Dd weaned....mom is not!

[Kellyshe]

I was exclusively pumping and just weaned dd to HAF.  She transitioned very quickly and when I asked my OB how to dry my milk supply she told me to bind my chest and take some ibuprofen.  I did use cabbage leaves the first 24-48 hours and now just putting ice bags in between my two sports bras.  My breasts are still hard but no longer leaking.  How long does it take for the milk to reabsorb?  It's been 72 hours that my breasts have been bound. I apply ice when home.  Is tgerevanythingcelse I should do?  Shoukd I go back to cabbage leaves? 

I know it will vary from woman to woman but is this normal?  And I know going cold turkey may not have been a great idea but here I am.  Will this take weeks?!  I'm just waiting to get mastitis. 

Any suggestions and support would be appreciated.

[ZacsMumme]

I expressed every day, a little less each day too to help ease discomfort. You man express or massage your breasts in the shower too
My milk dried up in about a week. (Hugs)

[PaulsMom]

A lot of ladies say that cabbage is the way to go.  I also expressed milk in a shower (like I took a few extra ones for a few days and then the milk re absorbed).

[*Liz*]

Personally I expressed a bit less each day, only to relieve engorgement, and it took a few weeks for them to stop producing. I didn't fancy getting mastitis!

[Skadiver13]

Same here. Took a few extra showers on the cooler side and expressed a bit to relieve engorgment. Took me about a week to dry up but then a bit more to completely see nothing in the shower.

[anna*]

Things with peppermint are supposed to be anti-milk-stimulating (if you know what I mean) so you could drink peppermint tea and peppermint candies. Also I think decongestant meds are supposed to inhibit milk production too so that might be an idea for a day or two?

[Kellyshe]

I've been taking both sudafed and Benadryl in hopes if drying them up.  I'm going to but more cabbage and give that a go again.  I'm afraid to massage them in fear that I'll just stimulate them.  And I'm afraid to express milk because I don't want to keep producing.

I also bought altoids (peppermint mints).  I also heard drinking safe tea would help.  Seems like this will take over a week to stop.

How would I know if mastitis is setting in?  Fever and flu like symptoms?

[PaulsMom]

I've had mastitis once (while still bf my DS).  It started as a clogged duct - so hard lump which was a bit sore.  Then with mastitis, I had a fever, more redness and swelling in the area. 

[Fiver]

Fever and flu like symptoms?

Yes, exactly.  And often a triangular, red, hot patch on the breast in the area of the infection.
I'm not sure why your OB suggested binding your breasts.  As far as I was aware this is not recommended anymore.  Everyone else has given great advice already, but this page http://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/weaning_mom/ backs up everything that's been said so far and offers other options you may or may not wish to try.

[Kellyshe]

Thanks ladies.  I think I'm going to at least take a warm shower and let them drip a bit.  Today is day 4 and while the pain isn't as bad, they are still engorged.    I guess it's goign to take a week or two.

And I mean to write SAGE tea, not safe tea!

[Fiver]

LOL to safe tea
Don't stay uncomfortable - if you need to hand express a little out to feel comfortable, that's fine and won't be giving big signals to your body to produce lots more milk.