Trying to Dry up Breasts

Updated on February 19, 2010
K.S. asks from San Antonio, TX
19 answers

Hi everyone. I have recently stopped breastfeeding my 14 month old daughter (almost 2 weeks ago) and I am seeking advice on how to dry them out. They are very sensitive right now and it is painful when my daughter is climbing all over me. Any help would be appriciated.

Thanks!

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R.T.

answers from Amarillo on

From what i've heard,,,you could try sudafed,,,it has something in it that will dry you up. If that doesn't work, call the lactation consultants at BSA and they can help.

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C.M.

answers from Odessa on

I found Sage tea at Albertsons on the loop and Midkiff. It is about 4 dollars for 25 bags. I hope this helps you.

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K.W.

answers from Lubbock on

I had to pump a little to relieve the pressure in my breasts. Not enough to drain them (because that would not help dry them up), but enough so that I didn't get mastitis.

I was also going to suggest the cabbage leaves. I didn't try it, but I've heard it works really well.

As for actually drying up, it took me a couple of YEARS to dry up. And then shortly after I was nursing another baby again.

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O.J.

answers from Amarillo on

What I did was I wrapped myself with a cloth brace and used nursing pads. I didn't take it off other than to change it and take a shower.

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P.G.

answers from Killeen on

HI I just recently had my daughter in oct. and when I started to dry up, my doctor told me to use cabbage!! I tried just to pump to relieve the pain but it made it worse and I would just build up more milk! Get some cabbage rinse them in cold water,break the veins a bit you could sqeeze them or roll them with a rolling pin. And put them in your bra...It works!!! And no hot showers it will just keep the milk flowing!!!

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M.T.

answers from Lubbock on

Oh bless your heart. I remember that misery. Congrats on nursing so long though! It may sound strange, but cabbage helps. Get a large head of cabbage, pull the leaves off, and roll them with a rolling pin or something just enough to break open the veins. Put them in your bra next to your breast. The juice reduces the pain and swelling. You won't smell great, but it worked for me. I have also heard sage tea works. Hope this helps.

M.

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K.V.

answers from Amarillo on

Try Sudafed, it really works! Any allergy medication that is OTC and will dry up a runny nose will dry up your milk.

Ps. Thats one of the reasons why they recommend not to take that stuff while you are nursing

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S.P.

answers from Abilene on

Cabbage leaves on your breasts help dry them up. Sounds strange, but I have heard it works. They also have a herbal pill that will do the trick, I can't remember the name of it but you can get it at GNC.

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N.M.

answers from San Antonio on

My milk really never went away, i still have it sometimes. But that is not common. I really didn't have to big of a problem, just don't take hot showers, use ice, and keep moving around it helps...

_N

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L.F.

answers from Brownsville on

Hello K..

This is what I did they dried out in 3 days. Take an ace bandage and simply wrap it tightly around your chest. (Don't wear it so tight that you cannot breathe...just make sure it is very snug). Keep in mind that you need to keep the wrap on 24 hours a day with the exception of when you shower( & then you have to be careful that the water from the shower does not hit your breasts or your nipples will start shooting out milk).
Good Luck!!!

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A.J.

answers from Killeen on

hey i just stopped nursing about 4 weeks ago. i just wrapped my breasts with ACE bandages and wore a tight sports bra. i also used ice to help with the pain and took ibuprofen. just don't express any milk and in a couple weeks your body will get the idea that it isn't supposed to produce any more milk. hang in there, i know how painful it is! oh i also read that drinking sage tea can help but i couldn't find any, so maybe you'll have better luck with that

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A.N.

answers from San Antonio on

Are you rady? Cabbage. Buy a head of cabbage. Put it in the freezer. When it's really cold pull it out. Tear off a leaf for each breast. Place on your breast, and but on a tight bra - like a sports bra. You can also wrap with an ace bandage but you should be ok without. The coldness will soothe them, and something in the cabbage makes them dry up... Weird huh? I have three kids, and a lady told me about it when i had my second, and i used it also for my most recent baby. It works!!! Make sure you change it out multiple times throughout the day. If you don't there will be a slight odor. I think you should be dried up within a week!! Good luck and if you try it let me know how it goes!! (It;s too funny cause the shape of the cappage should it perfectly)

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U.G.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I heard that you can use rice juice (rice put in water for a day, and soak the juice in a towel, and put it on your breasts), or put a cold wet towel on your breasts, but people who used this said that on their next child, they didnt have enough milk to feed the baby. So If I use cabbages will it be the same? does any one know?

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R.G.

answers from El Paso on

Hi K.!
Oh my God! All these wonderful ladies are not kidding with the cabbage thing! U'll smell like vegetable soup but it helps so fast! Try it! I was told to do it by a nurse in the hospital after I had my second child. I wish someone would have told me about it with my first. ha ha. So u'll crave soup for a while. Try it! It will work!

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K.D.

answers from San Angelo on

my mom who is a midwife told me to cover them with cabbage leaves, it drys them up! hope it helps! it helped my sister!

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A.E.

answers from San Antonio on

You can try binding them down. The pressure is supposed to help stop milk production. However, they're going to be sore for awhile...and hard as rocks! Or you can try wiening yourself with a pump. Pump several times a day and each week lessen the amount you pump until eventually you stop pumping altogether and your breasts should hurt less and dry up faster. That's what I did and I dried up in two days.

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K.

answers from Killeen on

Hi K., My advice would be to wear a tight sports bra, even at night... You might have already tried it, but it worked for me...

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V.B.

answers from San Antonio on

drain them when it hurts(build up). They should stop expressing milk from the lack of stimulation in a week or so.

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A.C.

answers from Killeen on

After I stopped breastfeeding my first child my breasts also became engorged and the doctor told me to buy a head of cabbage take off a couple of leaves, rinse them really well in cold water and place one in each one of my bra cups and change them out 2-3 times daily. I am serious I thought my doctor had lost his mind, but it worked wonderfully. I hope this helps you.
A.

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