Help Breastfeeding I Need to Stop

Updated on April 21, 2007
K.M. asks from Abilene, TX
20 answers

I'm having to stop breastfeeding my 7month old due to medical reasons i hate having to stop breastfeeding an im going to really miss that bonding time but i have to. The question i have is does anyone know any ways to dry up your beast milk i really need help my breast hurt so bad very painful if anyone have any ideal please let me know thank you K.

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So What Happened?

Thanks to everyone who replied I finally dried up nearly all the way using cabagge leaves it really works it's crazy but it works. I didn't have time to ease him off the breast due to the med's they put me on he had to go cold turkey poor baby. We are doing great now thanks everyone K.

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T.R.

answers from Wichita Falls on

I've been told they have a pill that does it. A friend of a friend used it, maybe you could ask you doctor.

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C.B.

answers from Abilene on

K. you can contact my friend Mary Kay, she is a lactation consultant and it a genious when it comes to stuff like this! Her email is ____@____.com is certified and is a leader of the La Leche League in Abilene. Good luck. If you contact her she will help!

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J.A.

answers from Philadelphia on

I wore REALLY tight sports bras to put pressure on my boobs. The cabbage leaves work well to relieve discomfort, but they dont absorb the leaking. They also wilt pretty quick from the warmth of your breasts. So get a head or two of cabbage and keep it in the fridge to last you for a week. Then I used cut up maxi pads for my leaking nipples. They were WAY cheaper than the nursing pads and lots more absorbant. I would not manually express regardless of the pain because that is just another indication to your body that you need to make more milk. I am sorry for your pain!

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M.G.

answers from Odessa on

I haven't had to deal with this situation recently, my youngest is 11, but when she was younger I had horrible time with my breasts. My breasts were really leaky and the best thing I found to do is take an ace bandage and wrap it tightly around your breasts. On top of that take an old sheet and cut into long strips and wrap those tightly around also...The key is tightly..Of course you cant go anywhere looking like this, but you need to keep it on as long as possible..I believe it took about 3-4 days for my breasts to dry up...Good Luck, M.

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L.C.

answers from Phoenix on

The only way I know personally is to gradually wean your baby. My daughter breastfeeds less often now and my milk supply has decreased accordingly. When she was first learning to sleep through the night without breastfeeding every few hours, I leaked all over the place, but now it's under control. :) Good luck, I know it's tough!

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K.C.

answers from San Antonio on

K.

When I went back to work, our peidatrician gave me the following advice for weaning the feedings. this will dry your breasts because of the change in demand.
You may already know this, but I thought i would chime in. It didn't help with the feelings I had missing breast feeding but we did get through it with minimal misery.

For 3-5 days skip the afternoon breast feed, use formula
Next 3-5 days skip the dinner breast feed, keeping the night feed.
Next 3-5 days skip the night time breast feed
Last 3-5 days skip the morning wake breast feed.

When breasts become engorged nurse one breast for 2 min then other breast for 2 min if you have to between the above scheduled times. Once able cut down to 1 min per side in between above schedule if necessary. Just to relieve the pressure.

I would have loved to keep breast feeding also, but it is not in the cards for all of us.
Good Luck, K.

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R.D.

answers from San Antonio on

This sounds strange but use cabbage leaves. Place a large, un-cooked, cold cabbage leaf on each breast, it is supposed to relieve pain and discomfort.

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D.R.

answers from San Antonio on

When I breastfed my son I had to dry up early.One way is to bind up your breasts.You will be tender but it helps or putting a leaf of red cabbage on each breast.I was told that worked the best.

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M.L.

answers from Waco on

This is going to sound crazy but it worked for me. Get some cabbage and put some on you then put a sports bra on (it needs to be tight). It dried me up and worked for my sister inlaw and one of my cousins.

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N.L.

answers from San Antonio on

I would advise you to contact a La Leche League leader in your area. They will have great advice for you. Some women are led to believe by doctors that they have to quit nursing because of certain medical conditions when they don't really have to. I don't know what your condition is and you don't have to share that, but there could be a possibility that you could continue to nurse if you want to. I am nursing my 7 month old and I can't imagine how hard it would be to stop. Good luck!

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S.S.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Cold raw cabbage leaves in a tight bra. Change the cabbage as it becomes warm / wilted. Avoid hot showers and try to limit your liquid intake.

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J.M.

answers from Amarillo on

binding the with an ace bandage allways good bound them real snug!!!!
sometimes a cottonball on the end of nipples with the bandage drys them up faster. (rubbing alcohol)
but no sexual contact until dry, sexual activities cause them to leak, just like a crying baby will make them leak also.

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S.J.

answers from Amarillo on

One thing I learned at my breastfeeding support group was that Sudafed dries up your milk. They suggested that when you are ready to wean, that you take a sudafed each night and it will eventually dry up. It does not affect the baby to have the breastmilk with sudafed. Also, a tight bra may help!

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E.F.

answers from Biloxi on

There are medications your doctor can give, so I suggest an appointment. Secondly, try take very warm compresses to the breast torelease some of the milk and pressure. Warm showers are great too. I know it feels like forever, but in a short time your body will realize the baby isn't nursing and slow the process down.

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J.C.

answers from San Antonio on

ok, this sounds crazy but...cabbage leaves. get an ace bandage and have your husband wrap it around you until you practically can't breath. before he does that hold cabbage leaves to your breasts so they are held on by the ace bandage. the binding keeps your breasts from moving so they don't hurt as much, and the cabbage leaves dry you up. i don't know why, but it works. if you keep them cold, it is kind of a pain reliever too when you first put them on. it takes several days for the pain to go away, but this should speed it up. good luck!

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L.

answers from Corpus Christi on

i had this horrible trouble myself! theres nothing like this discomfort! there is a group out there just for breastfeeding moms, i believe its spelled, the le leche league? might want to try to look them up on the internet, they have great advice for this sort of thing..

they suggested putting cabbage leaves inside your bra next to your skin, odd, i know.. i didnt try this myself but my cousin swore it helped her dry up.. also wearing a tight bra so there isnt any rubbing on your skin to stimulate the milk, and of course warm showers helped the most..

good luck!

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K.A.

answers from San Antonio on

K.,
I am a former La Leche League Leader and this information comes from the Breastfeeding Answer Book. Have you discussed your feelings about breastfeeding with your Doctor? Often there are alternative teatments for most conditions that would allow you to continue breastfeeding at some level. If not, here some things to help relieve the engorgement pain; You can manually express a small amount of milk, just enough to relieve pressure several times a day. Cold packs and/or warm showers can help also. Be sure to wear a good bra that supports you but is not too tight and never bind your breasts, as these can cause plugged ducts or breast infections which are much more painful than engorgement. It can take a month or so for your body to stop making milk completely, but the engorgement should subside within 1-2 weeks. If you have more questions or need to talk feel free to contact me with a private e-mail. Hope this info helps you.

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K.C.

answers from San Antonio on

Also cut down on fluids and only drink enough so you are not thirsty. The more you drink the more your body is able to make milk.

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J.B.

answers from Abilene on

Call your OB/GYN, immediatly. The nurse or Dr. can help and give expert advice. Also your local W.I.C. office should have a lactaion specialist on hand to answer any questions.
J.

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C.J.

answers from McAllen on

Hi K.,
I wanted to breasfeed my baby, but I had complications and was under lots of medication. So, when I was finally off of them like a month later, she did not want to take the breast, but I still had milk coming. What my doctor suggested was to use a pump. And after a week or two he said to start wearing my prepreg bras! They did fit a bit tighter, but he said the pressure helps dry out the milk, how or why, he didn't know. You could also start walking or exercising. Since you're losing calories your body thinks you don't need the milk anymore, so it also helps dry them out. Good luck. Also, you must make sure to let your daughter know "NO more Breasts!"

GOOD LUCK!

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