those who did not breastfeed

due with my second baby in april. i pumped with my first, but made the decision this time around to go straight to formula. how do i prevent milk from coming in?? i've heard all i have to do is wear a tight bra, but is that enough?

also, were you in pain? if yes for how long??

those who did not breastfeed

There is nothing you can do, it's just part of nature that it will happen. When it does come in you just need to use cold compresses (not heat!!) and let it naturally go down.

those who did not breastfeed

I was told to use cabbage leaves in my bra. I did both times and it seemed to work.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

tight bra, try not to get them wet with warm water in the shower ( I learned the hard way- I became very engorged and it was painful!) and the #1 thing that helped was cabbage leaves, for sure!!

ETA I was better about a week after

Message edited 12/17/2013 11:42:18 AM.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

Tight Sports bra 24/7.
Ice packs in the bra
Freeze cabbage leaves and put them in your bra- wear them right up against your boobs until they wilt- then replace.
Motrin for the pain.
Mine was gone in less than 48 hours!

I was in pain- but only for about a day.
It was much better the next day.
Use ice and motrin. It helps!

Message edited 12/17/2013 11:46:41 AM.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

Re: those who did not breastfeed

Posted by Snoopy36

Posted by NervousNell

Tight Sports bra 24/7.
Ice packs in the bra
Freeze cabbage leaves and put them in your bra- wear them right up against your boobs until they wilt- then replace.
Motrin for the pain.
Mine was gone in less than 48 hours!

I was in pain- but only for about a day.
It was much better the next day.
Use ice and motrin. It helps!

did you start the ice packs/cabbage day 1 in the hospital? i picture calling my husband & asking him to swing by stop & shop to get a head of cabbage before coming to visit me

Re: those who did not breastfeed

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by Snoopy36

Posted by NervousNell

Tight Sports bra 24/7.
Ice packs in the bra
Freeze cabbage leaves and put them in your bra- wear them right up against your boobs until they wilt- then replace.
Motrin for the pain.
Mine was gone in less than 48 hours!

I was in pain- but only for about a day.
It was much better the next day.
Use ice and motrin. It helps!

did you start the ice packs/cabbage day 1 in the hospital? i picture calling my husband & asking him to swing by stop & shop to get a head of cabbage before coming to visit me

No, not until my milk came in. It was like 4 or so days PP. I was already home.
Trust me, you will know. You will wake up one morning with a boob job.
No joke.
Overnight boob job.
It was CRAZY! If it didn't hurt so much I'd have want to have kept those bad boys.
Best cleavage I've had in my life!

Re: those who did not breastfeed

Posted by NervousNell



No, not until my milk came in. It was like 4 or so days PP. I was already home.
Trust me, you will know. You will wake up one morning with a boob job.
No joke.
Overnight boob job.
It was CRAZY! If it didn't hurt so much I'd have want to have kept those bad boys.
Best cleavage I've had in my life!

Re: those who did not breastfeed

I did breastfeed but when I was weaning, I used sudafed- it dried me up within a couple days- its basically made to dry up any moisture in your body so it worked perfect.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

I worse a sports bra 24/7

When you take a shower, do not face the water. My doctor said any sensation in that area will make your body think it needs to produce the milk.

It hurt, wore ice packs & I had porn boobs for about a week but then it went away

Re: those who did not breastfeed

I just wore 2 sports bras round the clock. I did not have any pain, but I was on painkillers from the c-section so maybe that masked it. It only lasts a few days.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

You can't prevent it as far as I know.

I was in excruciating pain. Seriously, it hurt like a bittch. I could barely wear a t shirt.

I did nothing for it though. I didn't want to smell like cabbage. I faced the water in the shower (I didn't know about not facing it). I didn't wear a sports bra b/c it hurt to get in on. I was just a mess for two days.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

I wore a sports bra 24/7 and made sure to not face the water in the shower.

I was miserable in pain for about 2-3 days and then my milk dried up.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

I BFed for all of 4 days, and when I decided to stop, I wore the Genie Bra, which fit pretty snugly, with cabbage leaves in each cup. I cracked the spine of the leaves, and it really helped. I only had to do that for a day or two. I changed the leaves whenever they got warm.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

It was terrible. I wore a sports bra 24/7 even in the shower and then swapped it for a dry one as soon as I got out. Don't let the hot water hit them. i had ziplock bags of ice that were on me constantly... they would go back in the freezer when I was not using them.

I was on lots of motrin for my c-section and it didn't help. DS was born Thursday morning, mike started coming in Saturday, Sunday afternoon the intense pain started, by Wednesday they were just a little sore still.

those who did not breastfeed

I actually didn't have any pain, they just leaked all over which was annoying. I wore a sports bra and they dried up in a couple days.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

thanks for all the great tips! i'm having a scheduled csection so i'm hoping the pain meds will help me if i have any pain!!

Re: those who did not breastfeed

Re: those who did not breastfeed

I did not BF. I did nothing special. It barely hurt, maybe only 3 days but nothing memorable to be honest. I leaked for just a week maybe at most, not a lot though.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

Tight bra and ice packs will help dry them up and ease the pain but there is nothing to make it stop.

those who did not breastfeed

Cold cabbage leaves, sports bra and Motrin.

Re: those who did not breastfeed

I bought an ace bandage meant to go around a thigh. Then I wrapped that around myself as tight as was comfortable. Then I put on 2 sports bras. It was painful for about 3 days I think.

those who did not breastfeed

Even with the tight bras and the ice packs it hurt for 2 days after I stopped pumping and BF'ing.
The ice packs and tight bras just kinda take the edge off a bit.