Weaning is tough for even mother. Weaning slowly and without stress is what is suggested. But there may be reasons you may want your breast milk to dry quickly. The best time for weaning is when both infant and mother is ready for it. However, sometimes, even without your wish, you need to discontinue breastfeeding.

Best Ways to Dry Up Your Breast Milk Supply

Many factors such as baby’s age or mother’s diet and health affects the time taken by breast milk to dry. In some women, milk production stops just after a few days of weaning, but in some, it takes several weeks. Abrupt weaning is no doubt uncomfortable and may lead to infection so better consult your doctor, and then you can try the methods discussed below to dry up breast milk.

1.Do Not Nurse Baby To Dry up Breast Milk –

It is a rule, more you breastfeed more milk is formed so do not breastfeed or stimulate breast. The time for the breast to dry up depends on how long you have breastfed. You may try following tips discussed below:
Wear a supportive bra that will hold breast at its place.
To ease pain and inflammation use ice packs.

2. Sage to Dry up Breast –

Sage is a herb that helps with suppressing oversupply and weaning. However, not much is known if sage is safe for infants who consume breast milk after you take sage. So consult your doctor, and then you may start with a small amount of sage tea.

Sage to Dry up Breast

Other herbs that may help dry up breast are parsley, peppermint and jasmine. Consume them only after consulting your doctor.

3.Cabbage to Dry up Breast-

If cabbage leaves are used for a long duration, it suppresses breast milk.
Wash the green leaves of cabbage. Freeze it in the refrigerator. Place chilled cabbage leaves over each breast and then put your bra. Change leaves every 2 hours.

Cabbage to Dry up Breast

In addition, cabbage leaves reduce swelling and ease the symptoms of engorgement.

4.Vitamin B to Dry up Breast –

High doses of vitamin B1, B12 and B6 also suppress lactation. However, there is not much known about the side effects of taking high doses of vitamin B1, B6 and B12 for long. So again, talk to your health care provider about it.

5.Avoid Hot Showers to Dry up Breast-

If you are trying to dry up breast milk hot shower is the wrong choice as hot shower may temporarily ease engorgement but also stimulates the breast milk production. So better, avoid it.

6.Birth Control Pills to Dry up Breast –

Contraceptive pills containing hormone estrogen suppress lactation. May, not all women experience notable suppression but mostly does. Do not start the birth control pill on your own. Consult your doctor about timing to start the medicine.

*Some also may advise you to restrict fluids to dry up breast milk. However, we do not recommend this because it is essential for a nursing mother to stay hydrated.

*Some may advise you to get pregnant. However, let me tell you pregnancy is not a reliable way to dry up the breast milk and not a wise choice if you are not healthy enough and mentally prepared to deliver another baby.

Lactation suppression may be uncomfortable. Abruptly stopping nursing may lead to infection or blocked milk duct. In the case of engorgement express little milk for relief. If you experience pain or low fever, call your doctor. The plugged duct may cause breast tenderness. It is advised to gently massage the area for relief. In the case of mastitis where due to breast infection, there is redness, warmth, breast swelling and malaise antibiotics may be prescribed.

*For drying up breast milk, it is always better to consult a certified lactation consultant to avoid any discomfort and prevent infection.

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When the breast overfills with breast milk in breastfeeding females it is termed as breast engorgement. It is one of the common post-partum problems affecting women globally. In most of the women, engorged breast happens in 2 weeks after the birth. It is a discouraging and hectic problem for both the mother and newborn.

Breast Engorgement

What Is Engorged Breast

Engorged breast means that the breastfeeding female is producing more milk than a baby, can consume. The breast becomes lumpy, hard and swollen. Engorged breast happens when the mother suddenly stops breastfeeding,or the first milk comes immediately after the birth or if the baby stops feeding or breastfeeding frequency reduces.

What are the symptoms of Engorged Breast

The typicalsymptoms of the engorgedbreastinclude painful, swollen and firmbreast, flat nipples,firm areolar, hotness of the breast, fever and swollen lymph nodes.

What are the Causes of Engorged Breasts

Many reasons may cause engorged breasts. The common cause of engorged breast is poor technique or positioning for breastfeeding that also includes baby alignment. This is why it is advised to make sure that the baby latches well on the breast.

Sudden weaning may also lead to severebreast issues this is why it is advised to wean baby gradually.

But besides breastfeedingfemales, other women may also suffer from engorged breast dueto augmentation mammoplasty, hormonal imbalance following menopause, breast cancer and during pregnancy.

How To Get Rid Of Engorged Breast

If engorgement of the breast is severe breastfeeding becomes impossible, and you need treatment to manage the pain. Below is the list of home remedies for engorgement breast. Have a look.

Home Remedies For Breast Engorgement

6 Home Remedies For Breast Engorgement

1. Thermal Treatment-

Thermal treatment reduces congestion of milk. It encourages the flow of blood and fluid. However, heat application for extended periods is also discouraged as it may lead to swelling. In the case, you find the heat treatment not bearable use warm spray over the breast to help let the milk down easily.For this take a clean towel and dip it in hot water. Wring the towel to remove excess of water and place it over the breast. Repeat this before breastfeeding to relieve breast tightness and pain.

Thermal Treatment

2. Using Breast Shells-

Wear breast shell 20 minutes before feeding your baby. This averts the nipple and reduces the pressure. Also, breast shells are known to encourage the breast empty. Thus it alleviates tightness and pain.

Breast Shells

3. Supportive bra-

It is essential that your breast is immobile if it is engorged otherwise the pain will be alleviated. Thus, it is advised to wear a supportive bra that compresses the lower segment of the rib cage and traps the milk in the lower ducts easing the pain.

4. Massage-

Massage promotes the blood circulation and reduces construction and congestion. Massage with coconut oil or olive oil gently to get rid of engorged breasts.

5. Comfrey Leaves-

Comfrey leaves have muscle relaxant and pain relieving properties. Boil a cup of water. Put some comfrey leaves in a sieve and hold the sieve on eth boiling pot until the leavesare moist.Wrap the moist leaves in a cloth and place on yourbreast. Secure with a bra. Let the leaves stay for half an hour.Repeat the procedure 3-4 times in a day, and in 2 days you will notice the results.

Comfrey Leaves

6.Cabbage Leaves-

One of the most practisedhome remedy to get rid of the engorged breast is cabbage leaves. It provides instant relief.
Take two leaves of cabbage and place them over the breast. Create nipples so that nipples stay out of the leaves. Place the shaped cabbage leaves in the refrigerator. After an hour, place the chilled cabbage leaves to cover your breast. Repeat this two times in a day.

Cabbage Leaves

Not all post-delivery females suffer from engorged breasts. And with a few preventive measures, every breastfeeding new mother can prevent this painful condition. If possible breastfeed you kid within 2 hours of birth. Nurse about 8-12 times in a day in 24 hours. Before switching off breasts let your baby complete the milk of one breast. It takes 5-10 minutes.If your kid does not feed on the other side try the other side the next time first. For first few monthif not required do not introduce a bottle to your kid. If you are advised to feed milk formulas, pump out the breast milk. If feeding is skipped due to some reason or baby doesn’t nurse well hand express milk or use a breast pump.

If along with engorged breasts you experience chills, body aches, swelling and pain in both the breasts, tender breast lump increasing in size everyday, greyish bump on the nipple, discharge from the nipple or increased redness of breast tissue see your doctor.

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