finishing bf, what to expect?

[hondagirl]

hi ladies, my lo is 10 weeks old and ive been bf since birth,ive now changed to ff and wondered what to expect from my bbs? they are really sore and its about 48 hrs since i last bf, will they get worse or is this as bad as it gets?
thanks

 

[indieknits]

Hi, I've just started the switch from breast to bottle and am switching one feed every 4/5 days so that my boobs have time to adjust, but they feel like cannonballs sometimes!

I think I read somewhere that you could try expressing just enough to relieve the pressure and to prevent mastitis...maybe give that a go?

 

[Cupcakeangel]

I've been doing this too - I have been reducing the feeds rather than stopping abruptly and I'm now down to one feed a day - I'm just letting my LO take enough to soften up my breasts and then giving him the bottle.

 

[Dream.A.Dream]

I stopped two weeks ago, and my boobs were agony for about 4 or 5 days. Then they seemingly got better, but all of a sudden my right boob got worse again and started to burn and became really painful. I got put on anti biotics for it today My left boob has been fine for about 4 days though, and has stopped leaking xx

 

[twiggy56]

you should be expressing...when they get very hard. Take the milk off the top, enough to relieve pressure but not enough to stimulate. Otherwise you could get mastitis...

and trust me, from someone who had severe mastitis (worst case any of the 3 midwives and breastfeeding support worker had ever seen in their careers!) that you REALLY dont want to get it...the milk ducts become so blocked and it can lead to abcess, you will feel like you're coming down with flu and your boobs will be really hot and red....

seriously not nice, trust me. Even a hand pump would do!

 

[Dream.A.Dream]

you should be expressing...when they get very hard. Take the milk off the top, enough to relieve pressure but not enough to stimulate. Otherwise you could get mastitis...

and trust me, from someone who had severe mastitis (worst case any of the 3 midwives and breastfeeding support worker had ever seen in their careers!) that you REALLY dont want to get it...the milk ducts become so blocked and it can lead to abcess, you will feel like you're coming down with flu and your boobs will be really hot and red....

seriously not nice, trust me. Even a hand pump would do!

Gotta agree with this, I was told not to express under any circumstances as it would just keep my milk coming, so I didn't even when in agony and I think that's what led to my infection xx

 

[DizzyMoo]

when i stopped bf jaxon i literally expressed 1 oz out of each breast into a bottle which was just enough to take that severe engorgement pain away, still uncomfy but with some painkillers was ok , I only expressed twice a day , when i woke for the day & just before i went to bed so i could sleep it was agony i have to admit but on the 4th/5th day i did notice an improvement, then each day after i could feel them deflating lol

Only express the slightest poss , your body very quickly recognises not to produce loads . Stopping without expressing can cause mastitus but not always but mastitus is really painful so best not to risk it x

 

[Mynx]

I'm with Dizzy Moo, I continued expressing very small amounts just to stop my boobs from being sore, it worked a treat

 

[_Vicky_]

you should be expressing...when they get very hard. Take the milk off the top, enough to relieve pressure but not enough to stimulate. Otherwise you could get mastitis...

and trust me, from someone who had severe mastitis (worst case any of the 3 midwives and breastfeeding support worker had ever seen in their careers!) that you REALLY dont want to get it...the milk ducts become so blocked and it can lead to abcess, you will feel like you're coming down with flu and your boobs will be really hot and red....

seriously not nice, trust me. Even a hand pump would do!

ditto - I didnt even stop bf I went from expressing every hour for Fynn in special care to 'just' feeding my boys which was too drastic a reduction - severe mastitis and now I am off to hospital tomorrow to have two absesses drained and the pain is just too bad to describe (worse than labour lol) sooooo please please please do it gradually and pay attention to the way you feel xxxxxxxxxxxx