My daughter just turned 10 months and I have stopped breastfeeding. She pretty much weaned herself. She would much rather play than eat. I slowly decreased her number of feedings and we finally stopped. Can anyone tell me when my milk will dry up? I am not in too much pain although sometimes it hurts. I do leak a little, too. I would love to hear some other mom's experiences. Thank you.
Both of mine were different. I had milk for about 5 years after my son weaned himself. My daughter was less than a year.
I too weaned at 10.5 months and that was one of the most challenging parts of nursing-my milk WOULD NOT GO AWAY. The natural remedies include sage and peppermint oil. Also, the cabbage thing did not work for me, although LLL told me you have to keep them cold, that if they wilt it won't work. Also, if you have a manual pump, you can pump off like .5 oz on each breast just to make them not be SO hard. Also, one of mine finally dried up first. Another word of caution-if you feel like an emotional basketcase, it's normal! I know I did!
Good luck!
R.
My milk did not 'completely' dry up for several months after I stopped nursing. However, my son stopped nursing about 8 months ago and I will still get a couple of drops now and then. Go figure.
Okay, you're going to love this story. I am nearly 60 years old and have always had large breasts. Too large. I last breastfed when I was 26 years old and nursed my son until he was a year and a half old. The milk ducts in my left breast are still working and my right breast gets "plugs". They told me not to stimulate my breasts over the years. I wondered what they were talking about. I finally figured out that breasts my size are grazing everything all the time and there was little hope. I agree that a sports bra helps, but that is not the only culpert in my case. In his teens, my son lived in another state with his Dad and when he came to visit, I would come in milk. Sometimes crying babies have the same effect. In my forties, I grew concerned as the ducts on my left were producing darker substances and samples were taken and sent to a medical lab on slides. The cells were normal. One gland in my left breast shows up on mamogram and is of concern when medical people see it, but it has been there now for at least 20 years and one doc said that if it had been cancer, it would have gotten me by now.
Thanks, doc. Another doctor at Susan B. suggested that she could alleviate the problem by cutting my milk ducts if I ever decided to do so.
I wasn't ready and it hasn't been THAT much of a problem for me. Now, I am so ready for a breast reduction, I can't tell you, but not because of this problem! I would just love to put on a T-shirt without a bra and nobody notice!
My parting thought is this: Back in the late sixty's and early seventy's, the medical community did not teach much about breastfeeding in medical school. Other mom's were our best resourse as breastfeeding became popular again.
I am certain medicine has done some catching up, but I strongly advocate following your own instincts along with good medical advise. Don't be afraid to get a second or third opinion on all things medical. Ultimately, they work for us.
I hope in your case, your problem is more easily resolved. Be patient.
Hi,N.!
My name is A. and I have a 4years old son.I can tell that you are a very lucky mom(your baby almost weaned herself). I have spent 2months until I convinced my son .
To answer your question from my "litlle experience",the time frame until your milk will dry up is about 1-1/2 weeks.The pain is normal(I had a sore and hot breast for 3 days)and your breasts are leaking when usually is "time" to feed the baby.
I hope my advice will help.
If you have a little pain or are leaking a little just pump enough milk out to relieve yourself of any dicomfort. Like the other ladies said give it a couple of weeks.
It will happen.
lonie
I breastfed my daughter until she turned one, and she weaned herself too. From the time we substituded her last feeding it took about a week for my breast to adjust, they got super full and hard that first week, like 3 days maybe. Then it took another week for them to start drying off and nothing to come out. So I say give it about two weeks for them to dry off completely maybe two and a half wks. Since you weaned slowly they shouldn't hurt too much, the most uncomfortable might be when you sleep just don't lay on your belly.
I would wear a sports bra and wrap your breast tightly in a wide ACE wrap for about 2 weeks. No stimulation of your breasts either.
The way I got my breast to stop leaking is by putting a piece of cabbage on my breast and putting my bra on and it helps the milk dry up sooner. It talks a couple of trys but it does work.
How long has it been since she last nursed? Mine took around a week to 2 weeks to go away. Although, now, almost 3 years after I stopped nursing, sometimes a couple of drops will still come out.
Hey there!! Isn't weaning fun!! My first 2 children I did it "by myself" and that took forever. With my 3rd I woke up at 3 in the mourning crying because of the pain, cracked and tried the cabbage and camfofanique(spell check),that is the stuff in the little green bottle that smells GREAT lol. Withing the next 3 days it pretty much went away...only a little drops every once in a while. I sure do wish I did it with my first 2!! Do NOT bind your breast thought!! You could get "milk fever" and that is when milk crystialises in your breast and you get an infection. A friend on mine did that and had a protion of her breast removed because of that. Try not to express any either...milk lost is milk gained and don't use warm water to sooth the pain it actually helps with milk production. Hope this helps!!
im having lots of pain i stopped nursing 3 days ago. i hurt so bad when wil the pain go away?
