? for those of you who've weaned

SuzyQq02 · August 2014

I pumped for the last time last Friday evening (and having a lot of feelings about that, but not the point of this post!).

I never got super engorged after that, so I figured I would just tough it through any discomfort since it seemed my risk for inflammation/infection was low if I wasn't making a ton of milk anyway.

But now it's almost a week later and my boobs are still really firm, the milk hasn't gone away. It hasn't gotten worse at all, but it hasn't gotten better either. It's still a little uncomfortable and it hurts if they get "hit" (like if my work bag straps slip down or something), but nothing a little ibuprofen hasn't managed.

How long will it be before they're "back to normal" in that they don't feel hardened/tender?

Ibliss · August 2014

I was very gradual in my stopping pumping. I pumped 3 times a day for a week (after feeding 8-10 times before), then 2 times a day for a week. Then once a day for a week. I never pumped until empty. Just for like 3-4 minutes to release pressure. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Codypup · August 2014

My boobs deflated immediately, like sad little balloons, so I'm of no help here.

But I can commiserate with stopping pumping and the feelings it caused. ((hugs))

JackieP1023 · August 2014

My supply dropped drastically, and I never had the engorged feeling when I weaned off the pump. In addition to PP suggestions, cold cabbage leaves are supposed to help ease discomfort, too.

sdlaura · August 2014

I am still nursing once overnight but otherwise have weaned. I went down pretty gradually (dropping one feeding or pumping session per week), and I still had a ton of engorgement, but now it's gone. It really just took time but eventually went away. I weaned for lifestyle reasons and not because my supply naturally started to drop, and I attributed the painful engorgement a little bit to that.

SuzyQq02 · August 2014

Thanks Ladies! I picked up some Sudafed today and will make some mint tea. I've already been doing b6 which I guess can help. I worked off pumping gradually over 3 weeks, so I'm at the tail end of the process and I think just need to hang on. It's honestly tougher emotionally at this point (like, well maybe this is my body telling me I shouldn't be stopping yet, am I quitting? ) rather than physically, so I kind of just want the reminder to go away, you know?

SuzyQq02 · August 2014

And I'm really annoyed that this is happening after my supply was such an issue. @sdlaura‌, thanks for weighing in that it gets better. I think my body is massively confused because I pumped it full of so much crap to make milk, i think it's now like wtf, dude, you want me to stop entirely? Such a mind fuck.

emar129 · August 2014

((Hugs)) I hope everything works out. I have also heard the cabbage leaves help too! You should be proud of yourself for what you were able to do for your LO!

gingerm84 · August 2014

The sudafed helped me a lot, I think it took about 11 days for it feel completely dried up.

I feel ya on the emotional side, way harder than I thought. I just reminded myself that when I look at my kinder students, that I have no idea if they were breast, formula or fed a combination of both. They are all healthy, happy kids. That perspective really helped me. (((Hugs)))

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