How do I make the milk go away?

[ncallaway23]

I breast feed my baby until he was 11 months and a few days....YAY!!! but I started working and my hours are terrible, so I decided to stop breast feeding him cold turkey. I have always produced more milk than necessary and my breasts are always full and leak, and they are beyond tender to the touch. Any advice on what I can do to decrease/stop my milk production in a safe and healthy way?


Thanks!!

[Psyche]

Cold cabbage leaves and binding your breasts. Sage may also help dry you up as will the old sudafed (the kind you can buy OTC but have to get from the pharmacist).

[ncallaway23]

Cabbage leaves? what exactly do i do with them? and if i bind how long do i do that for? same with the sudafed..how long do i take that? thank you so much

[Psyche]

With the cabbage leaves you just snap them once at the spine and put in your bra. Once they're warm, take them out and replace. I'm not sure how long on binding probably until engorgement leaves which wil l be several days. The sudafed, also not sure, probably until the engorgement leaves.

You still might have milk for months following though just for an FYI.

Sorry I can't be more specific, weaning was a gradual process for us so those are the only recommendations I've read or heard of, not actually done.

[mommyof2sons]

Keeping cold cabbage leaves in my bra really helped dry up my milk with my first

[Amy_G_]

don't bind, you may end up too tight and get mastitis. just wear a really good support bra 24/7 like a sports bra. you could try otc cold meds like sudafed or benedryl to help dry you up too.

or since you have milk, breastfeed when you are with your child and wear a support bra with pads to absorb leakage when you are apart, and ahand held pump or hand express enough milk to not burst when you are at work on bathroom breaks.

The nutrition advantages of breastmilk continue as long as you breastfeed, and weaning cold turkey is bad for you and hard on your child. Bad for you if you end up with mastitis and end up on antibiotics and days off work at a new job.

[ima062002]

Sage tea is known to dry up milk. I would do that in addition to cabbage leaves. You should hand express a bit if you feel very uncomfortable. Stopping cold turkey with an abundant supply might set you up for plugged ducts or mastitis. Look out for flu like symptoms.

I have to say though that the safest and healthiest way would be to gradually drop nursing sessions. Begin with the one where you have the least milk, that is usually for moms towards the evening. Drop that for a few days and then do the next one. If you don't want to put your baby to breast when you are together, then you should pump. That in combination with the sage tea and the cabbage leaves will give your breasts time to adjust.

I hope that your baby is fine with not nursing so abruptly. If your baby has a hard time with it you *could* opt to nurse when you are together and use cow's milk during the day when you are at work. Breasts can adapt to that. Just wanted to mention that in case you didn't know. Either way I wanted to say congratulations for having made it to 11 months. That's awesome.

Oh and the sage tea is just sage from the supermarket. You get it in the spice section and brew it with boiling water.

See here for more things to do/take: http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/herbs-oversupply.html

[ncallaway23]

Thanks to all. My baby is doing great. He got formula when we went to visit family, as I am too shy to feed in front of them and there wasn't really a place for me to go to be alone, so the transition wasn't bad at all. My breasts feel amazing today, no pain. I am sad that I am unable to nurse though. I want to but I get up and take him to the sitters so I can get ready for work and I don't get home until 9 pm, by then he is ready for bed. It is harder for me than it is for him, but I am glad that I was able to nurse for as long as I did. It was an amazing experience. Thanks again to everyone for their advice.

[jodyvo]

I used the cabbage after I lost my son and it worked great
You just use a small piece, crunch it up and put it in your bra.
Good luck