Breastfeeding Questions - Help with Breast Size
I have some questions regarding breastmilk. Please help me!
1. When I delivered my son I was unable to breast feed for 12 hrs. So, the midwife and nurses suggested I express milk by breast pump.
I did it for two days. My problem is that I now have very big and heavy breasts. Is this because I used a breast pump?
Will my breasts return to their previously normal size?
2. My baby is 13 months old now and I want to stop breastfeeding but I gain lots of milk and as a result I have hard and painful breasts. Please tell me how to stop milk collecting in my breasts? Can I take any pills? Would taking pills have any side effects?
Please help me.
Well done for being a breastfeeding mum for so long!
With regard to your questions, using a breastpump is very unlikely to have contributed to you breast size. You seem to have a good milk supply so they are probably just full of milk and will reduce in size when you stop breastfeeding. They will probably not be the same as they were before you were pregnant but breasts change due to pregnancy and not breastfeeding.
If you are at all worried about your breasts please see you doctor or mention it to your health-visitor.
Do not stop breastfeeding suddenly or this can lead to engorgement and even mastitis which is very painful and can cause flu-like symptoms.
My own baby is the same age and he is also still breastfed!
I breastfed my last two children until they were about fifteen months old and found that the best way to wean was to very gradually cut out feeds. Try cutting out a feed that he may not miss too much to start with, perhaps in the middle of the day.
After a few days, try losing another feed and so on until you have completely stopped breastfeeding. I found the night-time feeds most difficult to stop as they were part of the bedtime routine.
You may need to work around this by introducing a new routine. Try giving a bowl of cereal and a drink of milk or water from a beaker instead of a breastfeed at bed-time. A bed-time bath can work wonders as can a little night-light and some bed-time music!
Try not to rush things. Make it gradual so that your little boy hardly realises what is happening. Distracting him when he wants a breastfeed can sometimes work!
The World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding for at least two years and in many parts of the world babies are breastfed for much longer! So try not to feel you have to give up because she is 13 months old. Do it only when you are both ready.
Have a look at the following article on my website for some advice on weaning:
Also see the following link for Dr Jack Newman's advice on traditional remedies to help with milk production. Cabbage leaves are sometimes recommended to help dry out the milk supply and help with engorgement:
Cabbage Leaves, Herbs, Lecithin
Before trying any medication, traditional or otherwise, speak to your doctor as many medications do cross into the milk supply and can affect the baby.
Good Luck and I hope this helps you.
Let me know!
Sinead
