I stopped feeding my 1 year old last week and my breasts feel all hard and lumpy, like they're filled with, well, lumpy stuff. Is this normal?
And when they say 'your milk dries up', do they mean that it literally dries up inside your breast? What happens to it after that?
2006-11-08 06:46:39 · 16 answers · asked by cigaro19 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
Milk production works on a supply and demand basis - the more the baby suckles, the more the hormone prolactin is released, and the more milk is produced. Conversely, if the baby stops sucking, the prolactin levels drop, and the signal is sent to the breasts that milk is no longer required. Any milk which is not removed from the breast is reabsorbed by the body, but it may take quite a few weeks for it all to "dry up" completely (i.e. no more milk is produced).
The breasts can feel lumpy and hard at weaning if they become engorged (over-full of milk) - they may feel tender and maybe hot to the touch too if this is the case. You could try gently massaging the lumps away, or expressing a little by hand or with a pump if you feel too full - but try not to express too much, or you'll be back sending signals to produce milk again. You could also try applying hot or cold packs. It's worth trying to shift the lumps, because sometimes otherwise a blocked milk duct results, and this can lead to a breast infection (mastitis). If your lumps become painful and you start to feel fluey, infection could be setting in, and you will need to see your GP - masitis is easily cleared up with antibiotics, but can make you feel really lousy.
2006-11-08 09:27:55 · answer #1 · answered by purplepadma 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds perfectly normal to me as my breast felt exactly the same when I stopped breast feeding my daughter. I sometime forgot which breast I fed her from and used the same breast twice and then the other breast ended up being sore and lumpy. Sometimes if you push on the lump your breast leaks and this is how you can tell it is milk and nothing bad. My breasts were sore and lumpy for about 3 days and then the pain eased and the lumpiness went. I found warm baths help loads. Good luck xx
2006-11-10 02:13:19 · answer #2 · answered by SARAH S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I stopped breastfeeding my 18month old 2 weeks ago, and I was all lumpy too.
Drying up just means that you stop producing milk, anything that is already there just gets absorbed back into the body.
As tempting as it is, don't express anything, because that will just start up production again, and I that's what you are trying to stop! I found I was uncomfortable for a few days, and I'm fine again now, except for the slight feeling of depression because I'm not breastfeeding any more!
2006-11-09 03:16:04 · answer #3 · answered by ♥Pamela♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your breasts are just adjusting to the change.The milk doesn't dry up and stay inside your breasts. Everything will clear out and your breasts will return to normal. As long as the pain is tolerable, don't worry about it. It should be over in a couple days. If the pain worsens, you should see your doctor. You could get mastitis, which is an infection inside your breasts and you would need antibiotics. But that, too, will clear fast. Good Luck.
2006-11-08 06:58:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi! You rbody will absorb any "milk" that is left, but being that you are not nursing, your body will naturally begin the process of producing less milk. Do not worry about the "hard lumpy"-ness, that is just your body's way of adjusting to the change. Your breasts will be engorged and sore for some time, but it will eventually go down! -Janet
2006-11-08 06:53:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi
I remember this well, it means you were still producing a fair amount of milk when you stopped feeding... You must NOT let your baby suckle again as that will only stimulate you to produce MORE milk...you have to keep your breasts out of the baby's way...I remember this part being quite difficult as cuddles etc were not easy as I was in such discomfort...it passes soon enough a week or two and you will feel more normal...dont worry!! good luck!
2006-11-08 07:00:50 · answer #6 · answered by Susie Drew 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
hiya iv had 3 lads and breast fed them all the dry up time is when your milk stops producing in the breast as demand for the milk has deceased (hope this makes sense) as for the enlarged breast its best to hand express the milk out down the sink if u don't want to use it no more as this will help relieve the pressure behind the nipple and putting warm compresses on the breast helped me allot sorry I'm rubbish at wording but hope this helps you a bit and i also used coco butter cream on them too helps stop the nipples cracking :)
2006-11-08 06:52:32 · answer #7 · answered by rosieraddy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you've noticed a change in the way your breast feel besides just increased pressure, pay attention to it. A "lumpy" feeling could very well be mastitis, and you should see a doc before it gets worse. Don't worry, but don't ignore your instinces either...
2006-11-08 07:10:40 · answer #8 · answered by Emily O 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes this is normal. You may want to pump a bit or let your child suck just to releave the pressure. It hurts when you stop cold turkey but the first hard swollen part is the worst of it. Your milk gets obsorbed back into your body and it takes a little bit of time to totally stop producing.
2006-11-08 06:53:26 · answer #9 · answered by Selly 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i found this when i stopped feeding my youngest after 4 mths and i remember it took about a wk to settle down, just watch you dont get an infection b/c that sometimes happens when your breast dont empty, if it goes on much longer see your health visitor/doc just to make sure. dont worry about the excess milk it will just be absorbed back into your body. it might help wearing a well fitting bra till everything goes back to normal
2006-11-08 06:58:08 · answer #10 · answered by claire 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋