Sore boobs if not breastfeeding?

[pupsicle]

I have no plans on breastfeeding or expressing. But my MIL will NOT let up! She is insistent that I will have to express or at least breastfeed for a week because my boobs will be so sore after I've had baby.
Is this true? I read that breastfeeding or expressing will make my boobs leak for longer. I'm expecting soreness etc, but will I need to express to relieve the pain? Or will this just make it worse or last longer?

It seems that nobody wishes to talk about bottle-feeding from birth, and I feel like it's really frowned upon and people will look down on me. But it's something I am just not comfortable with, and I want to be happy to feed the baby not feel pressured into doing something that will make me unhappy.

 

[katy1310]

Hey

I breastfed for a few weeks (my baby was born at 27 weeks and I expressed for 10 weeks then breastfed for another few weeks) so I don't know what it's like to not bf at all, however I do know that if you bf or express, that will send signals to your boobs to produce more milk so I think it's best not to.

I remember my boobs were pretty painful when my milk first came in, and I felt a lot better after I expressed but I think there are things you can do to soothe them if you're not planning to bf - I know cabbage leaves in your bra is one of the ways but I'm not too sure what else. Hopefully someone else will be able to help with this question.

What I did want to say is please don't be made to feel bad for your decision. It's your body, your boobs, your baby. The decision can only be made by you. Yes bf is best for the baby, but it's not something that everyone wants to do - or even CAN do. There is nothing wrong with ff, plenty people do it and have healthy babies. The important thing is that you are happy with your decision. If you're stressed, the baby will pick up on it. A happy mummy = a happy baby, and you have to weigh up the pros and cons of everything. It's better to have a happy mummy, and a happy ff baby, than a stressed out mummy stressing over bf and the baby picking up on it. Bf is not easy, and although I found it hard deciding to stop, I had to weigh up everything and decided it was stressing me out too much trying to keep bf Sophie. Part of me felt like I ought to keep going, part of me wanted to, but a bigger part of me knew that I was stressing too much over it.

xxx

 

[jen1604]

If you want to exclusively FF,don't express and try not to stimulate them too much (like by getting warm water on them) If you keep doing that your boobs will just make more millk.Oh and my MW told me wear a tight bra as that stops milk production quicker too.

When your milk comes in your boobs WILL be sore and you will possibly feel a bit fluey/feverish for a couple of days.But you can take a couple of paracetemol and its really not too bad.

Be prepared for some leakage while the milk is drying up though hon,invest in some breast pads! xxxxxx

 

[pupsicle]

Thank you so much the both of you. You've made me feel a million times better

 

[aliss]

Yes, you will experience the pain and soreness because your breasts are still producing milk whether or not you use it. If you choose not to BF, there are remedies such as tylenol and even cabbage leaves, but the only thing to really take that pain away is to give it time. It can take several weeks, just so you are prepared.

 

[rainbows_x]

You will feel slight pain but as long as you don't express if you are FF you will be fine.

I fed Ava from the breast twice, then stopped, I felt some soreness for a couple days, but nothing major. x

 

[cherryglitter]

I had sore boobs, I FF from the start.
Just wear a really supportive bra and bathe as much as often! I found the milk leaked away when I did this. Also stopped them feeling so heavy. It doesn't last long hun.

With regards to the FF from the beginning, please don't breastfeed if its going to make you unhappy. You know what is going to be best for you and your little one. You may feel as though you're being looked down upon, ignore it. You are doing what's best and it's best that you are happy, as it means baby will be happy too

I had no problems in the hospital when asking for milk. I was asked how I wanted to feed Jake and I just said bottle, had no problems, the midwives just went and got it for me!!

You'll be fine hun and good luck!xxx

 

[rainbowchild]

I had sore boobs, I FF from the start.
Just wear a really supportive bra and bathe as much as often! I found the milk leaked away when I did this. Also stopped them feeling so heavy. It doesn't last long hun.

With regards to the FF from the beginning, please don't breastfeed if its going to make you unhappy. You know what is going to be best for you and your little one. You may feel as though you're being looked down upon, ignore it. You are doing what's best and it's best that you are happy, as it means baby will be happy too

I had no problems in the hospital when asking for milk. I was asked how I wanted to feed Jake and I just said bottle, had no problems, the midwives just went and got it for me!!

You'll be fine hun and good luck!xxx

Great advice Cherry and thank you so much - I feel the same as pupsicle. When I tell people that I wont be BF they look at me like I have two heads. And it was NEVER an issue for all of us when we were growing up and I have no idea why others feel it necessary to get their tuppence worth in when you tell them - I have actually stopped telling people.

My midwife has been very supportive though.

My friends husband actually turned around and said to me the other day that his friends baby cries all the time and doesn't sleep through the night because he's FF and of course his baby is amazing because his bubba is BF. Silly boy.

My sister-in-law has had three - all BF - and all totally different sleepers - one slept through and the other two didn't. It's baby dependant!

Thanks again Cherry - very reassuring.

 

[rainbowchild]

I have no plans on breastfeeding or expressing. But my MIL will NOT let up! She is insistent that I will have to express or at least breastfeed for a week because my boobs will be so sore after I've had baby.
Is this true? I read that breastfeeding or expressing will make my boobs leak for longer. I'm expecting soreness etc, but will I need to express to relieve the pain? Or will this just make it worse or last longer?

It seems that nobody wishes to talk about bottle-feeding from birth, and I feel like it's really frowned upon and people will look down on me. But it's something I am just not comfortable with, and I want to be happy to feed the baby not feel pressured into doing something that will make me unhappy.

I feel the same as you pupsicle.

My midwife said to stay strong and stand by my decision. Which I am.

Keep me updated with how you get on would be interested to hear.

x

 

[Ang1873]

i breast fed for a week, partly because i want to try it and partly because i thought i 'had to'! silly really! needless to say, i hated it!

but my boobs never got sore, they got heavier and a little more painful - but no more painful than they get before a period.

my milk never really came in, even with BFing (one of the reasons i stopped) so they never engorged and hardly leaked - you might be lucky!

but the advice i got was to wear your bra as tight as possible and if it does get unbearable then to have a hot shower and let it run on your back to let them leak a bit.