How to stop your breasts from producing milk
Emptying your breasts frequently and completely increases milk production.Doing the opposite decreases milk production.
As you work through the instructions below, milk removal can be done by your baby, a pump, or you can hand express for comfort into a collection device (like a Haakaa).
If you have been removing a lot of milk regularly, you can reverse this by very gradually by removing a bit less milk less and less frequently. As your supply backs off, you will feel less and less fullness in your breasts, so that you're comfortable removing even less milk, less often. Eventually, you can stop all together.
For some, this regimen may take a week or more to get to the point where you stop removing milk. For others who aren't making much milk, it may take just a day or two.
To help your breasts dry up faster, eat mints - like Altoids, Mint Chip Ice Cream, Peppermint candy, Peppermint tea, etc. Over-the-counter allergy medications, like Loratidine (Claritin) may help you dry up faster. Decongestants, like Pseudophed, will definately do the trick. Beware of medication side effects.
Wear a firm fitting bra and apply ice to your breasts.
Watch for symptoms of plugged ducts and mastitis , as described in the link.
Medications to help stop your milk supply
Altoids. Take 5 tabs per day.Peppermint tea 1 cup three times per day.
Pseudophed 30mg every 12 hours.
Birth control with estrogen - requires a prescription.
Cabergoline - requires a prescription.
Are you feeling depressed or anxious?
As you adjust to a new way of feeding your baby, be aware of symptoms of depression and/or anxiety when you stop producing milk. These feelings may be related to significant hormonal changes as oxytocin and prolactin drop, and estrogen and progesterone levels increase. Give it a week or so, but seek help if these feelings persist or get worse with time.Written by Kay Anderson, MD, IBCLC 7/24