I stopped breastfeeding 10 days ago but I'm still producing milk. Any suggestions?

Question

I cut down my son's feeds to 1 and day until he cut it out himself and then I reduced the amount I expressed until my breasts felt empty. Then a few days later they were full again! I've been to the Dr but he is loath to prescribe as the drugs are really strong. Its so painful I really don't know what to do - please help!

He's a year old and not interested any more! That's why I stopped, not for my own convenience.

Answer 1

Put heat on them, a hot shower worked for me. Also gently massaging them.
Its really painful eh? Hope it passes soon

Answer 2

You can not express it at all. As long as you are expressing it your body will produce more. They will continue to replace any that you express or nurse. So doing it again is just making the problem worse.

Use ice for the pain, along with Tylenol or ibuprofen. If you don't express the pain with subside eventually. But again you can't empty them or your body will just replace that milk.

If you can't handle the pain and he won't prescribe the meds to dry it up at least call back and ask for stronger pain meds. I believe some people have it more painful than others. You may need to be firm with him and explain the pain.

Also check to ensure you aren't gettin pain in a specific part of one breast with redness of the skin, a complication can be an infection (mastisis) which can develop especially while waiting for your milk to dry up. If that happens or you start to run a fever you will need to go back to the doctor.

I hope it passes quickly, I know it's painful especially when they swell up underneath clear to your arm pits.. ouch.

Answer 3

It will go away, just be patient. I stopped breast feeding 3 months ago and I still produce a little milk. It's perfectly normal. To help relieve discomfort try putting cabbage leaves on your breasts. Its a natural(and weird I know) way of helping. Also, when taking a shower, try to keep the hot water from running on your breast. Heat keeps milk production up.Good luck

Answer 4

I stopped breastfeeding my daughter about a month and a half ago, and I can still express milk. So, it may take a while. Put some heat on them or have a warm shower to help relieve the pain.

Answer 5

I was still leaking around 3 weeks after I stopped breast-feeding.

I was so confused about whether or not to express it. I didn't want to stimulate more milk to be produced but I didn't want to be uncomfortable and in pain either!

Give it a little longer, look after your breasts and then maybe speak to your GP or HV if it's still really bothering you in a week or two.

I hope the pain eases for you soon. :)

Answer 6

You could produce milk for several more weeks...the key is don't express any milk once they are full again. It will be painful, but I found that very warm baths (breast completely submerged) or very warm showers will ease the discomfort. You will leak a bit, but I promise the milk will cease to produce much much sooner!

Answer 7

I stopped breastfeeding about 3 weeks ago and all I could do is pump and wait till I was full again. I know it's anoying, but the less demand the less milk, right? So it's just common sense, eventually, you'll run out.

Answer 8

Do not feed him or express it at all sweetie it will take a few weeks for the milk to dry up, but in the mean time try hot and cold compresses.Alternate them every 10 -20 mins to see if that helps out, good luck

Answer 9

when I had my son and complete breastfeeding it took approximately 2 weeks for my breasts to end producing milk. you ought to make certain which you're no longer squeezing or pumping to alleviate the soreness featuring the engorged breasts. My mom informed me to tie a textile belt around them to help end something from inflicting the milk to return out. I used a bathtub gown belt and every time I went to mattress, or become at abode on my own I tied it around them. It helped forestall them from leaking and ultimately the milk dried up and the soreness become long gone. in the event that they harm, positioned a heat compress on them or take a warm tub or bathe. It facilitates relieve the soreness. i wish this facilitates, and that i optimistic wish you're no longer in soreness!

Answer 10

Start nursing your baby again. The pain will go away and your baby will be happy!
************New Answer*********
Okay, so no one liked my answer and if you are intent on not nursing anymore this is what you do. Express only enough milk to relieve the discomfort. Expressing a small amount of milk will not stimulate more milk production. Just make sure you only express enough to relieve the pressure.
This is why it is much better to stop nursing your baby very, very slowly, one feeding at a time. That avoids all the pain and potential engorgement. You really could let the baby nurse once in awhile just to releive the pressure. An occasional feeding will not encourage more milk. Letting the baby nurse a bit is the very best way to relieve engorgement.
I was really just reacting to the fact that abrupt weaning is traumatic to both mother and the baby. It causes painful engorgement and can even cause a breast infection. Believe me a breast infection is much worse than engorgment.
I know I was blunt but it really is so much better to wean the baby gradually. Sorry for my brusque answer but I am a devoted believer in breast feeding and could not imagine why anyone would need to so abruptly wean their baby. Most of the time there is a way to get around it. Cutting back to only one feeding a day was too sudden, you should have gone to say three feedings a day and then after a week or so two feedings ( ideally one in the morning and one at night) and then after another week or so reduce to just the one feeding at night. Then maybe one feeding ever other night, etc, etc....you get my drift. Weaning can and should be accomplished with no discomfort what so ever. I nursed all four of my babies and weaned them with no incident, I know it is easy to do. I always let the baby decide and just followed their lead. This way weaing is so gradual that neither one of you really notice until it is complete. Go from the breast to a sippy cup and there is no need to ever give your baby a bottle. I hope you feel better and again I apologise for my rather ungracious answer.
Take care and good luck.
Lady Trinity~

Answer 11

I know how you feel - it's the most terrible, painful sensation. But I'm afraid you're going to have to bit the bullet and suffer for a week or so until it all dries up. One thing that helped me was wearing two bras for a few days (your 'nursing' bras are good for this) - if you keep your breasts 'bound' they will hurt less. If you keep expressing the milk, you will keep making it, so just keep your chin up for a week or so and it will all be over. A warm shower is also good for relieving the pain. Best of luck, I'm feeling for you.