How to Dry up Breastmilk

How often are you pumping? If you are only pumping a couple times a day you should just be able to stop-that is what I did. If you are pumping more than that then maybe take out one pumping a day. You shouldn't have a problem and it should just dry up on its own. That is what happened in my experience at least. Good luck!

how funny...I was going to suggest sudafed or benadryl-these two will irreversably dry you up. When I weaned my daughter at 15 mos., I was still making tons of milk and this was a suggestion made by an RN who knew I'd tried lots of other things first: ice, heat, sports bras, cabbage leaves, you name it. After sudafed, my supply was dry in two days-pain free!

I've heard that the Sage herb helps, but I'd go ask at a health food store. Definitely just start weaning yourself!! I've heard to remove one feeding every 3 days until you are all done. But pumping everytime you hurt might be just as good? Best wishes to you!

check out www.kellymom.com and also http://llli.org/

I have nursed 3 kids up to 12 months. Although I am no expert the best way to do it takes some time. What I have heard is that you Pump one less amount every 2 days and it should naturally dry up. so go from 4 times -3times -2 times - 1 time to none. your body will naturally adjust.

The OB nurse who checked me out of the hospital explained to one of the other moms in the class that to dry up milk she needed to avoid letting hot water run on her breasts, not drinking lots and lots of fluids and keeping them wrapped tight. For me, I used the gradual method that other respondents have offered you. If you begin to feel too full there are ways to express milk that don't send the signal that the milk is needed. Good Luck!!

Some great advise already mentioned but the cheap and painfree method I used was a gradual cut down. I skipped a feeding and pumping every day or so...You body will get the hint that production will need to slow down and then eventually quit. I was milk free in about 10 days. Please DON'T go cold-turkey all at once as you will end up in pain and possibly plugged ducts or mastitis which requires antibiotics.
Good luck.

Hey K.-
I dont have tricks or special things to do, but just tell you I did. I nursed my son until he was 13 months, but I just started cutting back a feeding each week (if you are trying for sooner, cut back every few days). The time it really only hurt the most was when I wasd own to only two feedings a day- my breast hurt so bad. But it only lasted like 3-4 days and then it was fine. When I dropped to once a day it didnt even bother me and then when I was down, the hardest thing was the way I held my son, i was trying to avoid cradling like I did when I nursed and I didnt want him confused with the smell of breast milk still. But I did the old fashion- wenaing slowly and it worked great. It didnt take very long for my breasts to get back to normal, I am not even sure how long it was, but the it was only painful for like 3-4 days and thats it. I do not know if any of those remedies work, I do know to avoid warm/hot showers and water (as that releases milk) and my sister said she had actually put cold cabbage/lettuce of her breasts (I know it sounds crazy but it helped with the pain, she stopped cold turkey). Plus, every woman is different so not sure what else to say.
Good luck!!

I just wanted to add that especially with people with a lot of milk, that it sometimes never dries up all the way. I've heard people say that even after they stopped nursing, they could still pump/express milk if they tried. It will dry up enough that you won't feel full anymore; I'm just saying don't be surprised if it doesn't absolutely go away.

K.,

I was pumping and then decided to stop as well. I stretched out the pumping sessions from 4 a day to 3 a day and then 2 and only pumped for 10 min. then 7, then 5 min. Then I put on a really tight bra, took a bunch of IB profin and stopped pumping all togeather, I did get engorged and it did hurt for about a week and then it took one more week for it to completly dry up. I know that everyone is different but that worked OK for me. A little painful but bearable. Good luck!

Your breasts will only produce as much milk as is demanded, so a gradual weaning of the child (and the pump) is best. Cutting back by 1 feeding every few days should work.

Decongestants do work. You need the sudafed you get from the pharmacist not the one on the shelf. You can also put cabbage leaves on your breasts.

My friend did the same thing as you're doing. She was tired of pumping and quit cold turkey. She said that despite the pain, she worked out as much as possible. Lots of long walks and aerobic activity. She also said that she took ace wraps and wrapped herself up nice and tight. I would think showering would be pretty painful, so maybe you should scrub down real good before beginning the process. Good luck.

After having 6 kids, there are things that I have learned not to do and things to do. First get yourself a good sports bra that is about a size or 2 smaller and wear that 24/7 for the first little bit. You need to restrict the flow of the milk and that will help. If you have discomfort use ice packs or the cold cabbage leaves (they mold better to your breast than an ice pack) DON'T use any heat, because that will release the milk and make it harder to stop production. You need to remember that it is a supply and demand---your body will supply what you demnad from it and so you are wanting to cut back on what you demand. While you are in the shower, don't let the water run directly on your breasts. I have found that the slower that you can wean the more comfortable it is as you avoid the engourgment---but if you can't just avoid as many situations as you can that make the milk leave your breasts. My SIL (who is an OB nurse at our local hospital) does say that she tells her new moms that aren't BF to get the bras that are too small and take the sudafed. Good luck.
J.

Parsley capsules will do the trick. It will do it quickly too! Good luck.

I wore a tight - but comfortable - sports bra all the time for about two days, even while sleeping. The lactation nurse told me its something about not letting your breasts have room to "fill up". I never produced a lot of milk so it might take longer for you, but I never felt uncomfortable or in pain.

Cold cabbage leaves are an instant cure to the pain. I've used it myself and recommended it to a few others here who've also liked it. Just be sure to remove them from your bra before going out. :) They're a little lumpy. I think it also does something to help dry up, but I'm not sure. I do know it relieves the pain better than anything else I tried! If you start to get uncomfortable again, just get a fresh leaf that's cold.

My chest hurt just reading your post! It's OK to pump just to comfort--I realize you don't want to stimulate further milk production, but you don't want to set yourself up for plugged ducts and a nasty bout of mastitis. Milk supply take 24 to 48 hours to increase or decrease, and if you're trying to drop to zero from a full supply, it will take at least a week if you don't want to suffer. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and can help with swelling (and is also compatible with breastfeeding, BTW).
Take care.

YOu need to cut down your milk supply gradually, just start pumping less often. Cabbage leaves in your bra will also help. It is really important that you do not stop all pumping and/or nursing at once because you could end up with painful plugged ducts and even mastitis which can require antibiotics.

This is what I did and maybe it will work for you. It takes a little while but it was not painful. If you are pumping every 3-4 hours extend the time by 1 hour then 2 and 3 and so on. By the time my daughter was into solid foods, juice and formula (almost time for real milk) I was only breastfeeding her at bedtime so I was going all day and did have any pain at all. When she lost interest I was almost dry so it was easy and I didn't leak either. I gave my cousin the same advise and it worked for her too.Hope this helps you too. Good luck and take care. M.

I am prone to breast infections, and so when I weaned, I would pump whenever I felt uncomfortable--just for 3 or 4 minutes on each side. At first it was twice a day, and then every 18 hours, and then once a day, and then there would be a day and a half between, etc.... until I was not uncomfortable any longer. It took me about a week and a half. Also, I have seen tinctures for this at health food stores--I think a lot of them contain sage. You might try that as well.

I was always a nut about nursing till they stopped, usually around 2 years or so.
I never had a problem drying up cause they just cut down till they were tired of it.
SOOOOO I would think just start cutting back the length of time and then the number of times a day or so a little at a time. Maybe look up what makes your milk better too and don't do so much of that during that time?
I used to have a hard time with breast infections so I would suggest that you put hot wet towels on em when they are engorged and you dont want to encourage the milk by pumping etc. Helps the pain too!
A little trick I wasnt told till I had like my last one. If your milk "comes in" and you are at a store or something you can just put your arms crossed with hands like at shoulder height and press hard...works like a charm!0

Drink about 2-3 cups of parsley tea throughout the day and place a cabbage leaf over each breast. This should dry up your milk in about 2-3 days without pain or engorgement.

I went on birth control pills after each of my kids and it helped in about a day. If going on birth control pills is not an option for you then I have always heard that you can bind yourself.

Another mom said she used mint to reduce her supply, not sure how exactly, maybe tea. Might be worth checking-out.