One week after weaning, my breasts are still hard and painful

Anyone who has given birth knows that mothers should wean their babies as soon as they finish breastfeeding. Many women experience pain during weaning, especially those who have plenty of milk. If milk stasis is excessive and not treated in time, it can easily cause mastitis. Many mothers still feel hard and painful breasts one week after weaning. What should they do at this time?

1. Why do breasts still hurt after weaning?

Excluding breast diseases, it may be caused by milk stasis. Milk stasis can easily cause mastitis, so it needs to be treated as soon as possible.

2. Methods of weaning

1. Natural weaning

1) Gradually reduce the number of breastfeeding times: If mothers do not have too much milk, they can choose to reduce the number of breastfeeding times little by little. By reducing the number of breastfeeding times, the amount of milk secretion can be reduced a little, and the milk will go back.

2) Lengthen the interval between feedings: Gradually lengthen the interval between each feeding to allow the baby to slowly adapt and the breasts to slowly adapt, thereby slowly reducing the secretion of milk, which is very helpful for weaning.

3) Shorten the time of single feeding: Don’t feed your baby too long each time, shorten it gradually. This will reduce the baby's sucking stimulation and naturally reduce milk secretion.

4) Reduce high-protein intake: Mothers should pay attention to eating less soup and milk-inducing foods, and must be careful not to eat fish, mutton and other foods rich in protein. Drink less soup and water, and eat light food to reduce milk secretion.

5) Wear tighter clothes: When mothers are weaning their babies, they can discard loose clothes and wear tighter clothes and underwear. The squeezing of clothes can reduce milk secretion and help with milk weaning.

6) If you feel your breasts are swollen, you can squeeze out a small amount of milk. Do not over-squeeze to avoid stimulating excessive milk secretion. You can also use ice packs to cool your breasts to relieve discomfort.

2. Artificial weaning

1) Oral or external use of Chinese herbal medicine for weaning: such as 120g of roasted malt, boiled in water, taken warm in 3 doses; or 1 bowl of soy milk, add a little white sugar; or first suck out the milk, use 50-60g of saltpeter, put it in a gauze bag, apply it to the breast, replace it in time after deliquescing, 3-4 times a day.

2) Find a lactation consultant: When your milk is coming in, find a lactation consultant. When your milk is weaning, you can also find a professional lactation consultant to perform professional massage to help with the weaning.

3. Precautions for weaning

1. Before you decide to stop breastfeeding, be sure to check if there are any lumps in your breasts. Only after you make sure there are no lumps can you start stopping breastfeeding. Otherwise, it will easily cause mastitis.

2. Wear bras with breast pads and fasten them tightly. Remember to wear underwear when you sleep, don't put your hands on your chest, and try to sleep on your back.

3. Don’t eat too much soup or water during the weaning period, as this will stimulate your breasts to secrete more milk. Avoid coffee and cola.

4. Ingredients for Weaning

1. Sichuan peppercorns: 12 grams of Sichuan peppercorns, add 500 ml of water, cook until 250 ml remains, add 30 grams of brown sugar.

2. Leek: You can eat more leeks during the weaning period to help with weaning.

3. Bitter melon: Bitter melon is a cold food. Eating more of it can help stop milk production.

4. Green tea: It can replace boiled water during weaning to help mothers stop breastfeeding.

5. Hawthorn: Both raw hawthorn and dried hawthorn can reduce milk production.

6. Raw malt sprouts: Take 40 grams of raw malt sprouts in water and drink it. Generally, the effect can be seen in two days.