Sooo sore-stopped breastfeeding!

[Mamadecuatro]

Ok, I had weaned my now 19 month old son from day time nursing about five weeks ago. BUT, he would still nurse every two hours all night long. He doesnt take a bottle or any other supplement. I have tried, to no avail, to introduce cow's milk or drinkable yogurt or a little chocolate milk, SOMETHING! I thought, if he could get to liking milk I could trade out at night feeding by feeding. Well, I'm on eight months of trying this, and it hasn't worked! Two nights ago, I quit nursing him cold turkey. The first night he would scream every two hours and didnt really sleep in between, but we made it all night without nursing. Last night was a little better. I thought maybe if he was hungry enough he would eventually take a milk bottle (he does drink water and juice from a sippy cup/bottle, just not milk). So far, he's only taken sips and throws it. I know he is smart and he is understanding that I am trying to replace the nursing with something else.

Question; I am sooo sore! This is day two/getting ready to be night three of not nursing. How long does it take for your milk to start drying up? I have done this before, but it was almost eight years ago and I only nursed four months. I dont want to get mastitis (Last time I had it the ENTIRE time I nursed), but I feel like there is no going back now. I dont have a hand pump and I already returned my rented.

Suggestions?

[MommaC]

Take a warm shower and massage your breasts to prevent any clogging. Hand express just enough to get yourself comfortable. Cold packs and chilled cabbage leaves can be tucked into your bra to ease the uncomfortably full feeling. Don't hesitate to call the lactation consultant at your hospital.

Not sure what to do with the little mild-refuser. Maybe just give him some water to keep him hydrated. Start sneaking a tiny bit of milk in (a VERY little bit to start...and VERY gradually increase the amount). If he starts to refuse, first try backing off only a tiny bit on the amount. If he's hip to your scheme, go back to water. My daughter resisted milk for a while. After a couple weeks, she decided it was okay. We played with the temperature a bit (cold, warm, room-temp). What works best for us right now is giving it to her first thing in the morning when she's starving for breakfast (while we're frantically making her breakfast), AND our little weirdo thinks it's cool to drink milk walking around. So, yeah, I follow her around with a towel wiping up drips, but she's drinking her milk.

Good luck to you!

[mom2twobeauties]

This may sound weird but have you tried wrapping your breasts with COLD cabbage leaves. I did that with both of my daughters when I stopped and it worked like a charm. Takes about 4 or 5 days for the soreness to go away, but it dries em right up!!!! And get ready to tell people why that smell is following you. (The cabbage) Try it. It works. Good luck.

[Mamadecuatro]

Thank you guys! You have really helped. I'm getting cabbage today! My sister in law who is a doctor even recommended it! He still isnt crazy about drinking milk, but we're getting there. It has been eight nights and nine days since he nursed. He is sleeping better and has stopped freaking out at night asking to nurse! We're making progress! I rented a pump yesterday, because I was feeling worse instead of better, like the beginnings of mastitis. I thought he would take the breast milk in a bottle, but he refuses! How weird is that? He'll take water and juice, apparently no milk products of any kind!

[mharvey]

I am so gald I checked this out. My little girl, 18 months, just stopped nursing cold turkey on her own. She didn't like milk for awhile at 12 months but when I tried 1% milk she started to drink small amounts. She likes to drink milk from a sippy cup that has a straw built in. I am going to try the cold cabbage leaves for my aching chest.