4 days post 18w loss - question... TMI

ChevTrucksr4Grls · February 2012

Girls.. I do have to speak to my drs tomorrow about it ... but I noticed today that my bbs are a bit 'lumpy' and hard... no discharge - am I seriously going to have to deal with milk let down? I didn't even think of this...

dandywarhol · February 2012

Yes, it is probably your milk letting down. Another painful reminder of our experiences. I had my daughter at 21w. My milk came in at about 3 days post-delivery. My breasts got very hard and I had some discharge. You can wear a tight sports bra and use cabbage leaves to stop the milk, Ibuprofen for the pain. I actually let my milk come in, I wanted to feel the pain, I wanted to have that connection to my daughter. But that was me.

lpeter01 · February 2012

First I just want you to know my heart aches for you and your husband. I know what you are feeling right now and I am praying for your heart to heal.

Some advice about your milk. Mine came in around 4-5days later. My husband wrapped me tight with an ACE bandage and I wore a sports bra over that. Leave it on even at night and avoid a hot shower until it has come in or don't let the hot water hit your bbs. It should be gone with in 24-48 hrs. Good luck and Hugs to you both..

Petunia844 · February 2012

I'm so sorry, I can't believe nobody at the hospital warned you about this, that was a big mistake on their part. Like pp's said... what worked best for me was wearing a snug sports bra, icing them when they got super sore and the cabbage leaves... I also took motrin when it was really bad. It took me a littler longer than 48 hours so don't be alarmed if it takes a bit longer to go down. I'm so sorry... the milk coming in was so heartbreaking.

olp79 · February 2012

Same thing happened to me, my boobs got so hard 5 days after losing my babies. They stayed like that for about a week and now they are back to normal. I didn't take anything but it was sad seeing the milk come out :-(.

mdluv21 · February 2012

Yes you are sweetie. Frozen bags of veggies and pain killers saved my life. I leaked milk for a few weeks but it was about 3-4 days after delivery that was extremely painful for about 5 days I think.

careyalis · February 2012

I lost my daughter 4 days ago as well at 31 weeks. My milk came in yesterday and it felt like a huge slap in the face. I read in empty cradle broken heart to lean over and put your boobs in a basin of hot water. It drains out some of the milk without stimulating it to produce more. I slept in two extremely small sports bras last night and that seemed to help. I am still leaking, but my boobs are considerably softer today so I think it is working. Good luck girl and I am so sorry for your loss.

weddedwife · February 2012

They didn't warn me at the hospital about my milk coming in either. But it did, it was just like a full term pregnancy. I second the things the other ladies said: cabbage leaves, ice (I used bags of frozen peas since I could "shape" them), Motrin & the tight ace bandage/sports bra.

pottermommy · February 2012

You got lots of great advice, I just wanted to say I am sorry you weren't warned and that you have to go through this step.

magdalina.h · February 2012

Yup your milk is coming in. Wear a tight sports bra all the time. Don't touch them, when you take a shower, don't let the hot water run on them directly. Cabbage leaves in your bra will help to dry you up. It's awful having to deal with the milk coming in.

MandynStephen · February 2012

So sorry for your loss. I had an 18 week loss as well, and yes, my milk came in. Talk about a kick me while I am down moment. Just not fair.

frogs007 · February 2012

My milk came in the day after I gave birth to my twins. I didn't really do anything to dry it up (I think I was too numb to care about it). I did get nursing pads and they were a huge life saver. My milk went down within days, but it took a few weeks for it to dry up completely. . . I'm sorry they didn't warn you about it in the hospital. It's just another reminder of what we've all lost. Someone suggested that I donate my milk- which I was definitely not in the mood to hear. Whatever people say to you, do what you need to do for you. I was mad that I couldn't feed my babies with my milk and I didn't want to feed anyone elses- selfish maybe, but I think us loss mamas are allowed to do whatever we need to do for ourselves. I'm sorry about that you lost your babies.