Drying Up Breastmilk

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While breastfeeding is actively promoted in almost all Canadian communities, a postpartum woman may need or want to prevent further lactation or dry up her milk at any stage from immediately after birth to months later for weaning the baby. Reasons are personal and varied, including still-born, surrogacy, medical conditions requiring treatment contraindicated with breastfeeding, past abuse, work schedule and lifestyle choices. It’s often a difficult decision. Parents need acceptance and supported in their choices. To that end, here’s information to help a woman cease lactation in the safest and least painful way.

Planning to not breastfeed? Colostrum is the first milk, produced in the first 3 postpartum days. Some women chose to breastfeed or pump the colostrum to feed to the baby in those early days, often when they’re still in hospital or newly home. Mature breastmilk “comes in” about 3 days postpartum. Be clear with your birth team about your plans to not breastfeed at all or to feed the colostrum and then cease breastfeeding. That will help them support you better. If you are planning to not breastfeed at all or to feed only through pumping, then ensure that’s on your birth plan. Most hospitals will provide a pump and/or formula through the duration of your stay.

Plan to use these techniques right from the first hours if planning to not breastfeed at all. If mature milk has already come in, then it usually takes 3-5 days for lactation to cease.

Discomfort

Whether the baby will receive colostrum or not, breastmilk will come in for almost anyone who gives birth from about 16 weeks gestation on. If the breasts aren’t being emptied, that can be a painful process. Pain passes within a few days and can be controlled with medication.  Medical staff can arrange pain meds, and pharmacists can offer guidance.

For weaning, especially older babies, pain is usually not an issue – perhaps some discomfort will be felt at regular feeding times.

Engorgement (breasts feel hot, heavy, full, sore):

  • Cold green cabbage leaves worn in the bra can provide relief. Change them when they’re warm.
  • A bit of pumping or hand expressing can relieve the worst of it but do as little as possible as these methods are also used to increase supply.
  • Cold water or ice packs. Ice packs should never be applied directly to skin; use a cloth around the ice-pack or a magic-bag.

Breast wrapping is no longer recommended due to risk of infection, mastitis. A snug sports bra (or two) is an acceptable method of supporting breasts until lactation ceases.

Donating breastmilk is an option in some communities, either through official milk-bank channels or through site such as Human Milk for Human Babies. Some people find donating their breastmilk after a loss or complication helps them heal, while others find it too painful a reminder.

Suppress Lactation

Please note these substances are NOT safe during pregnancy, and are to be used only after baby is born and/or weaned.

  • No More Milk Tea by Earth Mama Angel Baby (sage is the main ingredient).
  • Sage (Salvia Officinalis) tea or tincture is stronger than tea, but tastes icky.
  • Other herbs can help but don’t work on their own e.g. mint. Sage is the most effective by far.
  • Ask a pharmacist about drugs that suppress lactation. You can ask midwife or doctor for a prescription if it’s not an OTC drug, but pharmacists know much more about drugs and side-effects. Reduced lactation is only a side-effect to certain drugs, not the main purpose, e.g. some antihistamines decrease milk; estrogen heavy birth control pills decrease lactation.
  • Pure high quality peppermint essential oil applied topically to breasts in a carrier oil may decrease milk and offers some pain relief.

Choice

Nurses in most Canadian postpartum units are required to teach new parents the benefits of breastfeeding. If a new mother has a healthy baby and healthy body, then chooses not to breastfeed, then the staff will likely encourage her to “at least try.” Be prepared for this. If you are educated about your options and have made your decision, then let them know. They can also offer you help and information about formula. Consider talking with health care providers prenatally if planning to not breastfeed.

Someone might not breastfeed due to lack of education or support while others are highly informed and still chose to not breastfeed. Babies need to eat and if mother or donor breastmilk isn’t an option, then formula is available. This isn’t a decision to make lightly. Do not operate under the myth that formula is “almost as healthy as breastmilk.” If formula is needed then do some research into ingredients and quality of various brands or consult with a naturopathic doctor or holistic nutritionist.  Most importantly, remember that we all do the best we can with the information we have and the circumstances presented at the time.

Also see my Formula Feeding article.