How to stop breasts filling with milk

[Meepmoop]

Hi,

My DS is 13 months and I have decided to stop breastfeeding. He was down to two feeds a day and this weekend I went away on a hen do so my DH looked after him. As he went three days without nursing and was okay about it, i decided it's a good time to stop.

I have been pumping to relieve the pressure but how do I stop them refilling? Do I just need to let them fill up and leave them? I've looked online but can't find the answer

Thank you

You have to stop pumping. You should probably do it gradually to avoid engorgement and mastitis. How often have you been pumping and for how long each time?

Are you pumping to just relieve the 'excess' ? That's what I was advised to do - and even then only if I really needed to. I've been cutting down a feed every 2 weeks. We're currently at 6am, 7pm, plus one or 2 in the night (if needed). I am producing much less now than I was a month ago. I haven't rushed it as don't want mastitis again DS is 12 months.

I've been pumping twice a day for about 10mins but I can get 1oz out of one and 4oz out the other each time

I have been doing it until they empty so should I just do it a little bit

My doctor gave me pills to stop my supply.
Is that not a thing to do in the UK?
Can you ask?

Well it's supply and demand so if you stop the demand (pumping) then the supply will stop. With only 2 feeds/pumps a day I'd probably just stop cold turkey tbh. Or only pump the more 'bountiful' breast for 5 minutes once a day if it's sore then stop after a couple of days.

Best to just pump a bit so you're not getting sore.

kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/weaning_mom/

As PPs said you’re pumping too much, you shouldn’t be emptying the breasts. If you want to do it gradually you could cut down to 5 mins morning and evening for a few days and then cut down to just once a day (either morning or evening) for a few days.

If you’re going cold turkey you’ll probably want to hand express a bit in the shower to relieve the worst of the pressure and discomfort.

Thanks everyone that's really helped.

Me again sorry.

So I've stopped pumping and am doing a tiny bit of hand expressing once a day, literally only a couple squeezes. I'm still really full on the topside of my breast, underneath and around the nipple are much softer though. How long does it take to calm down as they are so sore to touch.

Thank you

Bump

I recently stopped feeding my 14 month old (was feeding maybe 5-6 times overnight and not at all during the day). I just stopped cold turkey and felt a little bit full and tender over the next few days then it easeed off and I thought that was that.

About a week later (so ~10 days after stopping) over the course of a day my breasts suddenly became incredibly tender, and swollen but only in the middle around my nipple, maybe an area about 5cm diameter - I initially got a fright as I looked in the mirror after a shower and realised I could see a new lump/ledge on the inner side of my right boob, which I had been vaguely aware of being tender throughout the day - immediately jumped to thinking the worst, then quickly realised with relief that I had something similar but less dramatic looking on the left boob. Those swellings gradually eased off over a week or so, so I’d say it was 2-3 weeks total before they went back to normal - and then they started to atrophy away, and now I’m back to my non-pregnant/BF cup size of A....😭 I’d become very fond of my c-cups, felt practically like Dolly Parton herself😂

I think being a bit sore is to be expected. I know my boobs were very heavy and tender when I stopped breastfeeding. Took maybe 3 days of no expressing at all for that feeling to pass. Good luck!

I stopped when I was down to two feeds a day. It took a couple of days before I was painfully full. Quick squeeze to release the excess and three days later I’d softened up. Never had a problem after that!

I would leave them alone now and I think in 3 days you’ll be done. Just from my own experience

You could try taking some sudafed - it can help dry things up.

Stop touching them now. Also an old fashioned remedy is to wear a tight fitting bra, even in bed. My GP (30 years ago!) told me to bandage my boobs to stop the milk. It worked!

Thank you! I'll leave them alone and hope it eases off soon.

Has anyone tried cabbage leaves for drying them up?

I think cabbage leaves are more for soothing benefits. I don't think it dries them up. Won't hurt to try tho!

Cold Cabbage leaves just soothe them. The only thing that will help the pain/engorgement is time (or expressing which won't actually help stop supply)

Take a decongestant. I discovered accidentally, when I had a horrible cold and took the wrong thing, that it dries your milk right up (fortunately DD was nearly weaned at that point anyway!).

Cabbage leaves works, just replace them often keep a cabbage in the fridge and you will smell a bit like coleslaw. Be careful binding to tight, you might cause an infection.
I found cool packs worked wonders.