Aww, huge hugs, it's sad when your hand is forced to wean, I gently weaned my DS1 when I was pg with DS2 because of the pain factor as well.

I think if you hand express just to the point of comfort, then, if necessary for pain, use massage, warm or cool (whatever feels good) showers/baths/compresses.

Stop hand expressing once you no longer need to stop discomfort--you may be ABLE to express milk for a very long time, but that's OK, no need to get it out.

Watch for areas of redness or unusual warmth on your breasts and/or feeling at all unwell (mastitis typically presents as flu-like symptoms with a fever, I get hugely high fevers really quickly, so if you feel like that, maybe go to the doc, JIC!).


HTH, and good luck.