Does BM go away naturally or do you need medication?

How will breastmilk eventually go away by itself if you still need to express a bit to avoid engorgement? as doesn't this trigger a let down which = milk production? or do you just put up with the pain and it will eventually stop, in which case how does THAT milk get out?

Or is medication the common way? in my google search it said that the medication they give to dry up breastmilk has not been approved by the FDA for that purpose.

Tried calling ABA and understandably they were not helpful in regards to fast weaning. Only told me to drop one feed a week for several months, which in my case is not possible. (also told me doing it quickly would cause medical issues and be distressing for the baby - which is something i had to way up against MY physical and mental medical needs).

Hun, it will dry up eventually because you are not expresssing it all, so the amount being re-absorbed will trigger your body to produce less. You will need to make sure you express enough to avoid mastitis (and to be comfortable), but no more than that. Also watch closely for the signs of mastitis so if it starts you can treat it before it takes hold.

:hug: Best of luck hun, I hope you are doing ok.

I weaned Nina slowly, but with Emily we went away and I wasn't very prepared, so I sort of had no choice but to wean quickly as I was in Brisbane, she was in Cairns and I had no pump.
I would express enough for comfort only. I avoided bras with underwire and wore loose fitting clothes. I was very uncomfortable, in pain at times actually, but I knew my body. I knew what signs to look out for in case of mastitis. It took about 3 days and I didn't feel the need to express for comfort after that. I still had milk for another week after that, but it didn't hurt.

So yeah, it can be done. Like I said, listen to your body. Look out for the signs. Good luck with it.

B - when I was waiting for my milk to dry up - the docs didn't give me any medicine cos the side effects are worse than just dealing with a little pain ya know?

I got told to just express until comfortable - and this won't get a let down - I just did it in the shower. Then if they are really sore - cabbage leaves or frozen nappies full of water.

And a bit of panandol

:hug:

Hugs to you.. this must be a difficult time.

When i weaned Aiden, admittadly, i had mastitis already, and was on antibodics, which made it abit easier.

Express for comfort, i just did abit maybe, 20ml every so often, or in the shower. I did a quick goggle - the herb sage is mentioned alot, a couple of cups a day. Some also mention to avoid nipple stimulation completly, so, avoiding expressing, but, i think you also need to avoid mastitis abit as well. Using ice packs or frozen veges to relieve swelling, and also to reduce milk supply. Dont use heat packs, as it can create a let down effect.
Keep up your fluid intake.
Also, taking antiinflamatries like ibuprofen will help.

:hug:

Thanks, can i ask you Jodi, how many feeds were you doing at that time?

I've gone from about 20 feeds a day down to 2 in the space of 5 days. I am still engorged, just expressing with my fingers the pressure off, but find that by the night time i am lumpy, a feed gives relief but i don't want to keep producing milk. Is the lumpy stage a sign of impending mastitis or do i just need to get past that so the milk learns to go back in to myself? (i have had mastitis 4 times so i am scared too). Sorry if the above didn't make much sense.

Edit - thanks debbie i will see if someone can get me sage, maybe it comes in tablets.
and Mel, congratulations matey, i haven't been on so i didn't know.

Emily was 6 months old, feeding her every 3 hours during the day, none at night. So 5-6 feeds a day?
My boobs were extremely lumpy, how I didn't end up with mastitis is beyond me.

the lumps are a sign of impending mastitis i would say...suggestion.. see a different doctor (am not sure if you are able to at the moment thou) tell them that you are still b/f, a few little fibs, and ask for antibodics for the mastitis?
Stop b/f thou.. even thou it relieves the pressue, you are still stimulating the hormones etc.
If you have any issues getting the sage, let me know.. i will see what i can do for you as well.

double up of post

Hey T -
I am starting a 2-day course of Dostinex tomorrow to dry up my supply, because two months after weaning (and a month of only feeding once a day, if that) - I still have plenty of milk. Like, I could re-establish a supply in two days if bubs would suckle.

I saw my doctor and said that psychologically I couldn't deal with having milk anymore, it was making me miserable and feeling horrible about my choice to switch to formula for my psychological needs which we knew had been beneficial but it was something that kept in my mind, iykwim.

Anyway - dostinex - it's a milk suppresant, side effects can be pretty nasty, so make sure you ask around for info before getting a script if you decide to go that way.

*hugs*

I was also going to mention the sage. I have also heard that peppermint can help as well. Maybe a visit to a naturopath might help if you would like to use something a little more natural.

Best of luck with it and I hope you feel better soon.

When I weaned Liam, I went cold Turkey- admittedly I got VERY full and engorged, so I would express off enough to get comfortable. I found that within just a couple of days though the pressure started to ease,and I think within a week I was almost back to normal. I got lumps as well, I just made sure I would massage them in a hot shower to help make sure it was just them being full and not blocked.

Good luck Hun!

MummaB - I know this has been a hard road for you :hug:. But, be careful dropping feeds so fast. If you get mastitis again, you are going to have to increase your feeds anyway to try to clear the infection (taking a step backwards). If it were me, I would keep feeding a few times a day (maybe 4?) until I had cleared all the lumps - using heat packs, massage, feeding/expressing & cold packs. Then, once my supply had dropped a bit, I would concentrate on getting rid of those last few feeds (either one at a time, or with medication).

I have just started taking prescription medication tonight to dry up my milk. I am down to 2 feeds a day, but am scared to drop them without medication, because I too have suffered with mastitis (8 times). The medication does have some side effects (nausea, dizziness) - but I would rather put up with this for a week or two than get mastitis again & have to up my feeds to clear the infection.

I have tried sage & it made no difference to my supply.

Update - Day 2 of bromocriptine & feeling pretty awful (nauseous & light-headed) - not safe to drive.

Ta for the sage idea Debbie, managed to get sage tea. Drinking til the cows come home.

I've had to go back up to 2 feeds because i'm on the verge of mastitis, i just can't seem to get rid of the lumps without feeeding. Any ideas????????????? URGENT because i am in pain and i'm about a 10 G cup in this state which is ridiculous.

I spoke to my dr about the medication but she is loathe to prescribe it because a side effect is depression and i already have pnd so not really an option.

try ibuprofen - you can get it at the supermarkets as heron .. it should help with the physical pain, as well as help to dry you up. try peppermint tea as well... although, i have read that you have to drink literally litres for it to have any effect, but, you may get some tablet form. I dont know if peppermint style lollies would have any effect, but, would be something different from drinking. Can you get antibodics from your gp for any impending mastitis? that will help abit as well.

I went cold turkey with both my girls and just expressed to take away the discomfort. I was very lumpy with DD2 and in pain (I thought it was mastitis but GP said no. She also said that lumps were very common in quick weaning, and so was the shooting pain I was experiencing). The best thing I found to help was to get under a hot shower and hand express there, trying to smooth "through" the lumps if that makes sense. The hot water relieves a bit of the pain and helps the milk to flow with minimum stimulation.

Take the boys in the shower with you so you can spend some time. Good luck. I hope you get some relief soon.

ETA: Please just be very careful with anything you take, whether over the counter or herbal. The last thing you need is nasty side effects with your medication

Can you try to just stick it out for a week at 2 feeds? My supply dropped heaps once I went to 2 feeds & my boobs significantly reduced in size. Once your supply settles at 2 feeds, then you can work on getting rid of those too. (If you can't get rid of the lumps, it might help to get ultrasound at the physio before you feed - I did that this week with one of my lumps & it cleared straight away with feeding).

Oh re. peppermint - I read somewhere (I think Kellymom) that you have to have tons of the lollies/tea for it to work.

You could also try cabbage leaves - constant use (changing every 20mins or so) is supposed to reduce supply & could help with discomfort.

:hug: MummaB, I hope the discomfort and everything else settles down for you soon. What a great job you've done to bf this long and through such trying times! :clap: You should be very proud of yourself. You might not feel that way now, but I hope soon you can look back and realise what an achievement it is.

Sounds like you got a "pro" breastfeeding counsellor when you called the ABA. Im sorry they were not helpful.
If you need to wean fast then you should just express enough for comfort. I can't tell you how longit would take but..


Good Luck.

I found the info on kellymom pretty helpful too Ezz.

The sage really has worked, i had about 10 cups of sage tea yesterday and already today i have a massive supply dropped, let downs have decreased and are quite weak.

I'm very relieved, theres nothing like the pain of having to wean when you know you could have done better and wanted to in your heart but just couldn't, and to still have the milk as a reminder.

Ta for the advice.

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I'm very relieved, theres nothing like the pain of having to wean when you know you could have done better and wanted to in your heart but just couldn't, and to still have the milk as a reminder.

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:hug: I know how you feel sweetie.

:hug: hun. FWIW I think you have done an awesome job. I am sure in time you will see how much you have given your boys. I have a huge amount of admiration for you hun. :hug:

You have done a wonderful wonderful job to get this far. You have battled thru alot physically and mentally to continue your breastfeeding journey.
You have given your 2 boys a wonderful healthy start to life - but now, its time to build on your own health and put that first.
Most of us understand how heart wrenching that decision is to quit b/feeding. I remember very strongly the feelings of guilt and mental pain as i heated Aidens formula bottles, and feeling like i was failing him, and failing in myself as a mother in not being able to provide what was best for him.
But, on the opposite side of coin.. if i continued to b/feed Aiden, then it was preventing me from forming a bond with him, as i resented him for 'causing the pain' that i was experiencing thru sore nipples and mastitis. For me, breastfeeding was not the beautiful bonding experience i hoped it to be. So, in the long run.. i did make the right decision.. it was just difficult to realise that at the time. And hey.. you know him.. he's a perfectly healthy and happy little man.. i dont regrett my decision now.. but i do hope to do better next time.

Even thou it hurts to waste that milk, and turn your boys away when they need you.. you take this opportunity to let your body provide for you, and get you healthy again .. and in turn you will start to become who you want to be, and form those bonds that you want.

I am glad the sage and other methods are starting to work for you..

Hugs..

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I'm very relieved, theres nothing like the pain of having to wean when you know you could have done better and wanted to in your heart but just couldn't, and to still have the milk as a reminder.

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Oh I hear ya hon...i still have milk and my heart rips out everytime I feel a little let down or see a droplet on my nipple :(

You have done such an inspiring and wonderful job honey. I take my hat off to you for having the strength and determination to get to this point.

There needs to be more positive breast feeding role models in this world...and in my eye's you'd have to be one of them :clap: