this sounds, I stayed away from showering for a solid 7 days. I just washed my hair in the sink and would wipe down at night. The longer you can go like this, the better off you'll be. Each time your milk lets down, it's like two steps back when you're trying to dry it up. Don't be surprised when your baby's cry makes you leak as well. Like I said...it may take a little while, but it will stop. Just be consistent with keeping yourself wrapped tightly and remember that you are allowed to take some pain medication now! Yay Advil!!! =0) Good luck!

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M.E.

answers from Lexington on

once you stop nursing you're goingt o have a little engorgement. the best thing to do is slowly start cutting back the number of feedings you are doing over an extended period of time...weening. it will help reduce engorgement, since your brests will naturally adjust to the amount of milk needed. but if you want oto stop cold turkey, try binding your breasts with a snug sports bra and an ace bandage. you can also put cold cabbage leaves on your breast to help ease discomfort. if you get to feeling like like you're going to bust, hand express just enough milk to relieve some of the pressure. and an otc pain reliever like advil or tylenol can help too.

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K.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I nursed my son till he was 16 months and our feedings got fewer and fare apart that I just dried up one day. I still leaked after he stopped nursing but it wasnt anything bad. If your breast hurt I would call your doctor to make sure your doing everything right. Also there is some great teas out there to help stop your milk once you and your little one are ready to be done nursing. Good luck!

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L.D.

answers from Charlotte on

I have a 4 year old and a 5 month old. both girls. anyway, with my oldest daughter I used cold cabbage leaves and a tight, bra around my breast.. It did still fell a little full, but eventually with a little time and pain.. It did go away.. Talk to your doctor to see if there is anything else out there that could help with you to stop.. hope it helps

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A.H.

answers from Memphis on

It sounds horrible but your just gonna have to wait it out. I breastfed all mine and when I was weening them I had about a week of really hard full breast. If you pump or offer your breast to your child it will just make you produce more. Good luck!! It sucks but it passes quickly!

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D.D.

answers from Rocky Mount on

place full cabbage leaves on them under your bra

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L.B.

answers from Hickory on

You could try calling your doctor, they make meds to help dry up the milk. I have 3 children and breast fed all them. It is a painful process to try to stop breastfeeding.. I just fought through it with a little motrin. **Food for thought...the shower stimulates the milk process so try to avoid letting the shower stream hit your breast as little as possible. Also, "contact" (husband) stimulates it too...SORRY!:) GOODLUCK!!

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