I've decided to give up pumping due to the stress and the lack of supply. My question now is how do I get my milk to dry up. I'm wearing a sports bra, using cold compresses but I'm still uncomfortable and my boobs are hard. I'm inly two weeks out from a section, I've been pumping 2 oz 5-6 times a day.
I tried google but read about all these things that can go wrong and I don't want to call a LC because I don't want the lecture about BFing.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
I think there is a tea? Good luck and congrats on your baby!
pomelo / 5524 posts
I removed a pumping session for every few days. So I started dropping my 10am pumping session first. Would just skip it every day until my body stopped producing at that time. It took a few days for my body to realize it, but once it did...I moved to the next pumping session. Does that make sense?
grapefruit / 4823 posts
I would take warm/hot showers and massage my breasts while in there to relieve the engorgement.
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@2PeasinaPod: it does. The nurse at my OBs office told me just to stop but it makes me nervous.
grapefruit / 4278 posts
My SIL put cabbage leaves on her breasts on the advice of her doctor. She said it helped, awkward, but it helped.
pomelo / 5469 posts
I would follow the above advice about gradually weaning a session each day. If you just stopped I'd be worried about clogged ducts or mastitis.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
I also did the cabbage. I relieved a little by hand but that was about it. I wasn't making much at that point, so I just took the most painful fullness out of it where I could. I also popped Sudafed to dry me up. I wish I could remember more, but I think that was the biggie. Oh and take Advil! That helped a lot with the swelling and discomfort. The worst of it was over in about 3 days
grapefruit / 4213 posts
Not sure how to stop milk production but I heard about cabbage leaves relieving discomfort from engorgement from the nurse who taught our breastfeeding course.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
@ladybee: I just stopped, it hurt for 2 days, but gradually it got better and better and I was dried up within a week or so. I took showers, but they say too hot and it can just make you produce more milk than less. I also wrapped an Ace wrap as tightly as I could for those few days. It sucks, but it will help!
pomelo / 5298 posts
Do not be afraid to call a lactation consultant. I had this same fear as our hospital "required" a ten day weighted feed. I was prepared to quit the night before but followed through with the feed. The LC told me that she could tell I wasn't relaxed and comfortable. I told her that I had essentially decided to FF and she was very supportive of my decision. I never pumped so I don't think my milk supply came in well. But once I stopped feeding within about 3 days my breasts were back to "normal".
cantaloupe / 6687 posts
Like @sunny said sudafed should dry you up...make sure to get the kind at the pharmacy counter (not on the shelf)...you don't need a prescription but they check your ID and take your info bc you can only purchase a limited quality at a time
apricot / 347 posts
When my milk came in after our 20week loss, I called my OBGYN and she prescribed something for me that made my milk dry up - took one day as far as I can remember. May be worth calling the doc?
pomegranate / 3414 posts
Sage or peppermint are also supposed to help dry up milk supply.
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@emg86: Benadryl makes me super sleepy so that's a no for no. DH is picking up Sudafed for me.
grapefruit / 4079 posts
Thanks everyone. I've done 3 5-10 minute pumps today to relieve pressure instead of 6 20-30 minute pumps. DH is picking up Sudafed from the pharmacy on his way home. The pain isn't unbearable but I am nervous about clogged ducts and other issues.
honeydew / 7687 posts
@ladybee: Yikes I definitely wouldn't stop cold turkey! My sister said she used cabbage leaves, frozen peas, cold showers, and zyrtec. Hope you dry up quickly and that your road to recovery is smooth and fast.
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@scg00387: that's what was recommended to me but it just didn't seem right. I have been using frozen compress pads multiple times a day. I hope this doesn't last too long!
GOLD / pomelo / 5737 posts
@ladybee: I don't think there's too much risk in just stopping because you're only getting 2 oz though? Not sure. I just basically pumped less and less often til I stopped producing milk, but I wouldn't recommend doing it that way because my doctor thought that may have contributed a lot toward ppd because it was all very irregular and my hormones were all crazy.. I think you're ok to pump to relieve though. 
grapefruit / 4079 posts
I've gone down to 3 pumps a day vs 5. And the Sudafed is making a HUGE difference. They aren't rock hard anymore. I don't feel like I have to pump so Ill probably go down to 2 pumps in a day or two.
watermelon / 14206 posts
No More Milk tea did it for me after my loss. I hated the cabbage leaves...I smelled like coleslaw. DH and I used to love to eat cabbage, but now we're still grossed out from that smell. BUT, they did work, especially when I froze them.
persimmon / 1116 posts
@ladybee: how'd everything finish out? Sudafed help? How long before you were all dried up? Im B to try the same thing after a bout w mastitis and a plugged duct, so im terrified!
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@citymouse: I dried 90% of the way up within a week with Sudafed , frozen compresses and tight bras. I was barely getting 4 oz a day so it didn't take much. Good luck!
persimmon / 1116 posts
@ladybee: Im in the same boat you were. I get ab 4 oz a day pumping 8-10 times.
@Mrs. High Heels: Good to know! Maybe Ill pick some of that up w Sage tea.
nectarine / 2765 posts
Peppermint helps & my dr recommended Altoids since they have real peppermint extract.
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