*WARNING* IF you're easily offended pls skip this one. For everyone else I need help quickly Im in alot of pain.

[prayerful wife]

I just gave birth 6days ago and Im nursing the little one.  This is the 2nd baby i've nursed so I thought I knew what I was doing.  I hate to put myself out there for public viewing but please go to my photos and look at how engourged I am.  I've tired everything I know how and nothing is working.  I took baby to his 1st appointment and I was feeding him when the doc walked in.  The baby started to choke a little and when he unlatched I had milk squirting every where. As embarrassing as that was we determined that I'm releasing milk at a faster pace than the baby can consume and I may have to stop nursing.  I'm hurting something awful b/c as soon as he nurses my breast fill right back up, same thing happens when I pump.  At the rate I'm going I'll be feeding and pumping all day long just so I can have relief from all the pain, and of course we all know that cant happen.  My conclusion is to have to let my milk dry up.  I cant even pick him up like I want to b/c it hurts for him to lay on my breast.
Please let me know what you guys did to dry your milk up....the only thing I've heard so far was to put cabbage leaves in my bra!                       Anything else?

[MelzieWelzie]

You can call me queen engorgement!  I'm normally a 36C and I look like Dolly Parton when I'm engorged.  I wish I would have seen your post sooner.  Maybe I could have helped you through this trying time.  If it's not too late, here's some ways to deal with this.  First of all, use nipple guards when nursing to protect you from the pain of latching.  Put millet or rice in a sock or two, tie off the end, and place in the microwave for about 2 minutes.  When it's time for the baby to eat, wrap the heated sock around your breast to loosen things up.  Massage your breast while feeding your baby.  When the feeding is over, place ice packs around your breasts to stop the flow.  Also, the cabbage patch leaves over your nipples can be quite soothing.  I was over engorged for 8 days.  I finally got relief last night, but I'm still using the nipple guards for pain.  If it's not too late you might try these things.  I would think that letting your breasts dry up is very uncomfortable also.
Good luck!
Melanie

[melimeli]

they had me pump for 40 minutes every two hours... after a couple of days it was better..

[40smama]

Don't feel bad or beat yourself up about stopping b/fing.  I know completely what you mean about the bond thing w/your baby.  With Noah, I'm completely bottle feeding which was a big disappointment to me because I too wanted that bond but it wasn't possible.  With my other children, they were breastfed exclusively so I know about that bond but to my amazement, I've bonded just the same w/Noah as I did with the others!!  Plus there's another benefit:  other people can feed the baby and give you a break.

Relax and know you gave it your best shot and you gave your baby a few weeks of breastfeeding which is better than none at all & you did the very best that you could do!!  You will bond w/your baby just the same w/a bottle or at least that's what I found out.  Good luck and I hope your milk dries up quickly.  Try some ice packs - that might reduce the swelling.

[prayerful wife]

Went to see lactation specialist yesterday and I had to make the decision to stop nursing.  I feel horrible about it b/c I was so looking forward to having that bond with my little one.  I'm producing so much milk...by the time I pumped and emptied the right breast when I moved on to the left breast the right one was full again.  The specialist said most women have the opposite problem not making enough milk, but i'm shooting it out everywhere.  I'm engorged all day & all night and its not a good feeling.  I can hardly pick the baby up; just to have him bump into them sends chills down my spine.  Then my nipples are so cracked im getting blood in my milk when i pump.  I feel terrible....but at least I tried.  Thanks 4 all the advice ladies.

[shesherm]

I had boobs up to my collar bone I wish we would have taken pics...LMAO

I pumped them till they were empty in the morning and then again in the later after noon...it was VERY painful I took nothing for paion after birth but criend and popped Ibuprofin for 3 days..good luck and hang in there but you shouldn't have to stop nursing
I also did the nursing on one side

[prevatt77]

I would try pumping to help relieve the engoring, it worked for me.  I would nurse my DD on one breast and then pump the other one.  It may help.  Good Luck.

[Tanker Chic]

Oh you poor girl.. Well it is pretty common to get engorged when your milk first comes in.  Do you have a pump?  I would pump, just a little tho, to release the pressure. I you pump too much that will generate more milk production.. you can also go in the hot shower and express some that way...

Hang in there the best you can and it should level out..

[CYW]

to let my milk dry up(I didn't breast feed) but I would stand in the shower in warm water and release milk and as soon as i walked out put a cold face clothe on my breasts.. I dried up within a few days...

[tahariel]

Have you spoken with a lactation consultant? If you would like to find a way to keep breastfeeding, a lactation consultant would probably have the best advice and information for you. Unfortunately some pediatricians don't have much knowledge with the details of breastfeeding. Check with your hospital to see if they have on staff consultants, or visit www.lalecheleague.org to locate consultants near you.

Best wishes!

[Tennesseegirl]

yea.. they look fine to me too.. actually mine when gorged.... I have cleavage up the zing.. lol you can hold pretty much a can of coke with them. so are you going to stop bf?
I did notice,when I pump and the more I pump, my letdown is alot faster and harder.. how often is he eating? the more you feed, time wise... the more milk is made.
my dd is two weeks today and I guess having a spert.. she is feeding every 1.5 hrs today. I keep wondering if Im going to have enough..lol so far so good....

maybe feed him breastmilk every other feeding????

sorry to hear your in pain.. good luck, I hope it gets better for u.

[azqtpies]

they will go down but you need to keep them emptied! colied cabbage leaves draws out the milk so that might help... but you need to put often to keep from getting engorged... It is so early since you just gave birth this is  the worst for engorgement! pump them till they are completey empty! that will  help.. also try warm compresses as well if that dont work try cold! hang in there.. it is the best thing you can do for your lil one is give it breastmilk.. like my doc said it is better than ANY medicine they can g ive your lil one if they became sick! that what keeps me going! I am at 11 weeks so far... Good luck =)

[prayerful wife]

I will.  My problem is pre-pregnancy I was only a 36A...so for me to be in C cups right now and it's not any saline involved is a painful task! :)

[keri3]

hey i don't think they look that engorged. not saying that they aren't and your not in alot of pain. i remember when i was nursing my first son. you were actually able to see the lumps on my breast. milk tubes raised everywhere. i really don't know what to do to help dry some up. the cabbage leaves was it. hmm try searching google. your son is sooooo sweet! oh my goodness is he cute! well if you fing something let me know and good luck.