Part Time BF = Sore Breasts!

Hi,
I recently went back to work after a year of BF but still nurse my son
at night and on the weekends. After being back for a couple of months I
have noticed that I stop making milk during the days (I work 7:30- 4
usually). This is fine on the weeknights, but on the weekend my son
wants to nurse around the clock and during the days I find BF painful.
Anyone else out there go through this?

Actually no - and the reason for following up is to wonder whether your
finding BF painful now is actually to do with your breasts not making milk
during the day. If I were you I'd consider other possibilities, such as
that your son's latch is now not quite as good as it could be, because
that's fixable. If that's it there could be various reasons for it of
course. Is he drinking from a bottle during the day? If so, perhaps a sippy
cup would be a better bet. If you haven't yet got your period back (I
hadn't at that stage) it's possible that it's on the way, and that that's
causing your pain. (This would particularly make sense as doing less
breastfeeding might have been the trigger to let you ovulate again.) Or
maybe it's something unrelated to going back to work, like teething - I
found my son had to adapt a bit each time he got a tooth, and nursing him
was often painful for a little while as he learned how.

Whatever the cause, I hope you feel better soon!

Sidheag

Thanks!
I just assumed that my breasts were sore more on the weekend because he
was milking me dry I do find that now that he has more teeth he
tends to roll my nipple, but I put the end to that, and my whole breast
hurts, not just my nipple like I said... He takes a sippy cup while I'm
at work but will NOT if I'm there.... which brings up the weaning
issue! Is it possible to wean die hard breast feeders?????????

Judi wrote:
Thanks!
I just assumed that my breasts were sore more on the weekend because
he was milking me dry I do find that now that he has more teeth he
tends to roll my nipple, but I put the end to that, and my whole
breast hurts, not just my nipple like I said

Do you have a plugged duct? My breasts got very sore, and nursing was
irritating each month right before I got my period. Sippy cups also ruined
Luke's latch so we only used them when absolutely necessary.

I didn't have any trouble with milk production when I stopped pumping during
the day but mine breastfed a lot at night even so that may make a
difference.

which brings up the
weaning issue! Is it possible to wean die hard breast feeders?????????

IME not without a price :-(


--
Nikki
Hunter 4/99
Luke 4/01
EDD 4/06

It just seemed like when I got off work I always had so much milk, and
now I don't... and they hurt more If I had a plugged duct wouldn't
my breasts seem harder????

Judi wrote:
It just seemed like when I got off work I always had so much milk, and
now I don't... and they hurt more If I had a plugged duct wouldn't
my breasts seem harder????

When I had plugged ducts I had a hard spot and it was *painful* not sore.

The lack of milk could be normal, there is a wide range of normal! After
a 8mos I never had full breasts after work with my second. I did with #1
but he nursed so much and ate so little, plus I had oversupply. Anyway - I
suppose they could be related. Could you be pregnant? I got pg when #1 was
15mos and had similar symptoms. If it turns out that it is just that your
body is adjusting to not nursing during the day during the week and not
being flexible on the weekends you could consider pumping once during the
day at work or perhaps give it a bit of time and your little one will adjust
to not nursing during the day even on weekends? Mine didn't but some do
;-).


--
Nikki
Hunter 4/99
Luke 4/01
EDD 4/06