Trying to dry up my breastmilk?

& it 's not working. I haven't nursed since sat. night & now my breasts are SO full! I have done the cabbage thing, this is my third time doing it since last night.I am in pain & I can hardly stand to even hold the baby because it hurts just to have him lean up against me.I weaned him gradually so I'm not sure why it's so much worse than it was w/ my other child. Ideas on how to speed along the process? Reduce the pain?

Take a hot shower and express just a few drops of breast milk to relieve the pain. Use an ace bandage to wrap around your chest and even wear a sports bra over it. Make sure it's tight, the pressure against your chest will help make the milk stop coming. It works I did it after all 3 of my kids were done breastfeeding.

Talk to your caregiver about taking Sudafed. It might help to dry you up.

Try drinking sage tea or peppermint tea.

Ibuprofen and ice packs can help with your discomfort.

With my firstborn, I nursed until 7 months and I remember it was quite painful for about a week it seemed until all of my milk was gone. I did wean him gradually, cutting one feeding every two weeks and it was still painful!

With my second born, I am still nursing her at 11 months and plan to until she turns 1. But she is kinda naturally weaning herself and is down to 2 minimal feedings per day. I am curious about how the final stage will feel since I don't get "full" anymore.

Take Tylenol, a hot shower, etc. Do you still have a powerful letdown? Maybe just taking some of the tension off would help if you can get your milk to just let down naturally in the shower. I remember pumping one time during that final week just to take the edge off, not to empty myself out or anything and that helped with the discomfort as well. I have also heard that pressing your nipples flat against your breasts can help send the message to your body to stop producing as much (this is something they don't recommend doing when your milk comes in because of this, so maybe it would help?).

I asked my midwife about taking black cohosh to help with PMS while nursing and she said not to take it because it will dry up your milk. Maybe talk to your HCP about that as well?

Good luck!

It was kinda painful at first but worked for me. Get an ace bandage and bind yourself up nice and tight. Leave it on except to shower.
I didnt breastfeed my children, they couldnt attach correctly so I needed to dry up, this worked for me with both kids and only took a couple of days.
Good luck.

i never breastfed but after delivering i found that my breast were sore for about 4 days with the fourth day being the worst, then the pain slowly started to go away and my breast stopped filling up, they dont give you anything now to dry up, but for the pain i did take advil and i found that it did work, while they are drying up dont let anyout i mean to make the pain a little less dont pump any out this will just make them fill up again, i remember being so full that i couldnt put my arms all the way down or it hurt to lift them up this will go away as long as you dont nurse,

Express some out until it is comfortable. Or give your child a feed, no use being that uncomfortable. If you wait a few days between feeds supply will drop. Just have to wait until your full.

Try you pump it out with your hands. Your husband can help for it. You can ask him to suck milk atleast to prevent your breast full of milk. You can get rid of pain by this. Slowy reduction of sucking milk will make the breasts dry. When you play with your kid, don't think of feeding him. If you think of feeding him, milk will be produced.

Too much milk: Sage and other herbs for decreasing milk supply
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksuppl...

Lactation suppression
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/lacta...

I don't know how you can speed it up however DO NOT TAKE A HOT SHOWER this will make you produce more milk. I did not breatfeed, my baby is 8 days old and my milk came in at 4 days, I found that if I wash dishes with hot water or take hot showers the milk just starts coming so finally yesterday I stayed as cool as possible and took a cool shower and I have had much relief also the ice packs really helped with the pain from the engorgement, try to have someone help you with the baby, this is a very uncomfortable time, I know what you mean by having the baby lean against you. Hope you feel better soon. Stay away from the heat!!

your doctor can give you something to help you dry up. and for the hot breasts run a towel under cold water wring it out and apply it to your breasts, the cold will cool them down.