New mom needs advice from moms who are large chested and NOT breastfeeding!!!

[cpaige]

I searched to see if someone had posted this question, but didn't see anything, but if it's there, please feel free to delete this and point me in the right direction!

I just had my first child (a boy) on Thursday, August 27.......

I decided not to breastfeed, for my own personal reasons (so please respect that if you are a breastfeeding mom ...I give you major credit for doing it, it's just not for me). Here is where the problem is:

I started off being a DD chest before I got pregnant, my milk came in on Sunday and b/c I am not breastfeeding, was told to wrap them to help w/ the pain and everything else. Of course you can just imagine how HUGE they are at this point, and they hurt like nothing I have ever felt before!!! When I got in the shower yesterday (aaaahhhhhhh....... ) what a wonderful feeling, however I noticed that 'my girls' aren't round, but now are some strange shape from being wrapped and having all that milk in them. That is what is bugging me. Will they soften up again and go back to their normal shape? I'm nervous that they won't. As far as I can tell, I am no longer leaking, and keeping them wrapped is helping with the pain. What did you do to help with all of this?

I have my dr appt on friday and will ask her then if this hasn't stopped by then!

Betcha is a man had to go through this, there would be a miracle cure for it all..........

Any advice on this is welcome!

[mum2hba]

They will soften up in a couple days. Once your body figures out that it doesn't need to make milk you will be back to normal. You can take a pain reliever to help with the pain. I breastfed, but I had extremely painful engorgement, warm showers and tylenol was what I used to treat it.

Congratulations on your new baby!

[beth119]

I didn't breastfeed either. Just wasn't for me!

I never did get engorged, though...

BUT... The hospital here recomened putting cabbage leafs in your bra. Seriously! ANd other women I know SWEAR by it!

[amys]

My friend had C size before delivery - Her milk came in but she was so enormous that the baby couldn't latch, she couldn't express, nada - so she stopped trying and gave the bottle.

I am NOT kidding when I tell you they were bigger than her head - each! But - they are now back down to size - a B or a C.

They make not be the exact same shape as before due to stretching, but it will get better

[momof2inohio]

I was a C too before kids and now I am back to a B. I wrapped as well and my boobs went back to normal shape afterwards. They dont sag but I am upset about going down to a B:sad:

[carisal]

well - I'm normally really small chested and I do BF.... but I can tell you that they will soften up as your milk goes away, which will happen quickly as long as you dont BF or pump. My boobs get strange shapes too when I lay on them, etc when I'm engorged... LOL.... Ibuprofen will help with the pain so take that, you probably have a RX for it from your delivery? (I did both times) and I have read really great stuff about the cabbage leaves as PP suggested.... good luck!

[cpaige]

I do have the Ibuprofen, and have been taking it! I also have the percocets, but I am only taking them just before i go to bed (the 2nd time) b/c getting out of bed is killer (c-section!!). I have read about the cabbage leaves.....very interesting and will have to try it!!

If my boobs actually go down in size, OMG.....I would be thrilled!!! I want them smaller as it is.....just not to small! LOL

I just want them to stop feeling like I have to boulders in my bra!!! LOL...I was in tears last night, and I can take some pain....this one though? UGH......

[nurseannette]

bless your heart, I have no advice just sending good thoughts/wishes
your way and CONGRATS on your new baby!

[MrsAlias]

They look lopsided and miss-shaped because you have several milk ducts, not just one. Say there are 5 milk ducts, if 3 are really full and 1 is half full and 1 is empty, you will look "off centered" or miss shaped... it will go away when the milk is reasborbed into your body.

I did not breastfeed my first 2, but I did with my last son, and will again in November. I will tell you the cabbage leaves are a Godsent!

Take whole cabbage leaves, very cold right from the fridge, or freezer... roll a rolling pin over them, or even a glass and "break the veins" on the leaves, and put them right aginst your skin, in your bra. Trust me!

[ivegot3]

I didn't breastfeed either. I was a D before I got pregnant. My son was born on June 24th. My breasts started hurting about 2-3 days after I had him. It hurt really bad. The only thing that made them feel better was warm clothes, heating pad, shower, etc. It took about a week before they stopped hurting...and well.. almost a month or so before they started to look somewhat normal again. Just hang in there! It will get better.