Still Engorged

[KMR]

I've cut back on nursing to just three times a day (one breast only). I only nurse on the left side at the night feeding before bed, around 9 p.m. However, by 5 p.m, this side is completely full and very uncomfortable. It's been two weeks since I've taken this side to a 24 hour block and still no relief. It seems to ramp up when I nurse on the right side at 5 p.m. I plan to drop this right side 5 p.m. nursing session in another week - will that help? My daughter does seem to empty this left side each night, but it just begins to fill up again right away. I can actually feel the milk filling the breast - it is a really strange sensation that actually is driving me nuts.

For the first week, I was pumping just enough for comfort on the left side at 5 p.m., but each day I've decreased the pumping until I no longer am doing it. But, my breast is still really uncomfortable and refuses to dry up!

I've had a huge oversupply problem since day 1. For this reason, and because I'm on my third dose of antibiotics for mastitis (on the right side) I'm beginning to wean. I really want to end this madness soon, but I'm taking it slow because I fear the pain - even though I've had pain all along.

Any suggestions? I've been using cabbage 24/7 for weeks now - that does not help at all!

[Jacksmommy]

I would think that ending another session at this point would actually make things worse. My understanding of mastitis is that it's better when the breasts are routinely emptied. I don't know what to tell you about drying up one side completely. You're already using cabbage leaves. That would be my suggestion.
Have you considered pumping and just setting up a stash of breastmilk? I had huge oversupply of milk for months and mastitis once. It did resolve itself eventually. How old is your baby?

[KMR]

4 months old. I know that is very young to begin weaning, but honestly, I've been through the ringer with nursing and I just need to stop. Every time I begin to "just pump" and create a stash, my oversupply gets even worse - hence the mastisis. When did your problem resolve itself?

I'm also on the full blown birth control pill, and take sudafed every day. My breastfeeding friendly doctor is helping me all he can, but he also suggests that enough is enough and thinks I'm emotionally drained from this process. I nursed my first daughter for 14 months with very similar problems - but kept with it hoping it would all get better. It never did, but I stuck it out. It is much harder with two little ones to stick it out this time around. I think I would be a much better mom if I felt 100% and pain free.

[Jacksmommy]

My oversupply resolved at about 6 months. My constant engorgement resolved closer to month 5. I can tell you what I did, but it doesn't sound like it would work for you. I block nursed (at least 2 hours I kept baby only on one breast - He nursed constantly.) I never pumped at all - mostly because I don't have a brestpump. I hand expressed drops of milk in the bath when I was really miserable. That's it.

I agree with the pain free aspect of better mothering. Good luck to you.

Oh, and I wasn't suggesting pumping only. I was asking about pumping in addition to what you're already doing. Use the cabbage leaves, nurse when you choose to, and otherwise pump to relieve pressure and engorgement.