Stopping expressing help?

[hopingtobemum]

Hi there.
For various reasons I have decided I want to stop expressing and just give baby formula. I had already gone down to about 4 pumps a day due to time management and not very much supply so now I am trying to wean off. But today is day 2 and my boobs are so sore. They don't feel too full but quite hard and lumpy and very sore!!!
So what is the best way to do it? Stop expressing totally? Reduce time expressing? Or reduce number of expressing?
I have got some cabbage leaves to try as heard this helps dry up. The coldness is so good!!!!
I was trying not to express for too long but I have just had to do a mammoth express as it was hurting so much.
Is there anything I can take to help dry up?

Thanks everyone in advance? Xxx

 

[AP]

In the first few days if it got too much, I would express a little only to relieve. if you express the whole lot, your body will just continue to think you need that amount for baby.

 

[rory83coyotes]

sudafed and pepperment are said to be good for drying up milk

 

[Samaraj]

I stopped 2 days ago.

I just stopped. Was very painful yesterday. Today no pain just some little lumps left

 

[rbourre]

I was wondering this too. I have been pumping for just about 5 months and I have had enough. I don't pump enough for her to eat in the 4-5 times a day I pump. I alternate bottles of breast milk and bottles of formula.

 

[Twinkie210]

I am EPing, so I haven't stopped yet, but I would suppose that the goal is the reduce the amount of time you actually pump (not empty the breast all the way) and try to stretch out the time between pumps. If you can do this gradually I think it would be less painful.

 

[_Nell]

I posted similar yesterday, i stopped pumping 9 days ago having wound down to one pump a day. The first week was fine but yesterday i was so hard and lumpy....i had to go backwards a little and express some. So for me i'll pump a little every 2-3 days to wind my supply down more before going cold turkey.