Sore breasts post weaning

[Rachel]

Hi. My DD has self weaned from the breast. It was a slow process where she just slowly refused to have certain feeds, until she was only taking the morning feed and then she stopped this on the 9th of this month. Prior to this she was generally only feeding from the left breast as she didn't like the right breast. Everything had been fine until the last few days, i never got engorgement or anything as it was a slow process...i think there was only once that i hand expressed as i was becoming full after the initial 4 days of no feeding (and only on the left) but haven't had a problem until now. In the last few days i have started to leak, out of both breasts but especially the right side (i rarely leaked when i was fully breast feeding), also my breasts are soft except for just under and around the nipple area where they are extremely tender and hard...it is now becoming a problem because I can't hold my daughter as any pressure on my breast not only hurts but also causes me to leak. Is this normal? I didn't think it was engorgement as my breasts are soft except for just this one area. Any help and advice would be appreciated as it is getting worse. Thanks.

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Just express off a lttle milk until your breasts feel soft and normal again. Some women find this easier to do while they are under a warm shower. Put some cold packs or cold cabbage leaves on afterward. It shouldn't last long. If you start to feel feverish or unwell, head to the doctor to check whether it's mastitis and get proper treatement
Regards
Barb

[Rachel]

Thanks Barb, I did express and massage out lumps in the shower but now I am finding that the lumps are getting bigger and extrememly painful, obviously I am extremely concerned about getting mastitis. I will continue to express in the shower if needed and massage out any lumps and hope for the best! Thanks again.

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Would she go back to the breast for a suck? That would be the quickest way to alleviate the pain and drain the breast

Barb

[Rachel]

No, I tried, and she absolutely screamed, arched her back, pushed me away...you would think i was trying to murder her!

[canberramomma]

This happened to me, first with Liam and now (since 5 or 6 days ago) with Skaja. Liam was always a fussy, fretful feeder so my supplies were quite low anyway, but I did get a build up and found that a cup of sage tea a day for about a week helped. Also, I would only hand express (I found in the warm shower was easier), just to a level where I felt more comfortable (read - could bear to put a bra on). Skaja was a little different - she was feeding between 2 and 3 times a day and suddenly just stopped. Again, I am reduced to had expressing and sage tea!!! On the up side, I really fill out a bra now!