** Please no backlash against formula or encouragement to continue BFing. I'm doing what's best for me and my family.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to switch to formula feeding DS and need advice on how to deal with breast engorgement and drying up. I've thought about slowly replacing nursing sessions with bottles to try to decrease slowly over the course of several days instead of going cold turkey. Any advice is appreciated!
pomegranate / 3565 posts
I went cold turkey both times. I only breastfed a few weeks though. With DS1, I really felt no different. It pretty much confirmed my suspicions that he wasn't getting enough milk. With DS2, I wore a tight sports bra, took some decongestants as I heard it would dry you up, and expressed just a bit of milk if I was really uncomfortable. I also had leftover painkillers from my csection which helped with the pain/discomfort. After about 2 days, I was fine.
pomegranate / 3565 posts
Oh and I went cold turkey because I'm very impatient. And no judgement from me 
cherry / 105 posts
Cabbage leaves, decongestant and tight bras! My dr also told me to try to avoid the warm shower water hitting my chest. No judgment here either, it's what is right for your family
eggplant / 11824 posts
I went cold turkey when I switched to formula as well, and I was uncomfortable for a few days, but it wasn't bad. That said, my milk never really came in, which is probably why it didn't hurt as much to just quit than if I had had a full supply!
pomegranate / 3192 posts
I think whether you stop cold turkey or wean gradually depends on how long you've been breastfeeding for, your milk supply etc. When I weaned my son I was down to 1-2 feeds and even then it was extremely uncomfortable for about 5 days. I had lots of hot showers and hand expressed a bit for comfort. Whatever you do, you don't want to signal to your breasts to make more milk... so no pumping etc.
Also keep in mind there can be a lot of emotional changes when weaning too because of the drop in oxytocin (I think). A lot of people warned me and it was so true! Good luck!
pear / 1599 posts
I did regular bra and then tight sports bra on top, I used both to make it tighter. I also did sudafed and kept the hot water off my chest during showers.
persimmon / 1364 posts
Currently going through the process of weaning DD. I'm gradually substituting one breastfeeding per day with a bottle. Every three days I take away another breastfeeding. Currently down to 4 nursing sessions per day (from 8) and so far my boobs seem to be doing fine. No engorgement.
cherry / 168 posts
I used cabbage leaves and avoided hot showers. I was exclusively pumping at the time so over the course of about a week I just started dropping sessions, one every couple days. It wasn't too bad.
persimmon / 1436 posts
I also went cold turkey (from EPing) when LO was about 13 weeks. It was not bad for me but we had already been combo feeding. No judgement from me either! Good luck!
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
I threw ice and cabbage leaves in my bra, popped Sudafed for a few days, and took advil around the clock for the swelling/pain. I dropped to one pump a day and I think for two days in the shower, i had a couple of really awful hard nodules i squeezed out because it just hurt too much. The first 3 days were the worst, by a week later, I was 100% dry (but i was only pumping about half a bottle's worth a DAY)
coconut / 8483 posts
I heard peppermint tea?? I'm trying to wean right now and going to start drinking it because I have a lot of milk.
clementine / 950 posts
I did this at 7 months - I did it gradually by dropping one bf session every 4-5 days, and then bf at night for two weeks then stopped. Our biggest challenge was forcing LO to use the bottle (initially refused)
I still ended up with mastitis 2 weeks after I weaned which was awful 
pea / 12 posts
I stopped officially doing anything with my BM a few months ago cold turkey after mastitis and still leak/still have hunger and such. I don't feel engorged anymore though because I'm not stimulating my breasts.
Try a sports bra or firm bra for the first few days or weeks, advil, sudafed, and Earth Angel Baby Mama No More Milk Tea, which is sold online. I got mine on Amazon. With some honey, it tastes great and helps with engorgement. Cabbage also helps a bit. Nothing really helped me, but my boobs are weird! I didn't have a big supply as well.
cantaloupe / 6687 posts
The hospital gave me a handout on how to dry up my milk and like everyone said tight sports bra and cabbage leaves. It also said to make sage tea (you buy dry rubbed sage in the spice aisle and make it like you would loose leaf tea). It doesn't taste bad but I drank it with lots of honey
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