Still Haven't Stopped Lactating!

Hi J.,,
The best to you with your health....that is a priority as a mom!
As far as lactation, your breasts will leak for awhile simply because of a hormonal response----crying baby, just looking at your baby, feeling fortunate etc, etc, but your production has ceased.
The fact that this is baby #3 gives to a greater hormone level, this is why it may take longer. Usually a woman's hormones for milk production will "nose dive" 7-1o days after the last feeding/pumping.
Certainly you can wear a comfortable bra, plenty of nursing pads, but basically it will be tincture of time.

Take care of yourself, baby need to grow and mom need to have her health. You are doing your personal best.

Take care,
D.

Are you aware that you could pump and dump? If you are on meds or in chemo, you can still produce milk, and later on after the treatment your milk will be OK. You could also get donor milk in the meantime.

I know a woman who was receiving chemo and not able to nurse her baby and another friend with a baby of similar age was pumping for her. The one in chemo was pumping as well and just dumps it down the drain I guess. She was receiving milk from a couple of donor moms, and recently is off the chemo and very excited to be nursing her baby again!

I know you didn't ask that question, but I thought I'd share a similar story just so you'd know there are other options. You did not elaborate on your story, but you may be able to nurse your baby again when your treatment is over, plus she could be getting breastmilk in the meantime. Look into it. Let me know if you want me to contact that woman to see how she did it!

I don't knwo if it will help but I wore my sportsbra (from before my pregnancy) when I cold stopped with my daughter at 6 weeks. It seemed to help out, and worked for my mom when I I stopped nursing (when I was a baby) at about the same age. Another alternative is wrapping your chest tight as you can with an ace bandage (all tricks we learned from my grandma and her from her mom). I wish you the best of luck and know the emotional side of it as I brestfed my oldest till 14 months and #2 till six weeks. But she is just as bright and beautiful as my son, so no damage was done from it.

Bind, baby, bind! My first doctor didn't tell me anything about this and it took forever to stop producing milk. My second doctor, well, his nurse, gave me this advice; get an old bedsheet, cut it to size, wrap it around more than once and have someone tie it in the back. She said to put the girls as close to your chest as you could stand and wear it all day and night if possible. She was so right! Worked like a charm. Do NOT feel guilty about the breast feeding, a whole generation grew up on formula and they turned out just fine! You take care of yourself. Good luck and God bless, Carin

I stopped nursing my 2 year old about a week before her first birthday last November and I will still lactate every now and then. If I squeeze my nipple, I can still get milk. I'm not bad enough to have to wear nursing pads or anything, but it's still annoying. I talked with my doc about it and she said that I could stop stimulating them (more my husband), don't let the hot water hit them directly in the shower and wear a bra 24/7 for 2 weeks. I tried this and it still didn't work so I talked to my Primary care doc and he said that sometimes it just takes a while. We did a thyroid test and it came out clean. He said I could continue to do (or not do) those things, but it probably wouldn't make it go away any faster. There used to be a prescription available, but they took it off the market due to the side effects! It sounds like you have enough going on right now without another prescription in your system. I will be praying for you. Don't dwell on the fact that you can't nurse this baby. Remember that you successfully nursed two others. I hope this helps even a little. Good luck!

The pump and dump will NOT make it stop! Try binding your breasts, or sleep on your stomach if it's comfortable for you. The binding will be uncomfortable, but can work. Fasting is also an easy way to make you stop producing. Just remember to wear good breast pads in case of a surprise. :)
I'm sorry that you have to go through this illness! I hope you come out of this alright. Hang in there and remember to have confidence in your choices.

My baby is almost 12 and I still have a little milk. Did you bind your chest?

It's becaseu you'er not suposed to wean a month old baby. Unless you have a medical reason, keep feeding your baby!

I am so sorry for your loss of breasfeeding your girl!

I have one word for you: Benadryl!!!!

I have 3 kids. Nursed for 2 years each. Leaked for another year after weaning! But with child 3, I had to take Benadryl (long story, not significant to this topic) and it dried me up in days!!

Good luck!

herbs...Sage will dry your milk up..as will parsley. Very worth looking into. Do a little research online, or visit a health food/natural food store. I never made milk do to hormone issues, and was told by a lactaction specialist not to eat sage in any form, as it would make my battle to get my milk to come in a mute point.

Hi J.. I was desperate to dry up my milk at one point with my twins and I finally called my herbalist (who helped me increase my supply) and I said "how do I make it stop!" She sent me a bottle of liquid sage (the herb) and I was dried up in about 2 days. It was an absolute miracle. Her website is www.herblore.com and her name is Pam Caldwell. You may be able to get liquid sage tincture or mabye sage tea somewhere locally but I know her stuff was gold for me.

I have read some of the responses and when I read that you could pump and dump, I just had to step in.
Ok, so if you pump/express your milk in any way your production will continue. If you can withstand it do not try to express.
Also if you can wear a tight fitting bra that helps a little.
Good luck
And may your health come back.
With my first child I was going to breastfeed until they did not need it. Well she was born, and a week later I had major surgery, and could not nurse any longer.
To this day I hold guilt over it.
I have learned over the years (23) that I have done the best I could with all 5 of my kids. And each one has nursed for different times, and that is ok. That I am a great mom, and that I love them all. It is ok that I was not able to nurse. I have learned to hold my head high and be proud in the fact that I have been a good mom... I mean I have not killed one of them yet... (that is my attempt at humor.)
Take care of yourself, and remember you are doing what is right and what is good for you and for your baby.
Hugz

This may sound odd, but eat a lot of Tabouli Salad.

Fresh parsley -- in food-like quantities, not as a garnish -- will help you stop producing milk. Eat vegetable soup with lots of parsley or put it in your juicer with apples and carrots.

Give it a try anyway. It's cheap. It's full of vitamins to boost your mood and energy.

Cabbage leaves are what my MIL used and can be used for engorgement also. Good luck!

Hi,
I did not breast feed.. But ask your OBGYN she told me Birth control pills dry up your milk fast.. I went on birth control when my kids were 4 weeks old.. Also don't take super hot shower ect and wear a bra all the time. Just wanted to wish you best of luck.. and do not be h*** o* yourself.. she will be just fine on formula. all my kids are happy and healthy and I was formula feed when I was a child. also my husband really enjoyed feeding the kids bottles.
Lenc

Earth Mama Angel Baby makes tea to help stop lactating. It's called No More Milk Tea. Here is a link to it:
http://www.punkinbutt.com/more-milk-p-1175.html?osCsid=f3...

The site is run by a very good friend of mine who supports SAHM's. She also has some of the cheapest prices on EMAB products.

Good luck Mama and I hope your treatment goes well.

S.

Also, if you are able, you can take any type of pseudophedrine cold medicine. You have to get the "real" stuff only found behind the pharmacy counter. Not only does it dry up your sinus', but it can also dry up your supply.

Call your OB, he/she may have some recommendations.

OK - so I can't offer you advice on how to stop your milk but I just wanted to say - good for you for taking care of yourself. I had to stop breast feeding because I felt it better to go back on my meds to take care of me - rheumatoid arthritis. Talk about major guilt. Two friends of mine who didn't breastfeed warned me of the opinions regarding that choice. Also to note my daughter is really healthy - far healthier than her breastfed friends.

Hang in there - it has only been a week.

Try binding your breasts. When moms are nursing, tight bras are not to be worn because it can decrease the milk supply. When we bind (wrap) our breasts it tells our body to not produce as much milk.

The mild supply doesn't go away over night. It may take a month for your body to completely stop producing milk.

S.
http://www.DeliveringWellnessToYou.com
Profit in My PJ's

im not sure of any home remedies to stop this, but, i will tell you this. you will continue to "leak" for quite some time. i still had that tingling sensation almost a year after i weaned my son everytime he cried, or even if i could hear another small baby crying, and also in the shower, it will happen from time to time, just be patient. at some point it will end. :)