Help me dry up!

[myakylemom]

My ds is done, he won't latch on anymore. This started last night and he hasn't nursed all day. I have been slowly adding more solids and cups of milk to his diet but I thought he would be bfing for a while longer. So now I HURT. I pumped earlier and that helped. I have never been very good at pumping so I didn't get very much milk. I am going to pump again tonight. What can I do to speed up the process. Or be more comfortable. I know ibuprophen (sp?) cabbage, what else? Oh and he is 12 months.

I have mixed feelings about this. I am sad cause this is my last baby. But I am "happy" to have a bit of freedom, maybe me and hubby can go out and not worry about coming back to bf.

Sorry for the rambling. Thanks!

[thetoastercoaster]

Cabbage Leaves in your bra. I've also heard wear sports bra's that are snug to kinda bind them, but I'm not sure if thats recommended or not.

[Carly]

The thing that helped me the most was warm showers and massage. For me, the pain went away after about 3 days!

[urchin_grey]

Sounds like a strike... Babies don't wean suddenly (weaning is a very gradual process), and definitely not at 12mo. Just sayin. :)

BUT, if you are done, I second the cabbage leaves!

[Naturallia]

It could be a strike. Is he teething?

And yeah cabbage leaves!

[myakylemom]

My dd weaned suddenly at 8.5 months. She is very independent and does things her way. I tried to get her back on for 2 weeks and it didn't work. So anyway with ds we have been sorta weaning for a month or so. I have a feeling this is not a strike. He is sick right now (a cold) and I would think he would want to nurse more. He could be teething but I really think he is weaning. We will see how it goes tonight and tomorrow. I will have to have dh pick up some cabbage tomorrow.

[urchin_grey]

Nevermind! I somehow missed the part about cups of cows milk so he probably is weaning.

Good luck!
~~~~~~~
Oh, and congrats on making it 12 months! :hapdance:

[myakylemom]

Thanks. Last night (he still wakes up in the middle of the night) he bfd 2 times. So feeling better today. So maybe he will keep up middle of the night feeding for a bit.

[aschrimp]

If you actually want to dry up, you have to bite the bullet and not pump, or just pump the teeniest bit to relieve pressure, but not get anywhere near emptying your breasts.

Lexy would often refuse to nurse when he had colds, especially if his nose was stuffy. If it was hard to breathe and nurse at the same time, breathing tended to win.

[Miles]

Cabbage leaves, or see if he will try to latch on again.

[myakylemom]

He will look at my boob when I offer and laugh.:toofunny:

[Miles]

LOL laugh I would try the cabbage leaves. DONT use hot water because it will take longer to dry up.

[urchin_grey]

Thanks. Last night (he still wakes up in the middle of the night) he bfd 2 times. So feeling better today. So maybe he will keep up middle of the night feeding for a bit.

Maybe so! That would be good, I would think, if he's still night waking. No easier way to get them back to sleep than the boob, I would think. LOL

But your body should totally adjust to that if he keeps up with the night nursing only, so don't worry!

[SpaceyLacey]

I just recently learned that sage can help decrease milk supply. Make some stuffing!

[SunBurns]

Pumping will only help to keep your supply. If the pain is bad and you need some relief a not wash cloth with help you to let down naturally without stimulating more milk production. I know this isn't a natural method but i was told by my LC and Pedi any antihistamine (sp?) such as benadryl is supposed to dry you up.

[myakylemom]

:giggle: I was actually thinking the same thing about the benadryl.

He actually nursed at bedtime last night and 2x in the middle of the night.

Hasn't wanted to nurse at all through the day. If just the bedtime and nighttime keeps up that would be great.

And I just was pumping to relieve pressure not empty.:whew:

[odentonmom]

Wondering how you are doing. :)

I wanted to say that my youngest DS went through a similar thing around a year old, he acted like he had forgotten how to nurse or just wasn't interested. I kept offering and within a week he went back to nursing, though he was already down to just a few times a day at that point and he is still nursing now (at bedtime) at over 2 1/2.

I weaned suddenly with one of my other babies and ended up with mastitis in both breasts. That was the sickest I can recall being in the past 10 years of my life.

If you are definitely wanting to dry up, parsley, sage and antihistamines can do it. Also putting cabbage leaves in your bra. They no longer recommend binding your breasts or wearing a really snug bra like they used to.

Best of luck. :bighug:

[myakylemom]

Thanks for asking! We are doing great. He is now nursing before naptime, bedtime, and in the middle of the night. That works for me.:hapdance: I am just going to go with the flow and see what happens.

[momof2stepmomof3]

The thing that helped me the most was warm showers and massage. For me, the pain went away after about 3 days!


that helped me too

[Deadbeat Daddy]

wear a snug sports bra. It took about 5 days for me to dry up, it wasn't very comfortable but it happened eventually

[odentonmom]

Thanks for asking! We are doing great. He is now nursing before naptime, bedtime, and in the middle of the night. That works for me.:hapdance: I am just going to go with the flow and see what happens.


That sounds great! :)

[Snangel]

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html

It sounds like you are doing well. Just thought i'd pass on the Kelly mom site. Glad the strike is over.

[yoopers]

I hope his strike is over, and you are happy with the arrangement.

[myakylemom]

Yes I am happy. He is still nursing in the middle of the night and before bed and usually before naps.

I think what happened is AF came to town for the first time pp.