Helping to Dry up Milk Supply

ICE, ICE, ICE. That will dry them right up. Ice packs to the breast not on the nipples. The cold constricts the blood vessels, hence the large blood supply needed will be diminished slowing down then ultimatley stopping the milk flow.

Ice, ice, and more ice!!! Unfortunately you have to suffer through it, but it will soon go away. I've heard that you can manually express the milk (only a little) if it's that painful, but if you want to be done with it quicker just keep the cold compresses on! Good luck..I remember that pain well!

Hi M.. This may sound crazy but it does really work. If you put cabbage leaves in your bra it will help dry up the milk. There is something in the leaves that does the trick. If you put the cabbage in the fridge and use it cold that helps ease the pain too. You can also use cold packs to help the swelling and pain. Good luck!

HI M.,

I am not sure what to advise you for drying up our milk, efficiently. But I want to tell you what NOT to do: DO NOT PUMP TOO MUCH!! I know the temptation might be high, but after 3 kids, you might already know that your milk supply might double if you do pump too much.

There is also a pill you might be able to get from your doctor, but I am not sure how effective it will be for you.

Good luck, take care.

M.

Get a breast pump and pump. Just a bit to release pain. And then again, and again. Try to go for as long as you can stand it and pump a bit (don't pump much not to mention everything ,because it will stimulate milk production!). Or perhaps your child will change her mind? Try very relaxed time, dark quite room, no distraction or at night. If you want to stop - the pump is your best bet (and friend!). Good luck!!!

It may just be a phase, it happened to me as well, sometimes they just go on strike for whatever reason, i pumped right through it and when the baby was ready, she came back to feeding.
If you want to dry up the milk because you have decided not to breastfeed, it's different.

I found this article that lists ways to decrease your supply naturally using herbs. It's worth a try!

http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/herbs-oversuppl...

Express enough milk to relieve the pain. You don't want to get an infection. It will eventually produce less and less... especially if you don't express too much. Also, limit your water and liquid intake. That helps a lot. Finally, Advil. It really helps. Good luck.

An old Asian trick is to drink Ginseng - i drank it with tea. They come in individual powder containers (like individual tea bags packaging.) Just put one in a cup of hot water and add honey/sugar to taste. You can buy them in most Asian supermarkets.

It worked for me and my sister anyway...

Hi M.,

I believe that putting something cold on your breasts should dry up your supply. I've been told facing the water in the shower using cold water, and also putting frozen cabbage leaves on your breasts. Sounds funny, but people swear by it. Hope this helps & good luck.

First of all I have to get this out of the way, I am extremely jealous. That said, my pathetic milk supply leaked out for months after I gave up. I took pain meds, expressed a little ( it figures that after giving up the one working breast could skirt across the room), and just kept the pads on for leaking. I also found that having someone else bottle feed my daughter helped because if I did it I'd start making milk again.

Good Luck

Kim