Drying up Breastmilk

quiltncatch · Mar 26, 2006

There isn't anything that our hospitals use. Just leave them alone, don't stand in the hot shower facing forward, wear a supportive bra. But, you may want to ask the question of the Midwifery Today forums, you can probably find info just by searching that site. I know there are complimentary therapies (herbs, etc.) that the midwives are very knowledgable about.

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/forums

Jolie, BSN · Mar 26, 2006

I haven 't seen any medications used for the last 15 years or so, just the measures quiltncatch mentioned.

The OB who delivered my youngest was raised and educated in South America, and he recommended the use of cabbage leaves applied to the breast to relieve mastitis, and promote drying up of milk when I weaned my then 13 month old baby. Worked like a charm. I know he recommended a tea conconction as well, but I never tried it. I assumed those were cultural things he learned in his home land.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 26, 2006

I've heard the cabbage leaf trick from several sources, I don't think it's just a cultural thing.

When I was in nursing school they still prescribed Parlodel to dry up the milk but that was stopped a few years later as it was linked to strokes (I think, something really bad anyway). I'm not sure it was a labeled use anyway as I couldn't find it as an indication when I was trying to do a drug card as a student. I was in trouble for it then and felt kind of vindicated a few years later when all the bad reports came out.

allnurses Guide · Mar 27, 2006

We don't use anything.

steph

Justhere, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2006

Thanks everyone,

Our hospital has them wear a support bra, but if their milk comes in and they are engorged they then wrap them with an ace bandage which is painful. I have tried to get them to let us pump them dry first then wrap them, this is what I did when I stopped breastfeeding at 12 months and it worked, after 24 hours I had no milk. But they won't let us.

We have had two bad cases in the last year of Mastitis where the girls had to stay almost a month, having their breast lanced every day and drained of the puss.

I just was trying to see what others do. I know one of my friends when she woke up from her c-section they already had her wrapped, (it was a military base hospital) she said she started screaming because she thought they had cut her breast off, when the nurse came in she told her no it was just to keep her milk from coming in.

One of our doctors also believes in the cabbage leaves but he says it has to be purple not the green.

tinyscrafts · Mar 27, 2006

sage tea

Kiwi Ali · Mar 27, 2006

The outside green cabbage leaves, fresh from the fridge. Does work :-) And not pumping, or expressing any - what you use, you will remake!

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Mar 27, 2006

sage tea

Also Peppermint tea.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2006

What a great question. I've wondered this too. Me...I nursed all my kids, so I have not clue. Cabbage leaves are great for engorgement, but I used them to help the pain (like a cool compress) and I thought they helped with milk production or is it just a comfort thing?

Kiwi Ali · Mar 27, 2006

Gotta love 'google' lol ... Cabbage Compresses

Published studies and anecdotal reports recommend using the leaves from the common cabbage, as a compress to reduce swelling and milk production. References to cabbage for drying milk date back to the late 1800ís. The natural ingredients in cabbage decrease tissue congestion by improving the blood flow in the area. Herbalists believe that cabbage has both antibiotic and anti irritant properties.

Cabbage is not recommended for individuals allergic to sulfa or cabbage, or if the skin is broken (i.e., cracked, bleeding or blistered nipples).

http://hometown.aol.com/davisrnclc/myhomepage/dryup.htm ... http://hometown.aol.com/davisrnclc/myhomepage/cabbagecure.htm

CEG · Mar 27, 2006

I didn't realize they still did anything to dry up breastmilk. I know a lady who had her babies in the early eighties. She was breastfeeding and that was very rare, at least where she delivered. Every morning the nurse brought her some pills to take. She finally asked what they were and was told one of them was to dry up her milk :uhoh3: She stopped taking that one.

I didn't know all that about the cabbage leaves. I used them for discomfort when I was BF. I was not trying to dry up milk AND I am allergic to sulfa :smackingf