Hi moms,
As of 3 weeks ago my almost 1 year old son decided that he didn't want to nurse anymore. He went from nursing from a few minutes to a few seconds and then just refused to nurse period! I probably haven't nursed in over a week.
This morning I noticed about 3 lumps in my left breast. I used to get them before, but they would go away with nursing and pumping. Since I'm not doing either of those things anymore, what do I do to get rid of them before they turn into something serious?
Thanks,
S.
When I used to get lumps the dr. Told me to let the hot water run on it in the shower,as hot as you can stand, and massage it till it works out. That always worked for me. Good luck!
When I weaned my son (also at 1 year) I also got a lump. When it got hard and warm I looked online and found advice to massage and pump, but it became quite painful and swallon after a day or so. When I finally went to the doctor I found out I had a staff infection and needed antibiotics. I'm sure most lumps do not turn into infections, but I'm sharing so you know not to wait too long!
Same thing happened to me when my daughter weaned a year ago. I actually just pumped a little--enough to get the lumps out. It didn't stimulate enough to keep milk flowing or anything. Just made me more comfortable. My sister had the same thing and she got her son to nurse a little and it was enough to get the lumps out. But again, didn't stimulate enough to produce anything. Good luck!
Dear S.
CONGRATULATIONS on nursing your son for almost a year! The answer to your question will depend on if you want to continue nursing your son or whether you would like to wean him as this could just be a short "nursing strike". We are here to help with whatever course you choose to take.
BEST FED BABIES
www.virtualbreastfeedinghelp.com
Ahhhh - the lovely engorgement lumps have returned! Breast massage will help move that milk along with cabbage leaves. May sound crazy but this has worked for some women, including myself when weaning my oldest son. Take a leaf of cabbage (I used green), you can fold it up to fit better over your entire breast or just keep it open, whatever works best. Stick that puppy over your boob, put your bra on and go about your day or sleep at night. Something about the cabbage draws out the milk. The cabbage needs to be replaced when it gets all wilted.
Don't worry - it's not like you're going to have puddles of milk in your bra. It just wilts the cabbage while pulling out the milk. And it isn't stimulating to your breasts like nursing or pumping so they won't get confused and think your nursing a child.
Good luck! And congrats on nursing until your baby decided to quit!!
So, I also just stopped nursing and have had this same problem. I hand express in the shower but that is because I wound up getting mastitis and it was making me very sick. I also used cabbage leaves and that works great. I did that after my son and now with my daughter. Hope it works out for you :) Good job!
I'm glad you posted this as I am in the process of weaning my son. He is almost 14 months old and he has been taking it slowly but self weaning. We have quit the bedtime nursing and sometimes the afternoon nursing gets skipped without any issues. The morning nursing is going to be the hardest to get rid of as he cries for me in the morning but so far things are going well there, however one breast is just not getting the picture that we are weaning and it is swollen as I type this! So uncomfortable...so I was curious what I could do to help ease the uncomfortable feeling.
However I wonder if the cabbage leaves is something I would want to wait until I am completely done with nursing as I still am nursing a little bit. Hmm..something to question...
Good luck with everything!
Hi S., my sympathy for you. I really think that the lumps are just your milk ducts still filling up. I vaguely remember something like that ( I last nursed quite awhile ago- 15 years!). I think I just self massaged my breasts a little bit. I don't think it's serious with you either- just uncomfortable for awhile until your breasts fully understand that you've stopped nursing.
Hi, my name is Kini a mom of 3, 9yrs., 7yrs. and 20 months. You can try applying warm compress to the area or let the warm water of the shower run onto that area to loosen up the cloged milk duct.
My son hasn't weaned yet, but I have heard that cabbage leaves will dry the milk up pretty quickly. I'm not sure if you want to try pumping to get the lumps to go away first, and then try the cabbage leaves in your bra. Sounds silly, but it works.
sounds like clogged ducts- pumping while massaging the ducts worked for me when my daughter weaned. You want to avoid mastitis- and don't worry, your milk will not come back, just pump enough to clear the ducts.
