Any tips on stopping milk production please?

[Redbush]

Hi, It's now almost 48hrs since I last fed DD1. She went to bed with a bottle of formula last night! Just wondering what happens now with my milk? For the last 3 weeks I've been down to one feed a day - each time I've dropped a feed I've had a couple of uncomfortable days and then things have settled but there was always another feed eventually to "empty" me out. Not sure what happens now there is no "next feed"?? Do I just put up with it? Should I express a bit? Any suggestions gratefully received - starting to get rather full and uncomfortable!

Each time you feed or express you are stimultating yourself to produce more milk. WHen I stopped I just put up with it for a couple of days. I dont think theres much else you can do.

If you get really uncomfortable then express but if you express your body will produce more. I would just try to ride it out.

I was in the same position a few weeks ago, DS was down to one feed and then suddenly wasn't even interested in that - he took 20 mins one day , 2 mins next day then none the next. Despite stopping so suddenly I didn't get engorged, just a bit sore. I wouldn't express unless it's really uncomfortable, but a hot shower might make them leak a bit.

Thanks guys - just needed a guide as to what was the best to do!

Oh yes do express a little to make yourself more comfortable

it will prolong it but stopping cold increases the likelihood of blocked ducts and mastitis

if you feel yourself getting at all lumpy have a good expressing session, otherwise just pump as little as you can bear just to take the edge off it

apparently a sportsbra helps! i was on holiday and had one boob and the other went flat! must have been the favourite side, but it didn't look good in a swimsuit!

hi redbush,you and me both.My dd is 7 months now,and had her first night bottle.She's been having them in day for a while.I decided to stop breast feeding last night.I'm not sore yet,but give it a few days(ouch).
you basically can't express or release any milk at all,you have to put up with it I'm afraid.Hope it's not too bad for you.Good luck.

Don't laugh but my sister put savoy cabbage leaves in her bra! It worked!

I didn't BF so i just rode mine out and I can't help but I just suddenly though about what my sis done!

Aparently it's an old wives tale. But it's a tale that worked!!

Redbeki, you don't have to put up with it and it can cause mastitis to go completely cold turkey

Try this page which gives advice on how to make yourself more comfortable

This is the part about expressing:

"Do express or pump if you get uncomfortably full. It's not good for your body to not have any way of relieving the fullness. Pumping or hand expressing just enough milk to relieve discomfort will not prevent your milk supply from decreasing. What causes milk production to stay the same or increase is adequate milk removal. If only a small amount of milk is removed from the breast, then milk production will decrease. In addition, expressing a little milk will relieve your discomfort and make it less likely that you'll develop plugged ducts, a breast infection, or an abcess."

OK,It's my first day off booby.It's been 6 years since my ds was off!I fed him differently,and weaned him off gradually so this is new to me too.that's what i was always led to believe.I'm starting to ache a little.I'll read it.

the cabbage compress sounds good,I will try later.

Thanx

Another one i've just remebered is epsom salts. Tastes nasty and you don't want to do it too much but apprently it dries your milk up.

Oh, and son't leave the house for at least an hour because it's a good laxitive too!!

Good luck with the cabbage leaves. They are very cooling apprently.

meant don't not son't!!

yeah,they gave my mom epsom salts in the hospital way back in the 70's ,to dry her milk up before she even tried to breast feed.Boobs were not for feeding then,perish the thought.

Hi redbeki - how are you doing? Things are calming down considerably now - still do the occassional leak but not sore or full! DD has made me feel rather guilty on a couple of occasions as she is madly signing milk and pulling my T-shirt down! Thankfully I can distract her quite easily and she hasn't done it so far today. She does seem to have become more clingy again though - if it's just me and her at home I'm not allowed out of her sight! Hope you're feeling more comfortable now.

hi red,My boobies are so sore and tender,esp my right one.I've always had trouble with that one ,being engorged at the start,and awkward with feeding.
Lo has had bottles in the night,and then slept through in her cot which is so different to being in bed most of the night swapping from one boob to the other!
That's nice,but I find the whole heating up of the milk thing at night a right p.i.t.a!
I feel very guilty that she's having so much formula now,and not my lovely milk,but I had to get my bed back,and her sleeping through is great,and a first.
She does seem a bit confused,but as she's only 7 months she's not too aware,as a one year old would be.I know what you mean in that way.She seems happy enough to have bottles.
My breasts really hurt though ,and I'm hoping in the next few days,they will feel better.

how old is your dd red?

Sage is really good for buggering up milk supply so maybe you could try that.

After 8 days of breasts feeling like they were full of frozen peas,They are finally back to normal,and seem so small!!
I've got through it,and lo sleeping through the night most nights.
No more nursing bras for me- EVER!