LO is 3 months old and I've been EPing the whole time but I just can't anymore. I've been dealing with clogged ducts /and milk blisters every day it seems and am terrified of the drying up process since I'm in so much pain already! I pump 4 times a day for 25 minutes.
Can I take Sudafed for a few days/week before I start dropping pumps? Will that help and do you take full doses? Can you feed baby the milk or is it pump and dump?
grapefruit / 4213 posts
Kellymom says it's usually okay to use Sudafed while BF/EP. Apparently not everyone will experience a decrease in supply when taking it. I took it for a week due to a chest infection when LO2 was born and it didn't affect my supply at all.
http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/meds/cold-remedy/#decongestants
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
I took it because I figured it couldnt hurt to dry me up! Full dose, 2x a day, also advil and ice/cabbage for the soreness
nectarine / 2242 posts
@MapleMoose: oh i didn't realize it doesn't have that effect for everyone!
@blackbird: that's what I'm thinking. How long did it take to dry up?
I only am making 13 oz in a day at this point but am in pain 24 hours a day due to clogged nipples and ducts so I really can't imagine / am scared of how much it's going to hurt!
persimmon / 1367 posts
I've heard that mint and sage can both major decrease supply - perhaps some stuffing and a mojito for dinner? 
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
@HappyBaker: Not long but i was down to only making about 6-7 oz a day and pumping just a couple of times. The first 3 days were the hardest, and i just rubbed out some nodules in the shower, and by a week, i was completely, utterly dry. Nothing would come out.
persimmon / 1431 posts
Someone told me putting cabbage leaves on your breast help decrease supply, though I don't know how that works.
coconut / 8472 posts
I dried up really quickly after using Sudafed. While I was BFing I took a half dose at one point and was fine. But then a few months later I had a raging sinus infection and took the full dose for a couple days and that was pretty much it. I stopped getting engorged and I was able to stop BFing shortly after.
pear / 1696 posts
@HappyBaker: I agree about the mint and sage. Start drinking lots of mint tea!
pear / 1946 posts
I switched to formula at 5 days pp and was pretty engorged at the time. I took Sudafed 2x daily and used bags of frozen corn on my breasts to help with the pain. It was pretty painful for 2-3 days, and after about a week or so I mostly dried up.
nectarine / 2242 posts
Thanks! I just went to the grocery store and bought cabbage, sudafed, Motrin and ice packs, ha! They didn't have sage tea I'll have to check elsewhere.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
@HappyBaker: mint sounds WAY more pleasant to drink than sage tea, LOL
persimmon / 1431 posts
@HappyBaker: let me know what works for you, and how it goes. I've been pumping for 6.5 months, and I want to be done, but I'm scared of the pain.
grape / 96 posts
If the sudafed has pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine in it I understand it should not be used while breastfeeding so I think you would need to pump and dump. Good luck drying up I hope it happens quickly for you 
Edited to say that pseudoephedrine can affect some mother's milk supply significantly.
apricot / 274 posts
I had horrible clogged ducts and mastitis. I took Sudafed for about a week and was completely dried up without much pain. I also really recommend taking Lethicin. It really helps prevent clogged ducts and was a totally game changer for me.
nectarine / 2242 posts
@Pumpkin Pie: I'll definitely let you know!
@Mrs.ThinMint: this is amazing! Did you also drop pumps or did the drying up just make you feel the need to pump less anyway?
apricot / 274 posts
I just pumped as I felt like I needed to. I tried not to empty every time. It was shockingly easy. If clogged ducts are the only reason you're wanting to stop breastfeeding maybe try taking the Lethicin and see if it helps? I understand if you're ready to be done though.
nectarine / 2242 posts
@Mrs.ThinMint: thanks that is so good to hear! I've actually been taking 4 lecithin a day for a few weeks and it hasn't helped at all. I'm just ready at this point!
nectarine / 2242 posts
Just wanted to say thanks for your advice and give an update - it's been 2 weeks since I posted, and I haven't pumped in over 60 hours! (I sort of feel like I should be at a Pumpers Anonymous meeting - Hi I'm HappyBaker and my last pump was 60 hours ago) haha.
I took 4 Sudafed a day for the first week, and went from producing 12-14oz to 6ish, and then the next week I only took 2 a day since I was already producing so little. Cabbage leaves did feel amazing, but honestly the pain from engorgement is so much better than the pain from milk blisters/clogged ducts that I was getting, so it really hasn't been too bad.
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