I stopped nursing my daughter after 6 months due to lack of milk, but even now, 10 months later, I still leak out of one of my breasts. My doctor tells me to wait it out- but how long will that take? Is there anything I can take or do to help with this? I've tried wrapping my breasts in ace wrap and icing the nipple, but nothing has seemed to help.
I do not pump or pinch or even touch it in fear of creating more milk. It isn't a steady stream, just leaking enough to have to wear some kind of padded bra or my shirt would be wet throughout the day.
I am interested in breast augmentation, but they are hesitant to operate due to higher risks of infection when there is any kind of discharge.
Please HELP!
Just to confirm with others... I've heard lots of people talk about cabbage in the bra may have to do it for a day or two but I heard it works. Good luck.
This is going to sound bizarre, but here's an old mountain women's remedy that is actually supposed to work - put cabbage leaves in your bra. I know this sounds very strange, but evidently, the leaves do release a chemical that inhibits milk production. I've had friends try it and say that it works within a few weeks. I have no personal experience, though, as my milk production ceased almost immediately when my kids self-weaned.
I hate to burst your bubble, but my doctor told me it could take YEARS to dry up. I was still leaking milk several months after stopping breastfeeding (it would flow down my chest during intimate moments...ugh!) and was told it was perfectly normal and now that I am pregnant again, I have horribly engorged days again when I feel like my breasts will explode! I have not pumped or anything, just dealing with it and not letting anything or anyone touch them because they are sore! But milk is still flowing! So, good luck with that! Talk with your OB again and tell them what you are wanting to do with the augmentation and ask if there is anything you can take to eliminate the milk more quickly!
S., 26, mom of 15-month-old and #2 on the way
Hi H.!
You ccould try taking Sage in the form of a tincture, this is the best, natural remedy for drying up the milk ducts. To read more, go to http://www.naturalchoices4baby.com/catalog.php?item=53 and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to let me know!
Hi H.. I know there are herbs out there that help to stop the production of milk. Try googling 'herbs to stop lactation' to see what is out there and then I would go to your local Natural Foods store and ask someone who is educated in herbology. It may help!?!
I haven't nursed in over a year and a half, but if expressed, I still have some. It's weird, and annoying but it will go away.
You can try a trick that is used for engorgment, take some cabbage leaves and bruise them a bit, then slip them into your bra, no, really! Cabbage juice will help to dry up breasts, I have no idea how, but it does. Change the cabbage leaves once or twice a day. You can try eating more cabbage too, but I would invest in some beano if you are going to eat a lot of cabbage!
I know it sounds weird but take some sudafed-dried me up after weaning my daughter in two days!
I'm still breastfeeding, but when i had a cold a couple months ago I took some medicine for it and my milk supply took a big dive. It took me about a month of working at it to get my supply back. Any cold medicine that dries up your nose will dry up everything else in your body too.
My neighbor was still producing from her five year old when her youngest was born. I'm going on nearly a year after weaning myself- I blame my downstairs neighbors- their kid cries constantly.
There are some weaning teas/supplements out there that are supposed to make the milk not taste as good, but also are supposed to lower your supply. Don't know if it will work or not. I would also call the lactation consultant and see if they have some advice.
After my son, my milk did not stop coming out until he was three years old. I had no idea what was causing it. I am reading more and more about hormones and the giant affect that they have on us. I would go and get your hormones checked. My progesterone was almost down to 1 when it should have been 10. I know a fantastic doctor who does bioidentical hormones. (These are the safest)
I remember a nurse in the NICU telling me that when she hears a baby cry, she still gets milk out of her breasts. Her youngest child was 10!
Cold medicine dries up your secretions such as in your nose, and also will help w/ milk, it's what my friend did when she weaned, to lose her milk supply. Another friend did that too but it still took her a couple weeks since she was not breastfeeding and all her milk had just come in. Also the cabbage leaves do help, usually people use them to stop engorgement, and cut a whole in the middle for your nipple, so your nipple doesn't touch the cabbage and dry out.
H., if the doctor has checked thoroughly and told you nothing is wrong, here's an old fashioned way to dry up your milk.
Take 2 large cabbage leaves. Use a rolling pin to roll each one until liquid comes out (bruise them). Wrap one around each breast, wear a bra and go to bed. This can take up to 3 days, but it's worked for many I know.
Sorry to dissapoint you but it may be quite awhile. I havent nursed a baby for a year and a half and if I lean against something compressing my breasts they will STILL leak. Doc says this is normal for some people.
put a cabbage leaf in your bra.. sounds weird, but it works. don't think it has to be cold though...
(i cut a leaf so it fit inside the cup of each breast). I wore it around for a most of a day...
good luck,
M.
Benadryl around the clock (dries up your nose and boobs) for several days, try the cabbage leaves at the same time too. Good luck.
This may sound weird, but I have heard that cold cabbage on your breasts is supposed to help. I haven't tried it, but that is what I have heard. Good luck!
start adding SAGE to your meals. It's a good spice for meats, potatoes, and breads.
Use cabbage leaves, wash and then crinkle them a bit in your hand an then put them inside your bra. This worked for me. May take a couple of days.
I 2nd (3rd?) the cabbage. If it's left against the breast for more than 8 hours, it will start to dry up the milk.
