Had to stop bf-ing cold turkey now need help

I had to stop bf-ing cold turkey because of complications in delivery with my son recently. I lost a good amount of blood and my iron was barely high enough to not need a transfusion but I was feeling up to bf-ing my little guy. After the first day in the hospital, I started getting head aches and just overall sick while he fed and a little after. In between I was fine but my body couldnt recover while breastfeeding. I started my little guy on formula and hes doing great so far. Not even nipple confusion. My issues is engorgement. I have hard breasts now and they ache like crazy and not sure how to relieve the pain and get my milk to go away fast. I have issues with my insurance so I can't afford medicine to help. I was curious on low cost ways to help rid this milk. Also, is it okay to try expressing with my hand a little? I'm thinking it may help and also heard hot showers help along with some massage. Lastly, how long did it take any of you other mommas to lose your supply and get back to normal? I feel horrible for my body not being able to feed him the milk and just want to get rid of it quick so I don't feel so guilty.Thanks and sorry for the length.

Cold, cabbage leaves. Break up the veins and put them in your bra.

Don't mess with them at all if you want your milk supply to go away. The more you express, the more your boobs make. That's how breastfeeding works. What you can do is take motrin, wear a tight bra and stick cold cabbage leaves in your bra. Engorgement is painful and there's just no way around it really. It will go away within a week though.

Quoting Summerfrost:" Don't mess with them at all if you want your milk supply to go away. The more you express, the more your ... [snip!] ... leaves in your bra. Engorgement is painful and there's just no way around it really. It will go away within a week though."

   

<blockquote><b>Quoting Summerfrost:</b>" Don't mess with them at all if you want your milk supply to go away. The more you express, the more your ... [snip!] ... leaves in your bra. Engorgement is painful and there's just no way around it really. It will go away within a week though."</blockquote>




  the more you mess with the the more it signals your body to produce more. There's no medicine that will make it go away, just time.

Quoting Squeaky McGee:" Cold, cabbage leaves. Break up the veins and put them in your bra."

What she said!!! I slept with mine on then took them off in the morning left them off for a few hrs then put new ones on. fair warning tho they will stink! but it works like a charm!

What about mastitis? I was told it can happen if I do nothing. Really nervous because like I said insurance won;t cover prescriptions and low on money so can't afford infection. I'm just trying to figure it out a variety of ways to help with pain also and swelling.

Quoting cmja92:" What about mastitis? I was told it can happen if I do nothing. Really nervous because like I said insurance ... [snip!] ... low on money so can't afford infection. I'm just trying to figure it out a variety of ways to help with pain also and swelling."

you can wrap them with an ace bandage too to help with pain once they have gone down a little. I always did the cabbage leaves and never had a problem with mastitis

Quoting cmja92:" What about mastitis? I was told it can happen if I do nothing. Really nervous because like I said insurance ... [snip!] ... low on money so can't afford infection. I'm just trying to figure it out a variety of ways to help with pain also and swelling."

Chances of that happening are slim if you aren't messing with your boobs.

Quoting cmja92:" What about mastitis? I was told it can happen if I do nothing. Really nervous because like I said insurance ... [snip!] ... low on money so can't afford infection. I'm just trying to figure it out a variety of ways to help with pain also and swelling."

I stopped cold turkey and did end up with mastitis. It's not fun. Even if you mess with them a little to at least get some of the pressure out, your supply should go down. I have heard the cabbage leaves work well though.

Quoting Squeaky McGee:" Cold, cabbage leaves. Break up the veins and put them in your bra."

Do you mean cabbage leaves like just going to the grocery store and buying a head of cabbage?

<blockquote><b>Quoting cmja92:</b>" Do you mean cabbage leaves like just going to the grocery store and buying a head of cabbage? "</blockquote>




Yup!

Quoting cmja92:" Do you mean cabbage leaves like just going to the grocery store and buying a head of cabbage? "

yep.   You can stick them in the freezer too and that will help with the swelling.

Quoting Ally-Mama of 2Boys &1Girl:" What she said!!! I slept with mine on then took them off in the morning left them off for a few hrs then put new ones on. fair warning tho they will stink! but it works like a charm!"

    

Cabbage leaves worked wonders for me! I only had to wear them one night lol