SOCIAL MEDIA

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

The Joys of Weaning

If this post seems off please forgive me. I am running on zero sleep over here. I even split coffee down my white shirt and didn't notice. There is no amount of coffee that can help me today. Ugh. Weaning is a bitch and I wasn't/am not prepared for this last hurdle part. Over the last 5 weeks I have been weaning from the pump. Each week I have dropped a pump 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. I am currently in the struggle that is 2 to 1.

Each week was pretty easy until I went from 3 to 2 pumps. I got engorged by the time 12 hours hit when I was doing two a day, but it wasn't bad at all. I didn't notice it that much except two nights when I leaked milk in my bed. No biggie.

And as last week progressed, I started making my second pump of the day shorter and shorter (15 mins, 10 mins, 5 mins), so I could be prepared for jumping to one pump a day. I even had it in my mind that going from 2 to 1 wouldn't even matter and I may not even have to worry about it. Boy was I wrong.

Monday was my first attempt at 1 pump. That didn't work, so I pumped at 4 pm so I could enjoy my anniversary dinner. Tuesday came and I had a slight clogged duct in my left boob, so I pumped on that boob two extra times at 5 minutes each just for relief. It didn't work. Last night was awful. I hadn't pumped at all on the right side all day (since the 5 am one) and it was ok. I was engorged but doing just fine. I bought some cabbage leaves and sage tea since it was recommended all over the internet. The cabbage does work. It felt good. It stinks, but feels good.

I took out the cabbage when it was time for bed, put a towel down because I knew I would leak and went to sleep. That was at 11 pm (I fell asleep on the couch for about an hour prior) and I was awake again at 1:30 until about 4 pm in misery. My boobs hurt. I was so engorged it hurt to lay on my back, to lay on my side or just lay down. I felt hot and awful. No sleep. Ugh.

5 am came and I pumped (for my only pump of the day) and felt some relief. My right side is better but I still have this stupid clog in the left. I brought my pump to work in case it gets that bad. But I may do a heating pad session and a 5 minute pump to get rid of this clog. And only the left side which was only producing a few ounces anyways. But tonight I have lots of advil and scotch ready to knock this momma out.

Ouch. I am hoping tonight is better and my body can get used to once a day and then none. I am trying to dry it up quickly. Any recommendations? I wanted to be done pumping by Saturday but I am fearing I will have to pump the 5 am time. But maybe not. Here is to hoping cabbage and sage tea work pronto.

Weaning sucks and I can't wait to have my boobies back.

6 comments :

  1. So glad you posted. Ugh! I agree - it sucks. The pump and the weaning lol. I would say to just pump a little as needed. Because there is not much worse than the feeling of engorgement.

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    1. Last night wasn't as bad as Tuesday night. I did leak some, but since I got the clog out yesterday afternoon (with the heating pad trick) I wasn't in as much pain. And I think I was just too tired to even care. So I pumped again at 5 am and have my pump at work just in case, but here is hoping I can make it 24 hours with just one pump (which I have done twice on my right boob, but not at all with the left). Then focus on transitioning to no pumps maybe this weekend or Monday.

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  2. It's not advice you want to hear probably, but I'd recommend giving yourself more time. It takes a long time for some women to stop producing milk. I had Oscar on one feeding a day for several months before we weaned, and then when I stopped there was no pain or problems at all. But trying to do it in just a week or two sounds painful, I would not recommend it.

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    1. I know. I just followed all these recommendations on weaning over a month (I did 5 weeks) and I am still producing quite a bit. But I am down to the one pump a day and going to continue that for at least another week or two. That way the girls still get one breast milk bottle a day once the freezer stash is gone. I have been using cabbage leaves at night and they help so much. And I can tell my supply and engorgement are finally going down. Crazy to end this chapter though. Can't wait to see you Mel!

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  3. Oh ouch!! Engorged boobs hurt so bad!! That happened to me when I was weaning with Cameron. Haven't had to do it yet with Emmy since she won't take a bottle but I notice how full I am at night when she sleeps longer. I'm ready to have my boobs back too but I have a little bit to go yet since she refuses a bottle. :(

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    1. How long do you plan to breastfeed? I am still pumping (once or twice a day) until at least this weekend (gotta make it to 8 months at least for me). I am finally not as engorged as I was last week and I have had a clog this week, but it came out easily in the shower. I am happy to be almost done but it is a bit bittersweet. I wish I could have made it to a year, but it has been a tough journey to get this far (clogged ducts, mastitis, breast abscess that lead to surgery, supply drops, blistered nipples, crack nipples, etc.). I wouldn't change it for the world though. Many of my twin mom friends stopped earlier, so I am pretty proud of myself thus far.

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