[Puddycat]

Hi voices if experience,

I am in hospital and I need to wean my 18mth twins. NOW

I had a little bit of notice so managed to drop a couple of feeds. In the week prior to me coming in I managed to drop down to just one night time feed. I've just missed the third feed & my boobs are killing me. I don't want to get mastitis.

I've expressed a little bit this morning (55mls off each breast) but I'm trying not to express as I need my milk to dry up asap.

Any hints?

How long until my milk dries up?

How long will it be painful?

Thanks!

[howdo]

You can get medication to assist. Ask your medical team if this would be an option for you.

[Escapin]

Just express until you're comfortable as often as you need. It will take a few days to ease off. One of my friends had to wean quickly recently, and she found the second day much worse than the first. Don't 'not express' or you will just end up with mastitis.

Also, you will probably still be able to hand express for ages, maybe even years! So don't think that you need to get to the point where nothing comes out when you squeeze. You just need to be comfortable.

Good luck. And sorry to hear you're in this position.

[Puddycat]

Medication had been vetoed as I've been feeding too long. Plus the side effects are not worth it apparently.

Do I express at the normal feed time? Or do I do several smaller expresses throughout the day? Ie as needed for comfort?

Thanks

[i-candi]

When DD was 9 months I ended up in hospital needing emergency surgery. As I was in a woman's hospital they tried to help to keep milk supply as I wanted to keep feeding. As it turned out I couldn't keep up supply (complications with surgery) and I had no issues with stopping feeds immediately.

You know 9 years later I have no idea how DD coped without breast feeding as then she was 100% breastfed with some solids. I suppose I should have asked but as it was an emergency it wasn't something that was going through my brain lol.


Kids are hardy

[ABabyPlease]

Hi congratulations on bf twins for so long. I reckon you deserve a medal!!

See if you can eat some sage or drink as tea. It can dry up milk naturally. Also monitor your breasts carefully for lumps. If they occur maybe you could have a specialist women's health physio attend and do ultrasound to release any lumps.

No other ideas from me but maybe you should post this in the breastfeeding section for more advice. Or try calling ABA 18006862686.

Best wishes for a quick return to good health.

[fibilly]

I finished feeding my twins at 12 months, but we were already down to only one evening feed for about a week or two beforehand.

I spoke to the ABA because I was paranoid about mastitis - they advised expressing for comfort in the shower but not to express too much to avoid stimulating production. I reckon it took about two weeks for everything to settle down and return to normal.

Good luck

[l-m-n-o-p]

As per PP, call the ABA - they will be able to give advice.

From their website: lactation suppression

[lizzie04]

I had emergency surgery and kept b'feeding. I had my last feed on the trolley as they wheeled me in, and then about 18 hours later restarted. Everyone was fine with it, and said my baby would be ok (he was 5 months). No side effects that I can see 2 years later. But given you have had notice I assume you really do have to stop?

[Puddycat]

Thanks. Great advice. Thanks for the link. I didn't think about their website. Doh.

I called aba re dropping the other feeds but not about the final feed. Silly really to have not discussed that but had a lot going on at the time.

I just expressed enough for comfort & reduce the lumps. I've got frozen face washers in my bra.

Fingers crossed it happens quickly!





(unable to continue feeding as had a tumour removed & need future treatment)