How To Dry Up Breast Milk

Having breast milk is normal for any moms-to-be.  However, you will have to wean your baby from breastfeeding after some time.   After breastfeeding, it is a must that your milk supply or production of milk must come to an end.  It may be discomforting for many women though.  In this article, you will get tips on how to dry up breast milk.

Many women try so many things just to dry up their milk supply.  However, some of their strategies may become too painful to bear.  I hope this article can help you in a milestone in you and your baby’s life.

When your body is used to producing milk, stopping the production can be a difficult and uncomfortable task.  If you decide to wean, expect some unpleasant changes for a few weeks to several months.  You can take note of the following tips and tricks to lessen pain while drying up your milk supply:

• Weaning slowly will help you wean painlessly.  Slowly replace your nursing times with fun activities to help you wean gradually.  After some time, your body will produce less milk as your body can detect that there is less demand for milk.
• If you feel that your breasts are already filled or heavy with milk, you can pump just enough to relieve the pain.  Doing this will not only lessen the pain but will also slow down the milk production.
• You can apply cold compress to your breasts to decrease the swelling.  Some use cold cabbage leaves.  If you are one of those moms, do replace your leaves after every few hours.  Put the leaves inside your bra in a way that the leaves don’t make you feel uneasy.  I suggest breaking the leaves to get rid of the cabbage veins.  Use cold compress instead if you are allergic to cabbage or sulfa.
• Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can remove the soreness as well.  You may not know it but over-the-counter products work well on reducing breastfeeding weaning pain.
• Please don’t let your baby nurse just to take away the pain.  If you do this, your milk supply will go back to its normal state therefore bringing you back to where you started – faster milk production.
• Halting breastfeeding abruptly is painful.  Only do this if you have a valid reason.
• Binding your breast will only cause terrible pain.  This will not help you dry up your milk production so don’t do that.
• Do not use heating pads, hot compresses, or hot water on your engorged breasts as this will cause you more pain.
• Do not limit your water consumption.  This will cause dehydration but does not do anything to deplete your milk supply.
• Drinking two to three cups of sage tea can help too.
• Ask your doctor if you have any breastfeeding inquiries or breast problems.

It is true that drying up your breast milk is such a difficult task.  Expect pain and engorgement along the way.  Hang in there mommies and don’t be scared.  You will get through this process for sure.  For more information on how to dry up breast milk, you can go to http://howtoweanfrombreastfeeding.com/.