Help me stop pumping please

DD is 5 weeks old and I've been pumping BM for her since about day 3. As guilty as I feel for wanting to stop, I just can't take the constant pain and discomfort anymore. It was not like this when I pumped for Marron, and I don't know why I'm having so many problems this time but I just can't live like this anymore. I have probably another 3 weeks supply in the freezer so I figure she'll get about 2 months worth of BM.

In any case, how do I stop without getting totally engorged and causing mastitis? I already have a golfball in one of my breasts that I'm trying to work out (which doesn't seem to be working). This morning when I pumped, I only pumped for 15mins instead of 20. Do I just continue to cut the duration of the sessions, or should I increase the time between sessions as well?

ETA: 1 more question - should I not give DD this pumped milk since it may not have the hindmilk in it and may not be filling for her?

Message edited 6/6/2009 10:21:23 AM.

Re: Help me stop pumping please

You can continue to gice her all of the milk you pump. As for weaning yourself, start pumping for less time AND increase the time between eachpumping, eventually elliminating one at a time. I weaned myself for a few weeks and then I did leaka little for another week or so. The first two days after I officially stopped were fine, then all of a sudden I got totally painfully engorged. I called the Dr. and she said that regular Sudafed helps dry your supply. So after 2 days of taking Sudafed I felt much better.