How long will my breasts hurt after stopping breastfeeding?

Have you recently stopped breastfeeding your baby and are now experiencing breast pain?

If you are thinking you have any serious disease, then this article is going to wipe off that for you. Breast pain after stopping breastfeeding (weaning) is a normal part of the process.

According to a study, sudden weaning (stopping breastfeeding) can often lead to mastitis, engorgement or plugged ducts. But don’t fret – in this article, we’ll explore why this happens, how long it might last, and most importantly, how to find relief (with some home remedies).

This article answers will answer all your questions! So, keep reading to learn more!

Table of Contents

What is Weaning?

In medical terms, Weaning means gradually stopping breastfeeding and introducing other foods to the baby. Before digging further, I want you to know what weaning is as you will see this word often in this article.

“Weaning is the process of stopping breastfeeding and slowly introducing the baby to other foods like cow milk or infant foods. It is also known as complementary feeding “.

Weaning can be both gradual and abrupt.

Gradual weaning is when you slowly introduce other liquids or baby foods into your baby’s diet while gradually decreasing breastfeeding.

On the other hand, abrupt weaning is when you stop breastfeeding altogether without any pre-preparations or any hint to the baby.

However, both types of weaning can cause emotional distress to the baby.

How do babies react when you stop breastfeeding?

The effects of stopping breastfeeding on babies are tremendous. We have listed a few of the effects of

stopping breastfeeding on a baby down below:

The nutritional element from breast milk is no longer available.
The important antibodies in breast milk are lost, which can lead to immunity issues and infections.
Digestive issues (Constipation and diarrhoea) due to new foods
Decreased bonding without skin-to-skin contact.
Emotional distress in the baby.

While the process is necessary for the baby, the mother must keep the baby close and secure. Spending time with the baby, and noticing the behaviour can help them cope with the change.

Common Reasons for Stopping Breastfeeding

According to the World Health Organization, it is recommended to breastfeed the newborn for at least six months. The mother’s milk is important for proper nutrition for growth and development, providing immunity to fight disease, etc.

But as part of the natural process, mothers should also eventually transition from breastfeeding to introducing solid foods to their babies after certain months or years. The timing of this transition varies among mothers, as they stop breastfeeding for different reasons and at different times.

A few of the most common reasons for stopping breastfeeding are:

Common Reasons of Stopping Breastfeeding — Common Reasons for Stopping Breastfeeding

Weird symptoms after stopping breastfeeding

Weaning or stopping breastfeeding affects not just your baby but also you.

The changes in your hormones will create havoc inside your body. We have listed a few of the weird symptoms after stopping breastfeeding below:

Mood swings
Breast pain on both the breasts and areolas
Hard and lumpy breasts
Inflamed breasts
Breast tenderness, discomfort, and mastitis.
Changes or decreased sexual desire.
Changes in menstruation.

Other than the above, you might also see changes in your skin colour, weight, hair, acne, weight gain, hair loss, dizziness, and body ache is common.

Weird symptoms after stopping breastfeeding

But just understand that all these symptoms are temporary. As your hormones come to balance, everything will fall back into place.

Why do my breasts hurt after stopping breastfeeding?

After you stop breastfeeding, your breasts might hurt for several reasons. One of the most common reasons is engorgement.

Engorgement means a “breast filled with milk”.

When you stop feeding, the milk might fill your breast, making it huge and lumpy. This will cause discomfort and pain.

But there may be some other reasons possible. Let us look at some other reasons why your breasts hurt after stopping breastfeeding:

Hormone: Hormonal changes and the reduction of feel-good hormones can cause breast pain.
Milk ducts: When you stop breastfeeding, the milk duct will become congested, causing discomfort and pain.
Milk production: The built-up milk can cause heavy and lumpy breasts that can reach up to armpits and can also cause breast pain.
Breast tissues: The changes in breast tissue (outcome of stopping breastfeeding) can also cause inflammation and pain.

How long does engorgement last after stopping breastfeeding?

Even if you decide to stop breastfeeding, there are times when your body won’t hear your signals. It produces milk even after you start weaning (or simply stop breastfeeding.

Post-weaning engorgement can cause heavy, lumpy, tender breasts full of milk. It can cause pain and discomfort to the mother.

But with time, the body gradually stops producing the milk. Usually, it might take a few days to weeks to dry up the milk, depending on your baby’s age or your milk production.

How long will my breasts hurt after stopping breastfeeding

The duration of the breast pain after stopping breastfeeding is not the same for every mother. Each body is different and will react uniquely because of hormonal fluctuations.

Usually, the breast pain can last a few days or weeks. As your hormones get balanced, the pain and lumpy breasts will vanish.

But if you are facing heavy pain and discomfort, we recommend you visit a healthcare professional and go for a proper checkup.

Why do my breasts hurt two weeks after stopping breastfeeding?

If you are facing breast pain 2 weeks after stopping breastfeeding, you don’t have to get scared. It is a very common case for mothers.

It is common to have an inflamed and painful breast after stopping breastfeeding. The milk duct could be blocked as it still producing milk.

All you can do now is to wait until your hormones get into a normal state. You can try some home remedies to relieve the pain (mentioned below in this article).

In case of unbearable pain, we highly recommend you to visit a doctor.

Why do my breasts hurt four months after stopping breastfeeding?

It is generally not expected to experience breast pain for four months after stopping breastfeeding.

Your body is different, so your hormones may take some more time to settle. Hormone fluctuation starts as soon as you conceive and continues until you stop breastfeeding. This year-long change might need some more time to settle.

Other than that, your psychological feelings also affect your pain.

Postpartum depression can manifest into physical pain, and there might be other reasons as well. So, it’s better to consult a healthcare professional as soon as possible.

Why do my breasts hurt six months after stopping breastfeeding?

If you are facing breast pain 6 months after stopping breastfeeding, we highly recommend you visit your doctor ASAP.

How long after stopping breastfeeding should I get my period

As you already know, breastfeeding can fluctuate your hormones, and thus may also affect your menstruation cycle. While we can’t tell you exactly when you will get your period, we can still give you a basic idea.

If you are breastfeeding fully, you might get your period back after completely stopping breastfeeding. Although, we are not making any claims.

If you are both bottle feeding and breastfeeding, you might get your period in 5 to 6 weeks, or may take more depending on your body.

It’s essential to recognize that everybody is unique, and patience is key. It’s normal to feel worried and restless but remember to remain patient and embrace the journey of motherhood. Enjoy each moment as it comes!

Home remedies for breast pain after stopping breastfeeding

We won’t leave you hanging just like that.

As told you in the beginning, we will also discuss some age-old, and working techniques that can give comfort to your breast pain.

_{Home remedies for breast pain after stopping breastfeeding}

If you experience engorgement, try to express a little milk for comfort. Don’t express too much.
A supportive full-coverage bra with wide straps can come to your rescue.
Use a cold compress to soothe the inflammation and swelling.
You can also use a warm compress for pain.
Reduce salt intake as it will help your body retain fluids.
Keep yourself hydrated.
Layer your bra inside with cold and fresh cabbage leaves to soothe the pain.
Drink Sage tea.
Focus on your diet. Eat a healthy, balanced meal.

With all the above home remedies, you can easily reduce the pain you feel after stopping breastfeeding. If the pain is severe, don’t rely on home medications. Immediately approach your doctor.

Conclusion:

Post-weaning breast pain is a common pain that any mother would face. It is not a symptom of an underlying disease and is a result of hormonal, and breast tissue changes. Usually, this pain would last for 5 to 10 days, but we strongly recommend visiting a doctor in case of extreme pain and discomfort. Make sure you keep your diet healthy and your body hydrated.

We hope this article has helped you gain knowledge, and you will use our home remedies to ease the pain. Do let us know in the comment section.

Happy parenting!!

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I stop my breasts from hurting after breastfeeding?

To stop your breasts from hurting after breastfeeding, make sure you are using a full coverage wide strap bra. A massage and other home remedies can also help you soothe the breast pain.