How to reduce milk flow?: I'm trying to... - Pregnancy and Par...

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How to reduce milk flow?

Louise87 profile image
10 Replies

I'm trying to stop breast feeding and my boobs have got really massive and sore is there any way 2 reduce this?

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Louise87 profile image
Louise87
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10 Replies

Hi,

The best way " in my opinion" to ease some of the pressure from your breasts would be to express the milk via a breast pump.

This way you or hubby could also still feed your Lil one with the goodness of breast milk.

xx

I have heard that cabbage leaves in your bra help!!! Odd I know but.......:-s

tnct profile image
tnct in reply to

needs to be savoy cabbage-it does help reduce swelling.

You may have mastitis. You should stop breastfeeding gradually, cutting one feed out a day and replacing with formula. Definitely express some milk as already recommended and cabbage leaves can help, but smell disgusting imo. Take paracetamol. If you have got mastitis you will get flu like symptoms and most likely will need some antibiotics from the doctor.

You may be ok and it will pass after a couple of days when your body has got the message your lo doesn't need it to produce milk.

Louise87 profile image
Louise87 in reply to

Thank u I think this may be a possibility as didn't sleep hardly at all last night due to pain n went a bit shakey n hot when went for a walk n just generally not feeling to good! Having to stop all at once coz lo very fussy on bottle n if given option will refuse bottle! but will try n express some n hopefully that will help still not sold on the cabbage :)

Shakey is another sign of mastitis. Look it up on google. Your milk has built up in your breast and wants to get out, apply heat (I used a hot flannel, but a hot shower does the trick too), gently massage your breast from your chest towards the nipple and express what you can. Take paracetamol and then two hours later ibuprofen to keep temperature down and ease the pain. Rest (easier said than done).

Try all this, but if it doesn't get better, get some antibiotics from your doctor. I had it twice, my baby was tongue tied but it wasn't spotted til she was 6 weeks old and she couldn't remove enough milk due to it, mastitis is horrible, I really feel for you, hope you feel better soon.

babycentre.co.uk/a251/mastitis

annabee profile image
annabee

If you really want to stop breastfeeding, there is also a prescription drug that will stop the milk flow entirely. My doctor offered it to me. It's more appealing to me to stop slowly, but if that isn't working well, maybe good to know there is a quicker option.

Louise87 profile image
Louise87

I would of loved to be able to stop slowly or even do both but she seems to b an all or nothing lady and wont do both fussy little monster :) ! Wish my doc had told me about this as I now have mastitis n am in serious pain n feeling very pourly taking antibiotics :(

kerry194 profile image
kerry194

To stop flowing at all i expressed til was like empty then bathed in epsom salts and good old wives tale is the green cabbage leave in your bra.. It does work! Xx

Demmarie profile image
Demmarie

They will eventually dry up. If it’s uncomfortable get a hand breast pump and express until you feel comfortable. Your boobs will be confused tho as the milk will be coming away thinking your Still breastfeeding your little one. But if it’s unbearable express and either give it to the baby or bin. But they do dry up eventually :) xx

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