How Do I Stop Producing Breastmilk?

Hi M.,

What I did when I needed to stop producing was to pump, and wait a while. I'd let it get to the point of pain that I couldn't stand, and I'd pump again. Doing this for a week or so will slow down your production til it stops. At first you may have to pump a couple times a day, but then you'll see a difference where you could go a couple days before you pump, then you just don't need to pump. Engorgement hurts, so I pumped to relieve that pressure. Cold compresses help too. Warm keeps your supply up, cold slows it down. I have heard that the cabbage works, but I didn't use it. Good luck & God bless!

Good afternoon. My lactation consultant gave me a cabbage derived lotion to put on my breast to help dry me up when I was engorged. She said it would do the same thing as if I wanted to stop breastfeeding. She also suggested the cabbage leaves in the bra. I am not sure about wearing a tight bra, but the OB/GYN might know more than me! Have you tried looking on the LaLeche League website. They specialize in breastfeeding issues. It might be able to help.

The best and safest way to wean is gradually. La Leche League recommends dropping a feeding and then waiting for your body to adjust. If you just stop all at once you run the risk of developing a breast infection. Baby getting teeth doesn't mean that you have to stop breastfeeding. They can nurse without biting. I can not believe that neither doctor encouraged you to keep breastfeeding or advised you that it is best to wean gradually. You can also keep breastfeeding going back to work. If he is eating solids then he should not want much milk during the day and can make up the difference at night.

I have 2 kids also. A daughter 7 and a son 1 1/2. I breastfed the oldest, but not the baby. I had been told the cabbage leaf thing too...all it did was make a bad smell! Go with the tight bra...and I mean tight! Sleep in it too! Don't let the "girls" get wet in the shower either. This makes it really hard to wash your hair, but if they get hit with the warm water, you will be starting the process all over again. I ended up having my husband stand outside the shower at the back of the tub and hold folded washcloths over them just so I could rinse my hair. It got pretty miserable, they ached and were absolutely huge (looked like they were going to pop). Well, I wish you the best of luck with it!

Yes, supposedly the cabbage will work. But I am curious, why do you want to stop breastfeeding? Babes with teeth don't usually bite. My daughter tried to nibble for just one day when her top teeth came in (the bottom ones are covered by their tongue when they nurse) and after that day we were fine. For that one day when I would feel her teeth, I would just say, 'no teeth' and pull her off, she would fuss and that was all it took to stop it. Now she has a full set of teeth and still doesn't bite at all. Their immune systems are still forming at 7 months and breast milk is just SO great for them. Lots more good info can be found at www.llli.org. Good luck to you!!
S.

Start weaning him and your supply will diminish. It will take a while though. And dont worry too much, not all breastfed babies bite when they get teeth. Wearing a tight bra will help.

I tried to wean gradually, but my son wasn't into that. He would just want it more and more. I did use the cabbage leaves and it worked wonders for me. It reduced the swelling and made the engorgement tolerable. I put the cabbage in the fridge and the leaves were nice and cold. I used all the cabbage, not just the outer leaves. I wold take a whole leaf and put it all around my breast. Depending on your size you may only need one, I needed several. I'd leave them in until they were wilted and then change them out. Once engorgement was over I didn't need them anymore.

Best wishes.