Stopped Breastfeeding 3 days ago, when will everything settle down?

[Squtternutbaush]

As per title I took the decision to stop breastfeeding 3 days ago, my DD is 16 months old and I just decided it was the right time for us.

Anyway I just wondered when I can expect my breasts to return to "normality", by that I don't mean perky (that's never been normal here unfortunately) but I've had a few leaks, a bit of a heavy/hard feeling and slight tenderness. It seems to be fading but should it be stopping by now?

Also wondering about going back to proper bras, how long should I wait?

[fledermaus]

Had you cut down to just one feed by the time you stopped? I think it took about a week after the last feed for me.

[Squtternutbaush]

Pretty much, she fed first thing and bedtime and woke through the night to comfort suck, hence why we stopped!

Did you find you missed it at first? DD has really surprised me as she's pretty laid back about it although I'm sure she would've carried on happily, I just kind of miss sitting with her and feeding despite the fact that I was starting to resent feeding all the time

[meganorks]

I was down to just the morning feed and stopped 3 days ago too. Tits had been fairly small with the reduced feeding but now big and hard again. Tried to massage and express a bit in the shower but didn't seem to do anything. Now wondering when they will go down again. I have a dress fitting Sunday!

[hayesgirl]

I was expressing for my twins. Very good supply but just too much for me to keep up.i stopped expressing over a period of 3 weeks and have now stopped for the last 2 weeks. Breasts have returned to normal size, no longer leaking or getting hard however they are still very sore. They were excruciating for a few days to the point where I had to take painkillers but that has eased. They are a bit lumpy and of they get bumped at all I get shooting pains. Don't know of this is normal and have been considering going to the drs as it makes picking the twins up a bit of an ordeal!

[ShineSmile]

OP, did you have to express at all? I'm just wondering because ill be on this journey soon too, and I'm dreading the possibility of having to worry about mastitis.