What Can You Do to Decrease Your Milk Supply?

*** Hopefully it goes without saying, but this is not medical advice. Always work with your care team, including pediatric provider and lactation consultant, to make a plan. ***

Why might a postpartum mother need to purposely dry up her breast milk?

Many people have the opposite problem! Someone might need to do so because they simply do not desire to breastfeed. Perhaps someone was not getting the at-home or broader medical support they needed in order to breastfeed. Some do so because they do not have any paid leave and their job makes it impossible to pump. Some do so because they need to start a medication that is not compatible with lactation. There are so many valid reasons! 

What are the options for quickly drying up your breast milk?

Ideally it is never done “quickly”, but in order to help the process along, consider:

-where a snug fitting bra without underwire, even shirts rubbing against the nipples can stimulate milk production

-avoid warm water running over breasts in the shower, try to face your back to the water

-cold packs and cool compressed

-cold cabbage leaf sheaths (green cabbage kept in fridge)

-Sage leaf tea or safe tincture from Wishgarden Herbs

-Ibuprofen

-Sudafed

Always work with your obstetric care provider, pediatric provider, mental health provider, and ideally an LC when weaning, especially if you have questions or plan to take herbs or medications. And also if you have a history of depression and anxiety, especially in the postpartum period. 

What are the  potential complications/side effects?

It is considered “safe” to stop breastfeeding/chest feeding but should be done so with a clear feeding plan for baby, doing so as gradually as possible, and knowing some of the warning signs. Abrupt cessation of lactation can lead to engorgement and put someone at risk for mastitis, or even worse a breast access. So it needs to be done in ideally as the most gradual process as you’re able to do, while monitoring for things like engorgement and clogged ducts. Sometimes things like “pumping to comfort” ( not until the breast is soft and empty) need to happen in order to not have an abundance of stagnant milk. People get worried than any pumping or hand expression will not allow their milk supply to go down, but this is only if there is true emptying of the breast, not just relieving the breast of its fullness.

Some people also do have some mood shifts when they stop breastfeeding. So it is critically important for the person stopping breastfeeding, as well as their inner circle, to be mindful of this and focus on nourishment each day. For both the person weaning as well as the baby! 

How long should this process last?

Some people wean within a couple days. But ideally it’s done over the span of weeks if you are exclusively breastfeeding. Waiting at least 72 hours between “dropping a feed”. But it’s difficult to give blanket information on this topic. Weaning recommendations should be very personalized. The length of time it will take to fully wean depends on so many factors including the person’s milk supply (is it abundant or not?), how old their baby is, is their baby already combo-feeding with formula and donor milk, is the person at high risk for mastitis, etc. 

Hope that helps!