I decided not to breast feed. What can I do to stop or relieve breast engorgement?

Question

My newborn is having latching on problems, and I am not producing enough milk. The only thing that I am finding on the internet is related to breast feeding. Is actual breast feeding the only way to relieve the pain and engorgment?

Answer 1

The number one solution for pain relief is cold. Avoid heat, even in showers (not saying take cold showers, just don't let the warm/hot water touch your chest for awhile).

Someone else said that if you express a little bit of milk to relieve the pressure & pain it will make your breasts make more milk...NOT TRUE. Don't empty your breasts, that will make you make more milk, but go ahead and express a little bit, just to relieve the intense pressure.

Try searching for "engorgement" and "cabbage leaves"...I've found a lot of tips that involve putting cabbage leaves in your bra...sounds weird to me, but if you're desperate and you really don't want to breastfeed, then it sounds like "weird" is the least of your problems.

instead of giving up on breastfeeding, have you considered getting a breast pump and bottle feeding? Even getting just SOME breast milk would be better than nothing for your baby (plus your body gets lots of positive things for breastfeeding too!).

if you're set on giving up breastfeeding, and you're sure you won't change your mind, my midwife suggested drinking a shot of vodka three times a day...personally I'm not a drinker, so I won't be trying it (i'm still nursing, so I won't be in your position until my little one's done nursing), but if you want to give it a shot go for it.

If you don't want to try that tip, then try taking a tylenol (motrin or ibuprofin...no asprin til 6 weeks after delivery) for pain relief...

hope some of this helps, and good luck!

Answer 2

There is no magical way to stop milk flow, just time. In the meantime you want to stay as comfortable as possible. The key is to remain engorged, but not too engorged. The engorgement process actually triggers hormones to weaken milk production. Too engorged can lead to infections, like mastitis. But, of course, if you rid too much milk, you will reproduce milk.

You should pump every 4-6 hours for 5 minutes. If you don't have a pump, hand express in a hot shower until your breasts are comforable. Wear a tight bra and use the cabbage leaves in the bra (or use an ice pack). Good luck!

Answer 3

I went through the exact same thing 9 months ago with my daughter...I couldn't breastfeed, and my doctor recommended expressing the milk while in the shower, and wrapping my breasts with a tensor bandage as tight as I could and to wear a very supportive sports bra...I was told to not drink anything for the remainder of the day (about 6 hours) and about 2 days later my engorged breasts were gone! Apparently, wrapping my breasts and mimicking dehydration drys up the milk in no time....just take a few Advils until the pain subsides...hope this helps :)

Answer 4

There are several ways to help relieve the pain and engorgment. when in the shower try to keep your breasts out of the hot water because that will cause them to engorge also a tight ( not to tight ) bra for good support so they arent just hanging around because gravity will put a strain on them also you can call your local wic office and they can tell you more ways. Also i have been told by a local wic employee that cabbage uncooked the leaves take two leaves cut the holes in the centers and i know it sounds weird but she said it works take the leaves that you have cut put one leaf on breast with the nipples through the holes, make sure the cabbage covers the areola ( the brown skin around the nipples) and put the bra back on to hold them in place im not sure how long but she said it doesnt take long and she wasnt sure why it works and she advised not to do this unless you have for sure decided to stop breast feeding because it will stop it totally . i would try 15 mins at least but i dont know if it works but she said it does so i would try it, but please let me know if that works good luck

Answer 5

Cabbage leaves......I know it sounds funny but it works. I used it with my first child b/c I wasn't breast feeding. But whatever you do, DO NOT use anything WARM! That causes them to leak...hence why they leak in the hot shower! Here is some information to help you:

Cabbage Leaves and Engorgement

Painful breasts are the second most common reason that women give up breastfeeding in the first two weeks. Engorged breasts can hurt! And this can happen both at the beginning and ending of the nursing season, as supply adjusts to meet demand. This is one of the reasons that I encourage new mothers to work with lactation consultants to learn practical wisdom about breastfeeding. The lactation consultants at Stanford, where I work, recommend cool cabbage leaf compresses between nursings as part of their engorgement solution. Use green cabbage leaves. Crush them with a rolling pin if the leaves don't fit well to the shape of your breasts. Or cut off the tops of the leaf veins - whatever gives you the best fit. The leaves can stay on for about 20 minutes, two or three times a day, perhaps with a cold compress over them. Some suggest putting them on after every feed, and leaving them on until the cabbage wilts, but others are concerned that this will reduce the milk supply. During weaning, they can be left on continuously. One study, published in the June 1993 Birth, found that women whose engorgement was treated with cabbage leaves experienced greater relief and were more likely to continue nursing (76 percent versus 58 percent). Women who used the cabbage leaves preventatively, while their milk was first coming in, tended to report less engorgement. I wish I had known about that when my children were nursing!

A later study in the March 1995 Journal of Human Lactation, found that chilled gelpaks and chilled cabbage leaves both result in a significant drop in engorgement pain.. Although both worked equally well, the majority of women studied preferred the cabbage leaves. In the September 1995 issue of the same journal, researchers reported that when women had chilled cabbage leaves on one breast and room temperature cabbage leaves on the other, the relief of engorgement was significant, and was the same on both sides; use whatever temperature is more comfortable for you. I've even known some women who like warm cabbage leaves. What about the cabbage leaf extract creams you can buy? The Cochrane Systematic Review, which analyzes data from all available studies, concluded in 2001 that although cabbage leaves may help, cabbage leaf extract preparations do not - save your money!

Some remedies and solutions promoted to breastfeeding moms truly help; others are myths, or are even harmful. Experts in lactation are invaluable resources. Cabbage leaves are just one of many useful ideas you might get from your local lactation consultant.

Answer 6

When the milk stops producing, after a while the body will realize that you will not be breast feeding, the engorging will stop. There are very old fashioned methods- in the meantime, such as putting a bag of frozen peas on your breasts.

Answer 7

A way to releave the pain is take a hot shower...let the hot water beat down on your breast. I had to do that when i stopped breast feeding my daughter when she was four months because i wasnt creating enough milk and she was on my breast litterally all day long and i barely had time to eat and go to the bathroom. So try a warm bath or shower. Good luck!

Answer 8

Talk to your midwife ; there is a medicine, I've heard, that gets rid of your milk, but even collecting it and giving it to baby in a bottle will be good if you can manage it.

You shouldn't be left in pain
( having said that, the first 2 weeks of breastfeeding I would sometimes get hubby to pinch the top of my other arm really hard to distract from the discomfort of latching on to sore nipples.-wish i had known to use a breast pump sooner.)

You need a good midwife.

The La Leche League offer great help and advice with breastfeeding.
La Leche League (0845 120 2918) and NCT (0870 444 8708).U.K.
http://www.lalecheleague.com/membership.html Will help you find your local group worldwide.


Wishing you all the best

M : )

Answer 9

I had to wean both of mine earlier than expected also, don't feel bad and definitely don't listen to those lactation Nazis out there!

You can express just enough milk to relieve the pressure, but not too much or you will encourage more milk production. Take some ibuprofen for the pain and try warm compresses, that will help. Cold packs might help too if you can stand it, not directly on your skin though. Try wearing a tight bra, if you can get into your ones from before your milk came in, or buy one that's tight, it will both squash you and support you which will help them feel better. Make sure you have enough nursing pads too, you're going to be leaking for a while.

I think there are also prescription drugs you can take, if you have a sympathetic doctor who will let you have them. Otherwise, try what I suggested and also make sure to treat yourself nice too. I felt a little blue after each of mine were weaned, even though it was for the best. Take care of yourself and try to do something fun if you can.

Best wishes to you and your little one.

Answer 10

I would say that if you really desire to nurse that you not give up! It isn't easy and will be painful for the first week but it is worth it in so many ways. You will produce enough milk for your baby (unless there is a medical reason and your doc would be able to tell you this)
If you decide not to nurse your baby then you will want your milk to dry up quickly (unless you decide to pump and feed). Avoid ANYTHING that stimulates your nipples! (Yes....hubby....STAY AWAY!) You can also try binding which entails tightly wrapping your chest. You will need some help to get this done but an Ace wrap will do the trick.
When I got desperate I would resort to soaking them in a hot bath...I know it is counterproductive but when you are desperate for a little relief then it is worth it in my book!
Tylenol! MUST HAVE PAIN RELIEF!