Stopping Nursing

You can use Lanolin on your nipples to help with the dryness. I used cabbage leaves and ice packs. Be careful with the warm showers, as it may help relieve some of the pain I think it does it by helping to express the milk. Which in the long run may only prolong the discomfort. Good luck.

Well I am an expert at this and got help from my daughters metabolic specialists. I have a daughter with a rare metabolic disorder so breast milk is a NO NO. The first thing is to not bind the breasts. Second no warm water so face away while showering. A good sports bra is a must. Then use a ice pack once per hour on each breast for 15 minutes. Take benadryl at bedtime and sudafed for the congestion. DO NOT take this in addition to your allergy drug just one or the other. Next go to the store and use chilled cabbage leaves crushed in your sports bra. I used a meat mallet to crush them. Also get some sage(in the spices isle) 3 times per day get 1/4 teaspoonful and put it into a small piece of white bread and swallow whole. I recommend this method because it tastes nasty. You could just put it in a bit of water and drink it down. Once the breasts are returned back to normal avoid stimulation and hot water for a week. The most important thing is the ice. It will be better in about 2 days if you do all this. Check your temperature and watch for red streaking and very hot colored breasts. Some warmth and redness is normal. Call the doc if you start to run fever or suspect an infection. Good luck!

Congratulations on nursing!
First: see to the painful breast. It could be a plugged duct, and if not cared for can turn into mastitis (breast infection)....resulting in possible antibiotics. SO - is the pain centered in just one spot? Is it the whole breast? Is it warm to the touch? Is the spot/breast becoming firm? Symptoms of mastitis include fever and/or flu-like symptoms. If you've had a fever for over 24hrs or have a fever over 101.5, go see a doc.
The three cardinals to getting rid of plugged ducts: 1) Apply Heat - warm shower, warm washcloth, etc. 2) Rest! Stress and lack of sleep can cause all kinds of problems in your body. 3.) Nurse often, especially on the affected breast. This might seem counter-intuitive right now since you seem to be weaniing. Just trust that you will dry up since the demand for milk from your baby is dwindling. The easiest way to get that plugged duct UN-plugged is to get the milk to flow more easily in that breast so that it (the plugged milk) can come out. (Womanly Art of Breastfeeding pg 123)
Also, until the pain goes away, wear loose clothing. Tight/restrictive clothing will only complicate things.

If you're really really trying to not nurse at all, and the pump hurts - then hand expressing may be the option you want to pursue. Here is a link describing the hand expression method that most women find successful. Scroll to the bottom.
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBMarApr96p51.html

The bleeding can happen if his latch has changed. More than 9 times out of 10, the culprit of sore/cracked nipples is a poor latch. If you've nursed successfully this long, just review the basics. The football hold is the one where you can see baby's latch the best. Mouth open wide, nipple over tongue, nipple aimed to the back/top of mouth, lips flared out (no monkey lips)... Lansinoh for Breastfeeding Mothers is one of the best things to put on your nipples. It promotes 'moist wound healing'....healing without a scab. Just pat (not rub) a little on the sore parts making sure the skin is dry. Clean only with plain water. Soap is not necessary. Drying out the nipples to encourage healing is no longer recommended. (Womanly Art of Breastfeeding pg 112)

Please Please Please contact your local La Leche League leader. A consult (phone or in person) is completely FREE!
There are loads of groups and leaders in the Houston area.
http://www.lllhouston.org/

Things that can dwindle your milk supply, that you may not have realized: Caffiene, Supplementing (formula or food), Improper latch, Pacifier, Decreased length of time of each feeding, Offering only one breast at each feeding

Cabbage leaves do work for most women. Refrigerated or room temp both work. Rinse and remove the hard vein. Cut a hole for the nipple. Apply directly to your breasts, inside your bra. In 2-4hrs, the leaves will become soft and wilted. Reapply between feedings. Womanly Art of Breastfeeding says to apply for up to 8hrs to NOT affect milk supply...so you will want to apply for much longer. A few of my friends have used this approach to help dry themselves up. One's milk supply was almost gone by the end of Day 1. They other did it for almost a week and, though her supply was much lower, she still had milk.
Here are links for tips on weaning (safely)
The LLL site has a lot of good information. LLL is recognized as the foremost authority on breastfeeding (that includes weaning) by AAP and WHO, maong other organizations.
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBweaning.html
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/weanhowto.html
Also, kellymom.com has a lot of helpful information. I have yet to find this site to say something that goes against something LLL says. http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/herbs-oversuppl...

I know this is a lot of information. It's hard to keep it short when trying to address more than one issue. I hope that you find at least some of it helpful. If you have questions based on something I wrote, or if something needs clarification, please don't hesitate to email me.

I am no expert, having only nursed 2 children - so please contact your local LLL leader or a Certified Lactation Consultant.

K., mama to
Catherine, 4.5y
Samuel, 19m

I think you have gotten really good advice here...but I would also add my two cents that I would call your doctor and get checked out just in case. And if you don't call your doctor be very vigilant that you are not coming down with mastitis.

Call your doc ASAP if you develop a fever or flu like symptoms.

I wore a tight sports bra and took Motrin when I was done nursing. It only took 2 to 3 days for my milk to dry up where is was no longer painful...but I would still have my milk let down occasionally for a couple of weeks. So, I still wore nursing pads. Good luck!!

{{{{hugs}}}}

Hi everyone...this is my first attempt at posting here at mamasource so please bare with me if I mess up :)

J....my youngest is now 21 (eee, how time flies!)and he is the only baby of 3 that I nursed....things have changed and I'm sure there have been many improvements in methods and Rx's...however, sometimes the 'old ways' work best! When I was 'done' nursing my son at 11 months, my mom advised me to 'strap something tightly around my chest' to stop the milk. I thought...????? She told me that this is the way moms had been stopping the flow for years. Well, I was pretty desperate so I tried it. I took a king-sized pillowcase and secured it around my chest, tightly, and wore it that way for several days. Much to my surprise, the milk did stop coming. It was nice to know that it could be done so easily :) I have no idea, of course, if this will work for you J. or if anyone else has ever heard of doing this, but heck, why not give it a try I say? In any case, good luck with it and with your lil' one!
H. >^..^<

contact your la leche league. I think your doing the right thing. You can proably take asprin and use ice packs on your breasts to relive the pain and perhaps reduce the swelling. God bless and good luck.

I haven't done the cabbage leaf thing, but I know people who have. It really does work.

Well, the old ways to stop milk was to bandage your breast up really tight with an ace bandage. I have also heard that putting a cabbage leaf in your bra will help with the hurting nipples. good luck!

When I stopped the nurse said tight bra or sports bra and then take ibuprofen for discomfort. ~ There will be discomfort before it's said and done. Mine lasted about 3 days.

Why are you do you want to stop nursing? Breast milk is the best thing in the world for your son. If you're working from home there's no obstacle stopping you from continuing nursing.

Your son is sucking harder because he's trying to get more milk out. So you'll need to up the number of times you express milk. To continue nursing you need to increase the number of times you express milk - either through nursing or through pumping; increase your liquid intake and stay away from decongestants - they'll dry you out. Hang in there and you will be back up in no time. It's normal for your production to go down - since your body has because more efficient at producing quality milk and your son is better at getting it out.

studies have found that babies who are given formula have a higher chance of diabetes, obesity, and numerous other health issues. The makers of formula are by-in-large pharmaceutical companies who like creating individuals who future health problems.

For the benefit of your son - keep breast feeding.

This sounds weird, but it helps the pain.. When I stopped nursing, my breast just became so engorged and were so painful. Someone suggested putting cabbage leaves in my bra. It sounds strange as can be, but I went and got some cabbage and put a leaf in each bra, making sure the bottom half of the breast was covered with the leaf. He brought SO much relief I can't tell you.. However, the down side, is after spending a day with a cabbage leaf in your bra, it leaves a pretty strong odor... That wasn't pleasant but it was still worth it... Also when you shower just soak them in hot water.... Good luck... Back to your original question, I would switch to formula and just forget about your milk... I nursed for 6 months with both m boys and they are fine...

Hi, check out kellymom.com

dear J.,
if you dont want to stop nursing get a nipple shiled from babys r us, it helps protect the nipple till you heal. when i went through my drying out spell, it was really really hard but i sat up with my baby at least 24 hours and did not let her leave my arms. it was hard for the both of us but i just kept offering her the breast and the more she would stimulate the breast the more milk would come in. the next day i was extremely engorged and ready to go. if you dont want to continue put cold cabbage leaves in your braw, until the swelling goes down.
M.

I recommend at least calling your doc, or making an appointment. When you get cracked and bleeding nipples, you run the risk of getting an infection(because you've broken the natural barrier, the skin). You could have an infection in that breast called mastitis, and may need antibiotics for it. Other than that? Warm showers help with the pain, and keep your nipples well lubricated with lotion or special ointment(it's been a long time since I nursed and can't remember the names of a few, most will contain lanolin) so they can heal easier.

Hot shower or heating pad it sounds like you may have gotten some kind of infection of the milk glands. You might need to see the Dr. Take care of your self.

Massage gently in a hot shower to make sure there isn't a blocked duct that could cause infection - which is sooo painful. Put lanolin on nipples to soothe.