I took one month to gradually wean my twins at 11 months. For the last week, I was nursing them only in the morning, and not feeling too full or uncomfortable. I nursed them for the last time last Friday morning (it's now Thursday night), and my breasts show no sign of becoming softer or less full or less uncomfortable. I tried to pump just enough to take the edge off, but nothing will come out. My breasts are full, engorged, and painful, and I've also tried motrin and cabbage leaves. How long will it take for the milk to reabsorb into the bloodstream and out of my breasts? What can I do in the meantime? I'm so uncomfortable that it hurts to hug my husband or pick up my babies. Thanks so much for any advice you can offer.
one thing that helped me when my breasts were engorged and painful was take a warm shower and just let some of it run out under the water. It helped it feel better for a while.
I agree with the warm shower. I was usually able to express a bit by hand while in the shower. I'm so sorry! The cold cabbage leaves worked for me, so that's the only other idea I have. I have heard of using sudafed, I think it has to be the kind behind the counter, but I'm not sure. Hope you feel better soon!
After the warm shower, use frozen vegi packages or ice for 10-15 min. The you can put the cool cabbage leaves inside your bra. Change the cabbage as often as it gets "cooked" (wilted). Ice/vegis can be repeated several times over a day/night if it helps.
Sage may also help: 1/4 teaspoon ground sage (from your spice rack) 3 times per day. It's pretty strong, so put the sage on a small corner of bread with peanut butter on it to mask the taste.
Some say peppermint: go for strong like Altoids rather than just peppermint tea.
Keep up the ibuprofin too.
suep
bosombuddies.com
I used sudafed D-you have to get it at the pharmacy. Warm showers help.
Try taking sudafed. The pseudophedrin (I think) helps dry you out.
Good luck.
Let a hot shower beat down on the girls and try to express and massage. This might be tmi but my hubby used to take the excess pressure out of mine.
I don't think that one month is enough time to really wean gradually, maybe you are trying too hard to make the babeis go "cold turkey." If you let them nurse it might help you feel better. But if that is not something you'd be willing to do, I agree with the warm showers and cabbage leaves. Crusht eh cabbage leaves up a bit before you put them in your bra, teh juice of the cabbage is what helps to relieve engorgment. Also, you could ask a lactation consultant, there may be herbs you can take that dry up milk, I don't know. Good luck!
OMG does this suck or what. I could only imagine how much worse it would be weaning twins. You have to figure your body has been keeping up with 2 babies so you are producing double the milk. I was always told that if you breastfeed for many many months that the weaning process, so long as it is done gradually is not that bad. (It must have been a man that said this LOL) I weaned my DD at 12 months slowly and gradually over a month long period and when I totally stopped it was so painful for about a week. Apparently Advil helps with the swelling and offers some pain relief. I was so sore that I found it difficult to even hold my DD and that hurt more than the physical pain. Sorry you are in so much pain but it does get better even if it doesnt seem like it now.
Good Luck and feel better.
