Experience with Breast Pain - Post-Weaning

Updated on July 30, 2011
A.M. asks from Bend, OR
6 answers

Hey Mama's!

I finished weaning my 15 mo. old son almost two full weeks ago and today my breasts hurt a bit. They feel a little hard in areas and are tender to the touch. I presume this is the last of my milk drying up, but I am surprised it has taken this long. They aren't hard as a rock so I don't think I'll have to pump or even hand express in the shower, but I don't know what to expect. Is it possible for them to become engorged at this stage? Should I express or just wait it out? I've also got a head of cabbage on hand for anti-inflammatory purposes! Just wondering about all of your experiences as I haven't heard many anecdotes from women about it. Thanks for sharing!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Milk... takes AWHILE to dry up.
I still had milk in my boobs, even several months, after my kids weaned.
MONTHS after.
But I did not get engorged, because my kids weaned, gradually, and my breasts adjusted.

You may also check with your Doctor, just in case you have Mastitis.

Your breasts are hard in some places. You gotta get it out.
Go in a warm shower, and hand express it out.
AND see your Doctor and there are meds that will dry you up. Too.
But I would make sure, you don't have a Clogged Duct or something... and see a Doctor.

3 moms found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I didn't get a chance to drying up between my first two, and between #2 and #3.. well #2 pretty much quit on his own and my milk production had nearly stopped because i was midway in #3's pregnancy. But i remember it being almost a year before i had completely dried up after #3 weaned.

Depending on how fast you weaned him, i wouldn't be surprised if you were still producing. I'd really do the hot compress and massage until the you get the hard spots worked clear and then ice, ice and do the cold cabbage leaves as much as you can stand until you can't hand express any milk. But it still might take you a few more weeks, wouldn't be surprised if it takes a couple months either. This is kinda like pregnancy - each woman is different, each time is different.
Best of luck!

2 moms found this helpful

L.G.

answers from Eugene on

The milk can stay in there a long time. Your glands won't quiet down as fast as you think. Drink sage tea it stops the milk production.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.F.

answers from Seattle on

I would guess it's a couple of milk ducts that are producing milk more than the others and is probably a blocked milk duct. You can pinpoint and "hand express" those ducts by rubbing the thumb towards the nipple area to get the milk out. Hopefully that will do the trick. They can be stubborn!

1 mom found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Houston on

I still had to do a little hand expressing in the shower for a few weeks too, and was still soaking nursing pads for at least a month. And I nursed well over a year! The cold cabbage leafs do work, it never hurts to try it. Just get a new leaf as soon as the one you are wearing gets warm and wilty.

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A.K.

answers from Phoenix on

I had the same problem. I bound my breasts, that seemed to help a bit.

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