Baby Parenting Guide

What will help with the pain when you suddenly have to stop breast feeding?

I have to suddenly stop breast feeding my 5 month old son, no time for weaning. Now I am in a lot of pain. I heard that they used to give you pills, or a shot to dry up your milk, but my doctor says they don't do that any more. is there anything that will help?

Public Response to What will help with the pain when you suddenly have to stop breast feeding?

1. When I did that, I don't think I did anything to deal with the pain. But I have heard that cabbage leaves work? I'm not sure. I just dealt with the pain, or maybe I took Ibuprofin. I don't really remember.
2. Pain relief and tight fitting bras reduce the pain.
3. My girlfriend got pills (this was some time ago) and she said it didn`t help at all. Cold compresses - cold cabbage leaves. Express as much as you can to relieve the pain (not too much as to create more milk just for relief). And, take warm showers. Eventually it will get better!
4. If you lay belly down in a hot bath, your breasts will let down and release just enough to release your engorgement. It will relieve the pressure. I have never stopped suddenly, but I have been engorged and have had clogged ducts and breast infections and this always helped relieve them.
5. Panadol every 4 hours to help reduce pain and I have heard that cabbage leaves do help but have never tried this myself. I do believe though that there is a tablet you can get that will do it all for you. My friend couldn't feed and was given the tablet in hospital before she even came home.
6. You could pump and slowly decrease how often you do, then donate the milk to the hospital, or if it's not good for baby you could just throw it away. Use tight bras and a warm compress.
7. express a little in a warm shower, just enough to relieve the pain. Throw some cabbage leaves in the fridge and wear them. Sorry you have to stop so suddenly. Be happy and proud of yourself that you were able to go 5 months.
8. Yes I found a cold cabbage leaf out of the fridge was very 'comforting' and when having a shower just to press gently and let a 'wee' bit of the milk out just to make you comfortable, as this is not enough to regenerate your breasts to continue the supply it was required before. You can also take painkillers.. it only takes a few days then till the major pain subsides. all the best!
9. Slowly express in a warm shower...you do not even have to hand pump- simply let the water help you. Hopefully it will be pain free. Good Luck.