breasts after changing from bf

mum2be257 · Mar 8th, 2012, 14:48 PM

I completely stopped bf as became very cracked and was far too painful, boobs are now huge and very hard! Do i just need to express a little bit throughout the day to ease it off? Also what are the chances of getting mastitis? x

mum2be257 · Mar 9th, 2012, 15:22 PM

trying cabbage leaves...do i put them on during the night too?

fairykate · Mar 10th, 2012, 04:28 AM

I expressed about once a day for the first few days but it didn't really make any difference. The hardness and worst pain went after about 3 days I'd say, and got slowly better after that and much more bearable.

I didn't try cabbage leaves - nothing else really helped while they were really bad though.

scaredmmy2b · Mar 15th, 2012, 15:47 PM

I would express just enough to ease the pain for every time use usually bf before. Then the next week space it out about 30 more minutes until your supply goes down. Also taking something for a cold and congestion like a decongestant can dry up your supply. Wear the cabbage leaves until they wilt then put new once on. and use a cold compress. NOT warm. Hope this helps

Ashlee B x · Mar 16th, 2012, 09:59 AM

I express about 3 times a day (only been once 2day so far tho..) Just to take the edge off the hardness n full feeling. I had the onset of mastitis on the first day i decided to stop, as like u my nipples were cracking n not healing at all n she wouldnt latch long enough or properly as she was gettin used to the bottle (she was admitted into hospital at 4 days for tongue tie n losin over a lb in weight so had to bottle feed) The pain does get easier tho, but expressing definately helps, or hot baths/showers and just let them leak a lil or squeeze to ease the pressure xx

missvikki · Mar 21st, 2012, 05:45 AM

My MW told me not to express because it encourages more milk suply. She said wear a tight bra and don't touch them at all. She recommended cabbage but I didn't try this. Day 1 was soooo painful but by day 3 things were much better. It's day 6 now and my milk has all but gone and I'm left with no pain (just really small boobies haha)

patch2006uk · Mar 21st, 2012, 07:14 AM

Have you been BFing for 6 months? If so, I'd definitely express some off for comfort. You might prolong the time to dry up, but you are certainly risking mastitis by stopping cold turkey after so long.

I think if it's a newborn and you don't BF, your body never really gets into the swing of making milk. It's not the same as stopping after a period of established BFing.

NewAtThis13 · Mar 21st, 2012, 10:11 AM

I stopped cold turkey and it KILLED but I didn't express any, I just let mine leak if they were going to and used cabbage leaves, Ibuprofen and ice. They went down after 1 week.

mum2be257 · Mar 21st, 2012, 14:05 PM

Thank you all, I did go cold turkey too and after 3 days i was fine, the day after was horrible, couldn't really sleep well for 2 nights as could only sleep on my back! Used cabbage leaves, not sure if that's why they went down or not. I have to say also...I love my new smaller boobs!!!! i was 36GG during bf, before i was 36F and now I'm smaller i love it....or i just feel smaller- not quite sure! x

Mar 8th, 2012, 14:48 PM	#1
mum2be257 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: cornwall Posts: 839	breasts after changing from bf I completely stopped bf as became very cracked and was far too painful, boobs are now huge and very hard! Do i just need to express a little bit throughout the day to ease it off? Also what are the chances of getting mastitis? x

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Mar 9th, 2012, 15:22 PM	#2
mum2be257 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: cornwall Posts: 839	trying cabbage leaves...do i put them on during the night too?

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Mar 10th, 2012, 04:28 AM	#3
fairykate Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 1,614	I expressed about once a day for the first few days but it didn't really make any difference. The hardness and worst pain went after about 3 days I'd say, and got slowly better after that and much more bearable. I didn't try cabbage leaves - nothing else really helped while they were really bad though.

Status: Offline

Mar 15th, 2012, 15:47 PM	#4
scaredmmy2b Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: USA Posts: 944	I would express just enough to ease the pain for every time use usually bf before. Then the next week space it out about 30 more minutes until your supply goes down. Also taking something for a cold and congestion like a decongestant can dry up your supply. Wear the cabbage leaves until they wilt then put new once on. and use a cold compress. NOT warm. Hope this helps

Status: Offline

Mar 16th, 2012, 09:59 AM	#5
Ashlee B x Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: wiltshire, uk Posts: 3,168	I express about 3 times a day (only been once 2day so far tho..) Just to take the edge off the hardness n full feeling. I had the onset of mastitis on the first day i decided to stop, as like u my nipples were cracking n not healing at all n she wouldnt latch long enough or properly as she was gettin used to the bottle (she was admitted into hospital at 4 days for tongue tie n losin over a lb in weight so had to bottle feed) The pain does get easier tho, but expressing definately helps, or hot baths/showers and just let them leak a lil or squeeze to ease the pressure xx

Status: Offline

Mar 21st, 2012, 05:45 AM	#6
missvikki Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Newcastle Posts: 367	My MW told me not to express because it encourages more milk suply. She said wear a tight bra and don't touch them at all. She recommended cabbage but I didn't try this. Day 1 was soooo painful but by day 3 things were much better. It's day 6 now and my milk has all but gone and I'm left with no pain (just really small boobies haha)

Status: Offline

Mar 21st, 2012, 07:14 AM	#7
patch2006uk Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: West Mids, UK Posts: 5,220	Have you been BFing for 6 months? If so, I'd definitely express some off for comfort. You might prolong the time to dry up, but you are certainly risking mastitis by stopping cold turkey after so long. I think if it's a newborn and you don't BF, your body never really gets into the swing of making milk. It's not the same as stopping after a period of established BFing.

Status: Offline

Mar 21st, 2012, 10:11 AM	#8
NewAtThis13 Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,610	I stopped cold turkey and it KILLED but I didn't express any, I just let mine leak if they were going to and used cabbage leaves, Ibuprofen and ice. They went down after 1 week.

Status: Offline

Mar 21st, 2012, 14:05 PM	#9
mum2be257 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: cornwall Posts: 839	Thank you all, I did go cold turkey too and after 3 days i was fine, the day after was horrible, couldn't really sleep well for 2 nights as could only sleep on my back! Used cabbage leaves, not sure if that's why they went down or not. I have to say also...I love my new smaller boobs!!!! i was 36GG during bf, before i was 36F and now I'm smaller i love it....or i just feel smaller- not quite sure! x

Status: Offline

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