Author Topic: sore breasts now that I have weaned my LO???  (Read 5275 times)

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Offline Jann

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sore breasts now that I have weaned my LO???
« on: November 19, 2008, 23:20:00 pm »
I am not sure this is the right board but I have weaned my LO, he is now 13 months.  We were down to 1 bf, the one before bed.  I weaned him about 5 days ago and I feel physically ill.  It feels as though I have a cold, my body aches, mostly my upper back.  Is this normal???  My boobs are sore, what can I do too help relieve the pain.  Since he was down to 1 bf I didn't think my milk drying up would be a big deal  Has anyone else dealt with this?  Should I be worried?

Janick

Offline Chantel03

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Re: sore breasts now that I have weaned my LO???
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2008, 05:21:18 am »
Are you breast really red and sore. Do you see streaks? I havent weaned yet so not sure if its normal, but I do know some moms can get mastitis from weaning. I've heard cabbage leaves can help dry you up. You just take cabbage leaves and put them inside your bra on your breast.

I took this from kellymom.com

Physical comfort during weaning
Do not bind your breasts to help your milk "dry up." This is an outdated practice that can cause plugged ducts, breast infection, or breast abscess.

If your breasts feel full and uncomfortable when you don't nurse at a specific time, then express just enough milk to relieve the fullness. You can do this by pumping for a couple of minutes or hand expressing. The less milk you remove, the quicker your body will realize it doesn't need to produce. Sometimes just taking a hot shower will do the job - anything that relieves the fullness is fine. If you are comfortable without expressing at all, that's okay too.

Do express or pump if you get uncomfortably full. It's not good for your body to not have any way of relieving the fullness. Pumping or hand expressing just enough milk to relieve discomfort will not prevent your milk supply from decreasing. What causes milk production to stay the same or increase is adequate milk removal. If only a small amount of milk is removed from the breast, then milk production will decrease. In addition, expressing a little milk will relieve your discomfort and make it less likely that you'll develop plugged ducts, a breast infection, or an abcess.

These things are commonly used to increase mom's comfort during the weaning process:

Ibuprofen or other pain relievers
Cabbage leaf compresses
These things are occasionally used to reduce milk supply during the weaning process:

Herbs and other natural treatments for reducing milk supply
Birth control pills, especially those containing estrogen
Sudafed (pseudoephedrine), a decongestant
 

Sadness/depression when weaning
It's not unusual to feel tearful, sad or mildly depressed after weaning; some moms also experience mood swings. These feelings are usually short-term and should go away in a few weeks. This is caused, in part, by hormonal changes. One of the changes that occurs with weaning is a drop in prolactin levels. Prolactin, the hormone that stimulates milk production, also brings with it a feeling of well-being, calmness and relaxation. The faster the weaning process the more abrupt the shift in hormone levels, and the more likely that you will experience adverse effects. Moms who are forced to wean before they are ready (or for reasons beyond their control) and moms with a history of depression are also more likely to experience depression after weaning. These tips for mild postpartum depression can also be helpful after weaning.

Even for mothers who feel ready for weaning and wean gradually, there may still be some sense of loss and sadness. Weaning marks the end of a physical oneness with your child, the close of a very special period in your lives. Remember that your child's strong need for your presence continues, even if it is now expressed in other ways.

 

Tanner- My active, fun loving 4yr old.
Kaitlyn- My new baby girl.

Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: sore breasts now that I have weaned my LO???
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2008, 06:11:40 am »
Oh dear. I think there is a chance you may have mastitis. Even if you don't have red streaks if your breasts are very sore and tender and if you have flu like symptoms I would suggest you speak to your doctor.
Sometimes engorgement after weaning can cause the symptoms you describe but I would still be on the safe side and see a doctor as untreated mastitis can be quite dangerous.

Cabbage leaves are soothing as the pp mentions and contain chemicals which are linking with 'drying up' (which is why actively feeding mums should be cautious they only use them for short periods).
Making a tea from fresh sage is also recommended for drying up.

You can try other kinds of cool compresses for relief. In an extreme situation you may want to express off a little milk. Obviously you want to keep this to a minimum to stop stimulating your milk supply but some people have to eventually end bfing by tapering off expressing slowly after their final feed has finished. Everyone is different.

Best Wishes. Well done for getting to 13 months - a real achievement.
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Offline Jann

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Re: sore breasts now that I have weaned my LO???
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2008, 01:37:58 am »
thanks for your concern, but yesterday after feeling awful I took a hot shower and did hand expess and the milk sprayed out.  What a relief, I expressed just  to soften my breasts.  What a relief.  I was sooo worried that something else was  wrong.  Today I feel great.  I guess I should have weaned gradually, but never thought of the effects it would have on my boobs.


 I am really glad I bf that long since i had planned on weaning him at 6 months. yeah!!!!

thanks for your advice.

Janick

Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: sore breasts now that I have weaned my LO???
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2008, 06:53:29 am »
That's good news. Keep hand expressing for relief, massage out any lumps. Keep expression to a minimum and you can hopefully gradually reduce it over a few days.
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Offline Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids

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Re: sore breasts now that I have weaned my LO???
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2008, 09:26:33 am »
Glad the girls are feeling better :P

BTW love the avatar how funny :D

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Offline Jann

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Re: sore breasts now that I have weaned my LO???
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2008, 15:03:00 pm »
thanks everything is back to normal.  Now if my hair and skin can come back to normal that would be great also!

Janick

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Re: sore breasts now that I have weaned my LO???
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2008, 22:24:59 pm »
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