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? asked in Pregnancy & ParentingNewborn & Baby · 1 decade ago

Why are my breasts tender, sore and hard a week after weaning?

I decided to begin weaning my 10 month old about 7 weeks ago (she has far more teeth than average, and the biting was just getting way out of control). I researched weaning thoroughly, and tried to make weaning as gradual as possible. I weaned her over 6 weeks, replacing about one feed every week or two with a bottle of formula. Last Sunday I breastfed her for the last time (sigh).

The first two days my breasts felt soft and natural. About the 3rd day they became engorged, which I figured would pass, and it did. Then today (4 days later) they became very hard, lumpy and very tender. Massaging them causes them to leak (I was never able to express milk so easily before).

I had read about using cabbage leaves, but don't have cabbage on hand and there is a snow-storm outside preventing me from driving to get any. Should I be worried about this? Is this the beginning of a blocked duct, or an infection?

I thought I weaned as naturally as possible, and am disappointed with this result. Any advice on how to simmer these puppies down? Should I run to my doctor? Should I just express a little (I am worried that will make the milk keep coming)? Should I just keep massaging them?

Help!

3 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I'm not up to that stage yet, but I've been reading up on it b/c my dd is just about ready to stop herself.

    From what I understand your milk is drying up. It can be very painful at times. I was told that the best thing to do is get a sports bra about a size too small and use cold compresses to ease the pain. I think it takes about 6 weeks to totally dry!

    Good luck!

    Source(s): baby buzz app on itunes & self
  • 1 decade ago

    it does take about 6 weeks to dry up, it can even take a little longer depending on the woman. When I weaned my doctor told me if it gets to bad to get in the shower and let warm water hit you and then try to express as much as you can. Mine took almost two months to fully dry up.

  • 4 years ago

    You adverse component! You had the excellent thought - slowly weaning don't have made your breasts painful. i spotted which you reported you shrink out one feeding according to day till you have been basically nursing as quickly as interior the morning. Did you mean that truly, day after on a daily basis, interior the comparable week, you shrink out a feeding? If that's what you probably did, it is sensible which you're engorged. sluggish weaning takes months...

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