I started weaning my 18 month old yesterday morning. She´s doing great! but I am left with engorged, sore breasts, what do I do to relief this? I manually squeazed some milk out because I couldn´t take it no more. What do I do now? how long does it take for my milk to dry out? help please experienced moms!
2007-03-12 11:22:14 · 11 answers · asked by ?GlamourRock? 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
when you express milk whether manually or not you are showing a demand for teh milk. making your body continue to think there is a need. put them up with a sports bra over areal bra. wear padding. keeping them tight to relieve pain. in th emorning when you get time to shower. slowly take them off let the warm water soothe your soreness and let some milk out then. in less than a week you should be normal. continue to wear padding with your regulr bra.
2007-03-12 11:27:53 · answer #1 · answered by Mrs.Vick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also just weaned my baby at 18 months. My first question would be how many visits to the breast a day currently?
To wean properly without any engorging and pain (which is what I did for my babies) is to be sure to take out feedings gradually and not all feedings at once.
At 18 months I'd say your daughter is on a 4 a day visit to the breast or less. For the first week you take out the morning feeding. Second week you take out the late afternoon feeding. Third week you take out the nap feeding and the last week you take out the bedtime feeding. Not sure what your pattern is but weaning should be done gradually!!! Try and give yourself that month if you can. If you are experiencing the pain though and can't stretch it out..... then unfortunately you just have to bear with it. Over a few days, your breasts will figure out that there is no one to nurse and start drying up. Be sure to wear a good supportive nursing bra with the pads inside for leakage. I know they will get sore but it's best not to express any milk. The tiniest bit of excretion gives the breast a clue again that you should be producing milk at that time of day. Take a bag of frozen veggies wrapped in a washcloth and let sit on top of breast for few minutes to help with pain and engorging.
Now like I said, I have recently weaned my 18 month old daughter - well not too recent, she's 23 months old now. And as for drying up - if I were to manually express right now, I'd have milk. The trick is to not express!! And if you allot yourself that time to wean the pain for you will be so very little. I did not experience any pain.
Extra detail the kind of schedule you are currently on with baby and I'll see if I can be of further assistance.... if I was of any yet!!!
2007-03-12 18:35:23 · answer #2 · answered by momto3 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You may never completely dry up. But the engorgement should go away in 7-14 days.
However if you quit cold turkey I would strongly suggest you pump for at least half of the missed feedings and drop one every 4-5 days. Quitting cold turkey can cause mastitisis. This is most important if you have a history of mastitisis or plugged ducts. Yes it will take longer to dry up, but it will be safer and more comfortable.
2007-03-12 18:31:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My doctor told me it may take up to three months but my great grandmother told me to buy some fresh cabbage. First take a warm shower so that the milk will start to drop and after the shower take a couple of cabbage leaves and stick them inside your bra for about two hours. Do this for about two days and that should completely dry your milk. I know it sounds weird but it actually worked for me. Good Luck.
2007-03-12 18:30:33 · answer #4 · answered by thaonecleopatra 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try not to squeeze any milk out because it will take longer! They hurt for about 2-3 days then settle down and the milk goes away.
2007-03-12 18:27:55 · answer #5 · answered by sweet redhead! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i remember the pain!i was told to not express as it will take longer ,i did anyway it hurts! try cold cabbage leaves they are great i also found wearing two tight bras?dont worry you should be feally fine tomorrow and a week you will be wishing they were still engorged if your anything like me lol!
2007-03-12 18:30:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The less of a demand for the milk, the less you will produce. Just let it happen naturally. I did it with 3 babies.
2007-03-12 18:58:17 · answer #7 · answered by I love winter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
weaning should be a slow process... you should start by eliminating 1 session/day for a few days and then another and another... it should, ideally, take a few months.
It will be easiest on the child and easiest on your breasts.
2007-03-12 18:31:08 · answer #8 · answered by Mommy to David 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i stopped breastfeding 4 months ago and i can still squeze milk out. the dr cn perscribe something to dry you out.
2007-03-12 18:45:53 · answer #9 · answered by jjsoccer_18 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
YOU CAN'T JUST STOP BREASTFEEDING........ITS BAD FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY............WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS SLOWLY STOP.......AFTER WHILE YOUR BREAST WONT GET ENGORGED BUT YOU WILL STILL HAVE MILK FOR A LONG TIME JUST NOT ENOUGH TO FEED...........MAYBE A DROP ONCE A DAY
2007-03-12 19:23:12 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋