How do I stop producing milk?

[CardyMow]

DS3 is 12mo. I have epilepsy, but it has been kept in check by my hormones until this month when my periods restarted.

I was bf'ing and co-sleeping, but because I had a massive seizure on Friday, I have had to stop co-sleeping and BF'ing (he associates BF'ing with co-sleeping).

I stopped BF'ing last night, as my Ex-P is on holiday this week, so can help DS3 by giving him bottles. My norks are like Jeffing cement. They HURT. Obviously,as it unsafe, I cannot continue to BF or co-sleep, hence having to stop in one go.

I have heard that Epsom salts can stop you producing milk, but I don't know what you do with them. I NEED my boobs to stop hurting - I've got red patches and I am concerned about mastitis. I've had that before with DD - 13 years ago - and it was so painful I passed out repeatedly. I NEED my milk to dry up.

I have a problem with overproduction anyway, and I'm on the rather, erm, large size, I can't even get my arms by my sides!

HI HuntyCat - is there anyway you could night wean rather than full stop wean?

Is clobazam an option for you if you have catamenial epilepsy? I have tried it but it didn't work for me but it was prescribed as a really good way to get period induced seizures under control.

If just night weaning isn't an option then expressing to take the edge off, ibuprofen for inflammation reduction (if you can take it), not touching breasts, firm support bra and cool flannels/packs to reduce redness and inflammation can all help reducing supply.

Nope, no drugs give full seizure control for me. Tis shitty, but I get a break while pg and bf until my periods come back. Then it reappears with a vengeance.

I can't 'just' night wean - he hardly feeds during the day, and feeds 90% of his BF's at night. Hence having to stop altogether.

Do you know ANYTHING about the epsom salts? I'm desperate. None of the above have worked - I hand-expressed in the bath, have taken ibuprofen, 15 mins after hand expressing it was back to being flamey pain, not touched them since other than to change sodden breast pads, wearing the ONLY bra in the house that is even remotely going over them - tis my normal feeding bra, but it is over an inch away from my chest bones now!, tried hot/cold flannels.

None of it working! I want to CRY.

Sorry to hear its effecting you again do quickly, my best friend also suffers from epilepsy so I feel for you.

This is the best advise I could find around so I hope it helps or someone posts who has been there.

Do's:
Pump or hand-express just enough milk to keep you from feeling swollen and overfilled. When milk is already in the breasts, additional production slows, therefore only remove a small amount at a time.
Apply cold compresses, gel packs or cold cabbage leafs to your breasts. This helps reduce swelling and can contribute to diminishing the milk supply if used consistently. If you use chilled cabbage leaves, replace every couple of hours.
Try over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve some discomfort from the breastfeeding weaning.
Check breasts frequently for blocked ducts and potential mastitis or breast abscess.

Don't:

Don't allow your child to feed in order to relieve pressure. The natural supply and demand kicks in and alerts your body that it needs to produce more breast milk, putting you back to square one.
Don't bind your breasts. This may actually increase the pain, while providing no real benefits to depleting your supply.
Don't allow room for nipple stimulation. This also activates the production of your milk supply.
Don't use heat, such as a heating pad, hot water bottle or even running hot shower water on swollen/engorged breasts. This may just aggravate the situation.
After your breasts remain softened over 24 hours, you should be in the clear. However, watch for signs of your breasts filling and if necessary, repeat the above steps.

Good luck x

I can't find any info out there about the salts but I'm presuming it encourages you to be dehydrated so less likely to produce milk?

I know there are meds you can take to stop you lactating but not sure if they are comparable with your other meds ect so maybe worth a visit to your docs ASAP.

I'm sorry there isn't any meds that will work Hunty, I have mostly great coverage with Lamictal but have the occasional breakthrough seizure if unwell + premenstrual + stressed. It really is crappy having epilepsy so you have my sympathies and an un-MNetty (hug).

Could you phone one of the bfing helplines? I know it's not the 'usual' query but they should know about it even if it is to 'just' offer a supportive ear. I really don't know anything about epsom salts - is it to bathe in or eat??

I have found a few articles on stopping milk production and to be honest they say much the same things here, here, here, there are some other tips like using sage tea so they may well be worth a read in case there is something that hasn't been suggested and may work for you. It sounds like it may well take a good week to get things under control so if you can take ibuprofen it might be worth getting stocks in so you aren't in pain.

it took 3 weeks last time - I don't HAVE 3 weeks this time - I have one more night that my ex can help with, then I am on my own with DS3,still smelling of milk.

I can't even touch him right now - as he pulls my boob out of my bra and SCREAMS when I put him down. He is fine for his dad though. I need a QUICK solution to this!!

Polo neck tops or high button up pj tops or high neck t-shirts all tucked into pj bottoms? Lots of perfume/body spray to conceal the milk smell?

Will he be happy to sleep on his own now? Have you got anyone who could help put DS3 to sleep? I seem to recall you are pretty much a totally lone parent (unless I am mixing you up with someone else?) with no family support so sorry if I'm offering crappy 'solutions'

I totally second cabbage leaves. Use a dark green cabbage, such as a savoy, and preferably keep it in the fridge. Put a couple of cold cabbage leaves into your bra in a kind of lining way, change as necessary (it's amazing - they come out warm and limp, almost feeling partly cooked). They really help to take the pain out and make you feel more comfortable while your body deals with it

I am a Lone parent - but I have roped in Ex-P to help. He has been staying on the sofa last night and tonight to help, as DS3 is not, erm, overjoyed with being made to sleep in his cot...

I have co-slept with all of the others, because I had them BEFORE I was diagnosed with epilepsy. When I was diagnosed, my now 8yo DS2 was 3mo, and tbh, it was hell stopping then, but I wasn't on a schedule with the help I could get, as I was still WITH Ex-P.

I can't risk him staying to help out for more than tonight because of my Income Support.

No cabbage leaves - not till the shops open tomorrow.

Perfume not helping. Too much leaky milk, so I STINK of it!!

DS3 can undo buttons, or anything that is in the way of his mik-mik! Zips don't pose a problem either. He just burrows himself under tops etc, so being high-neck doesn't help.

I'm so sorry - I wish I had an easy solution or a magic wand. I always seem to think everyone has had epilepsy all of their adult lives or from childhood - I forget it can 'strike' at any time.

You could try having a shower and letting the water run over your breasts so you let down without touching - that should help with the leaking and the milk smell (esp. if you use a scented shower gel).

If you can call one of the helplines they may be able to suggest something else .

Poor you

There's something about epsom salts on the bottom of this page.

Hope that's of some use.

Nope. I was 22 when I had my first 'proper' seizure. I have 'drop attacks' rather than tonic-clonic seizures.

And the one on Friday was a doozy - I was at the self-service checkout in Tescos, apparently went down like a sack of spuds, hit my head off a trolley, whacked my elbow and the palm of my hand on the floor. Have a massive bruise on the palm of my hand. You REALLY have to hit the palm of your hand hard to bruise it.

Just don't feel safe co-sleeping after that!

Weird co-incidence - I had a seizure in Tesco a few weeks ago right by the milk aisle - luckily it was my little local one so one of the ladies knew I was epileptic and was able to tell the ambulance crew (they had TWO ambulances out for me - I am NOT that fat thanks!) so I was able to go home with DH as long as I went to GP after I slept it off.

Turns out I had a chest infection complete with fever which along with lack of sleep from coughing all night and being newly pg but bleeding tipped me over the edge.

I used to have TC seizures but have drop seizures now I am medicated. I was 17 when I had my first seizure. I just seem to bounce though (may be the fat), never done myself serious harm just a few bruises but the majority of my seizures are on waking so even if co-sleeping DH is awake and can spot the signs I am going to go or I just don't wake up (well I do a few hours later with a cracking head and exhaustion).

I didn't mind co-sleeping when I was sharing the bed with Ex-P, and even on my own without him for the last 8 months - but now I've had quite a few small seizures (I have partials too) in the last month, culminating in this big one, I no longer feel safe co-sleeping being single.

I had a small partial sz on Christmas eve, but I was at the top of the stairs at the time - I went all the way down the stairs and cracked my rib, thought it was a one-off, then 2 weeks ago I had another partial sz while holding a cup of water that went everywhere, II was in tescos cafe then and got a gob ful of abuse from some evil hag who I splashed, apparently. And now this - just not safe now to co-sleep IMO.

TWO ambulances. Crumbs! I managed to persuade them not to even bother with one - my friend was with me, and she was going home on the same bus as me anyway. She saw me to my door, then Ex-P came round when he had finished work.

I don't think I would co-sleep either if it was just me but as DH is usually really good at spotting me when I am pre-seizure - I get really dopey just before a seizure and he can order me back to bed. My catch phrase is 'I'm fiiiine' in a slurred voice 'I'm just tired'. DH never believes me

I had left the house to go to the bus stop to get a bus to the bfing group but obviously got confused and on auto-pilot went to tesco (it's not far from the bus stop. I'd filled a basket up and everything (God know's what with though).

The staff were really good and played with DD2 & DD3 while they waited for DH to turn up (somehow got me to activate my phone!) and the ambulance to decide what to do with me. I hate going to hospital for seizures they just want to poke you and use you for some kind of teaching exercise. Not for me thanks!

Glad you had a friend with you. It's always nicer when you have people to stick up for you when you say you don't want to go to hospital.

The thing that gets me is when they ask you to provide your details for the accident form. The best one was the time when I was filling one in at the bank after a seizure. They asked me where I lived, and the only thing I was able to answer was "Home". Arf!

Took me AGES to remember my actual address.

This time it was my phone number that threw me!

I feel AWFUL right now though - I can't give DS3 a cuddle, I am missing my cuggles. And OH! the pain. DollyParton has NOTHING on me at the moment. I can't even raise my arms without crying in pain.

I gave my maiden name to the ambulance crew the other week and I have been married 7y!

Have you got any painkillers Hunty? Even if it's not ibuprofen, it's got to be better than being in pain.

Cold compresses (cold damp flannel/ice pack wrapped in a towel) might take some of the heat out of your breasts.

You could try lying down face first (like you were doing press ups) in a bath as gravity and the water will get some of the pressure/milk out.

Hello hunty

Sorry if this is a crap solution but how about moving your baby into a bed with side rails rather than a cot? My DS co-slept and at about 10mo, when he actually kicked me out of bed, I graduated him into his own bed.

He didn't hate it like the cot as I could lie down and bf. And then leave when he was asleep. So it was still cosleeping and bf to him at first.

Eventually I gave up bf and we still cuddle before he goes to sleep in his bed. But it meant I didn't have to go cold turkey on the bf, DS didn't have to use a hated cot and we all kept our sanity.

Sorry if there is an obvious reason why it wouldn't work. But I don't think anyone has the one-night solution to giving up bf so was just trying another idea!

I would move him to a bed if there were ANYWHERE in the house to put one for him - he will be in a cot until the council rehouse us. Which could be quite some time as we are only 17th on the list.

I have had to literally hammer the cot in between the wall and the bed. Even a cotBED wouldn't have fitted!

I just feel horrid, not being able to cuddle him etc. He is crying, Ex-P is cuddling him, but I feel MEAN!

Am taking Ibruprofen - not TOUCHING the pain.

Face first in the bath?! I think my norks might be a bit large and ouchy for that right now!

You go on hands and knees in a deep bath and dangle your breast in the water (sounds v v dodgy but I have heard it gives a lot of relief). Don't lie flat down on them (though it sounds like you couldn't even if you tried!)

Could you see the GP tomorrow for some heavy duty painkillers or perhaps a pharmaceutical option (there are meds that can dry up milk but they can have some interesting side effects and might not be compatible with your AEDs).

I'm not sure if this is at all helpful, but it was dropping just one daytime feed that brought my periods back (also at 12m) so perhaps upping the number of feeds would stop your periods again?
The other thing is that you sound (understandably) really upset and stressed. When my baby went on a nursing strike and my breasts were filling up and painful I also felt emotionally haywire,crying all the time,really anxious and upset.I think a lot of this was the hormonal crash of suddenly stopping, perhaps that might make it easier to deal with now,knowing that you will feel grotty but it will pass. As others have said your GP can give you drugs to dry your milk up but I don't know if you could take them?
I hope it gets better soon,I feel for you,it is really dreadful.

Ah no space, I see.

Sorry for the lack of help. Bring on the ibuprofen and cabbage leaves.....good luck - I hope the pain stops soon.