Weaning help (XP from Breastfeeding)

MickeyM04

I've started the process of weaning DD.  She's been on some formula since 4 months and right now she is about 50/50 formula and BM.  This is the first week I will not be pumping at work, and I have enough freezer stash to keep her on 50/50 formula and BM for probably about another month or so.

When I weaned DS, I got horrible mastitis.  My body does not seem to respond well to weaning.  When I drop a pump or a nursing session, by the next session, I'm just EXTREMELY engorged, and it usually takes my body a week or so to adjust, but then I just seem to make up for it by making a crap load of milk at the next feeding.  For example, when I dropped my middle of the day work pump, I went from getting 14 oz at 3 pumps, to getting 14 oz at 2 pumps. Then I dropped to 1 pump and I was still getting 8-10 oz.  (Clearly I have an oversupply.)  Now, even though I was typically pumping/nursing 6 times a day and I have taken three months to drop to 2 times a day (i.e. I'm not rushing the process), I am still having horrible engorgement, clogs, etc.   

With DS, I weaned over the course of 6 weeks and I still ended up with a horrible case of mastitis.  This was reducing pumps/feedings 1 at a time over the course of 1 per week.  This time I am going even slower and I am already starting to experience similar problems.  Is there a way to prevent mastitis?  I always thought you were supposed to reduce 1 pump/nursing session at a time but this just does not seem to work well for me.  

I figured with a lot of WM here who have dealt with pumping and reducing pumping sessions at work, etc., you guys might have some pointers for me.  TIA ladies

2chatter

Your body should regulate as long as you don't provide additional stimulation.  ie, don't pump anything in the dropped sessions.  The quandary is - if you end up getting engorged and that leads to duct issues, you have to pump off to relieve those or you will end up with mastitis.

I would talk to an LC at your OB's office if possible about how best to handle. 

litzo27

I have no personal experience as I never had an oversupply with any of the kids but how about helping your milk to dry up with some Sudafed or other decongestants?

MickeyM04

I have been trying Sudafed and it doesn't seem to be doing much.  I may switch to Benadryl or something.  I think I have maybe built up a resistance to the Sudafed, as it was working initially and now doesn't have much of an effect.  

OB and LC just have said the usual, drop one feeding per 3-7 days, peppermint, sage, No More Milk Tea, decongestants, etc.  It's like my body just is afraid my child is going to starve to death and it keeps producing a fair amount.  DH keeps lovingly reminded me if this were the 1800s, my children would for sure survive.  Yeah, meanwhile I want to stop having engorgement 22/7.  And formula is great.  Let's use that now.

ErinO21

I used one of those ItWorks wraps a couple months ago and it practically dried me up. I wasn't ready to wean so I had to drink water like it was my job and eat like a teenage boy to get my supply back up. I'm planning on throwing another one on in a few weeks when lo will hopefully be weaned.

MickeyM04

What are these wrap things you speak of?  I must google them immediately.

@theresat858 - is lecitin a supplement or something I could get at a Whole Foods type store?  I get a plugged duct in the right breast almost monthly.  

ErinO21

I would just google ItWorks. They are wrap treatments that help shrink an area of your body. That's the best way I can describe them. 

TheBorg7of9

Instead of dropping a session cold turkey, can you try reducing it first?

emberlee3

I would try pumping just enough to relieve engorgement, then gradually stretch out the time between pumping sessions, rather than going by a set number of sessions.  As long as you don't empty the breasts, your body will eventually produce less and less milk.

litzo27

Be careful with the wraps - I know several cases where they brought on clogged ducts right away. I took lecithin very successfully to prevent clogged ducts with DS2 (but I wasn't trying to wean at the time) - good suggestion. You can get it at WF, GNC, etc. Also old school - cabbage leaves in the bra? Apparently it's not just old wives' tales: https://www.lactationconsultant.info/cabbagecure.html

MickeyM04

Thanks for all the suggestions, especially the lecithin, as I had never heard that before.

I tried cabbage leaves with DS during my mastitis bout, and they did work wonders.  I'm just hesitant to smell like cole slaw at work, so that's going to have to be a home remedy.  

I have been reducing the minutes on my sessions prior to eliminating, but it hasn't seemed to help a whole lot.  Or rather, it helps in the short term but not in the long term.  For example, I reduced the one pump I was doing each day to 10 minutes, then 5, then 2, and yes, come that time of day when I pumped, I felt okay, but then 2-3 hours later, BAM.  FULL.  It's like my boobs just "hold off" until later.  I think once I adjust to no pumping at work, I am going to just throw everything at it--cabbage, antihistamines, cough suppressant (never heard that one either), tight bras, everything, and just hope that something works.

djm31012

The cabbage leaves worked for me. Also when you feel engorged, hand express just enough to relieve pressure but thats it .

rubber_chicken

What if, instead of dropping sessions, you dropped minutes from each session?  Like, pump for 10 minutes instead of 15, then drop to 5?

Have you tried cabbage leaves? Those supposedly work as well.

TheBorg7of9

MickeyM04 said:

Thanks for all the suggestions, especially the lecithin, as I had never heard that before.

I tried cabbage leaves with DS during my mastitis bout, and they did work wonders.  I'm just hesitant to smell like cole slaw at work, so that's going to have to be a home remedy.  

I have been reducing the minutes on my sessions prior to eliminating, but it hasn't seemed to help a whole lot.  Or rather, it helps in the short term but not in the long term.  For example, I reduced the one pump I was doing each day to 10 minutes, then 5, then 2, and yes, come that time of day when I pumped, I felt okay, but then 2-3 hours later, BAM.  FULL.  It's like my boobs just "hold off" until later.  I think once I adjust to no pumping at work, I am going to just throw everything at it--cabbage, antihistamines, cough suppressant (never heard that one either), tight bras, everything, and just hope that something works.

Maybe you just need to do it much slower? Cut 2 minutes each week?

jess9802

My oversupply regulated at the six month mark when my period returned. I still produced a lot of milk, but it took more work to maintain. When I weaned DS I started reducing the duration of all of my pumping sessions, used lower suction, etc. and slowed it down over the course of three weeks.

I am wondering if a short term use of an estrogen-based birth control might help with the reduction in your supply, along with the dropped pumps.

MickeyM04

She is 7 months tomorrow. No period yet. With DS I didn't get it until a month after I dropped my last nursing session.