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You may want to pump a few times a day to help relieve pressure then slowly back off pumping. I dug this out of my files and although its geared for moms who have lost their babies the same advice applies since it was not a slow weaning.
1 - ice packs, bags of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel, or chilled or room temperature green cabbage leaves (inner, clean leaves; "It has been reported that cabbage inhibits milk production as well as relieves engorgement" - 18 hours to complete suppression in one case.)
- The clean, inner leaves of a head of green cabbage can be applied between feedings for several feedings. The leaves should be changed at least every two hours or when they wilt. Mothers should know that there may be some smell of cooked cabbage if they choose this treatment method. They should also know that overuse of cabbage leaves can lead to a reduction in milk
supply according to some reports. Cabbage leaves should be used only until the swelling goes down and should be discontinued if a skin rash or other signs of allergy appear.
2 - If a nursing mother is very uncomfortable, suggest that she sit in a warm bath and lean over into the water, allowing the milk to leak out. She could also stroke her breasts from the chest wall out toward the nipple to encourage milk to flow. If she prefers, a warm shower may also serve this purpose. Expressing or pumping a little milk - just enough to relieve the fullness, even if it is only a few drops - can also help her feel more comfortable. These measures will not increase her milk supply and may help
to prevent health complications like mastitis. Breast tissue is fragile when engorged and can bruise easily. For this reason, gentleness should also be emphasized when recommending massage of the breast during this time. **the hard spots you have are plugged ducts and need to be unblocked to prevent a
local or systemic infection and damage to the ducts. Gentle massage from behind the areas and milk expression is needed. If you cannot express any milk and your lumps are still there tomorrow you need a breastpump. you can rent an effective pump from a lactation consultant for a few dollars a day.
- The goals of treatment for engorgement are to reduce vascular and lymphatic congestion and remove milk from the breasts. Use of a breast pump is sometimes discouraged due to a fear of engorgement reoccurring, but it can be part of an effective treatment plan. For a breast pump to assist in the treatment of engorgement, it must effectively and gently remove milk. An
automatic cycling breast pump with adjustable suction levels is most effective.
3 - pain and anti-inflammatory medications (herbal, homeopathic or medical)
4 - Binding the breasts is not recommended although a supportive bra may be worn if mother is comfortable. Some women prefer a "sports bra" for support during engorgement. Mothers should NOT limit fluid intake to reduce engorgement as adequate fluid intake is needed in the postpartum period to
avoid urinary tract infections and constipation.
5 - Sage (Salvia officinalis) is noted in lactation and herbal texts alike as having a folk reputation for lowering milk supply (Bissett 1994, Riordan: and Auerbach 1993). Peppermint (Mentha piperita) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum) are viewed by some traditional herbalists to lower milk supply, especially if the oil is taken internally in therapeutic doses (Ody 1994).
I have had several nonbf mothers using it in a capsule form and seemed to work fine. Dose was 3 caps tid
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Cabbage leaves to both breasts cont, changing every 1-3 hours, including thru night
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