Weaning off the breast and engorgement?

Question

My son was totally weaned off the breast about 1 1/2-2 weeks ago. I haven't been expressing at all and things were going good. I never got engorged and was just kinda waiting for the milk to dry up. Now all of a sudden my b*****s hurt and it seems like ive started producing milk again? My b*****s are starting to get a little engorged. I'm not sure why. I know if you express it just encourages milk production so im not sure what to do?? Should I express??

Answer 1

Sounds like you might have an infection.  It's not at all uncommon to get a breast infection when you're first starting to breast feed, or shortly after you've weaned.  

Call your doctor and describe to her what your symptoms are.  She'll tell you whether or not you need to go into the office to have it checked out.

Answer 2

Take a cold cabbage leaf, and tuck it in your bra.  Take it out when it's become wilted.  Also drinking sage tea (made from sage leaves) helps out.   You can pump a TINY bit out, but it will make the process take a little bit longer.

Answer 3

You can try using cold compresses and cabbage leaves. Take a cabbage leaf and crush the veins then place in your bra, leave it there until it becomes soggy. (Leave the cabbage head in the fridge). Take some motrin. If it seems like there is a certain area on your breast that hurts more, is red or warm to touch - then you may have mastitis and need an antibiotic.

Answer 4

Just let them leak out on their own.  It's not much fun... but basically ignore them.

Answer 5

Don't express.  Wear a bra 24 hours a day, one that is more snug fitting- like a sports bra.  Keep wearing a bra until you feel absolutely no tenderness- then wear it for another week.  If you stop wearing a bra ( even at night ) too soon, your b*****s want to start filling up again.  I made that mistake and it set me back about 2 weeks.

Or...you aren't by any chance pregnant again are you?

Answer 6

supply=demand.  your body will adjust itself soon, so be patient.  wear a tighter bra while in pain.  some women tend to produce milk for a year or longer after the baby's done.  follow up with your gyn to rule out a medical cause.

Answer 7

I wrapped my b*****s each day until they were dry with an ace bandage, as tight as I could get it (actually, it's easier if someone does it for you). It helped with some of the discomfort. Don't express the milk, whatever you do, cuz it'll just take longer for you to dry up. Don't let the hot water in the shower hit your b*****s for too long. If it gets more painful, you can try taking a Tylenol or Motrin to help also.