Drying up breast milk

Breast Milk and Breastfeeding

Breast milk is considered to be thebest possible food an infant can get. However, there is only acertain period when a baby will be breastfed. After it, the baby willstart eating normally and drink milk from a bottle or an alternativesource. Therefore, breastfeeding usually lasts for a year after yourbaby will have to be directed to other sources of nutrition. Yet,since our bodies are all quite a mystery, working their own coursesno matter what we do, some women continue to lactate even after theend of their breastfeeding period. This can be quite uncomfortablefor the mothers, being a painful and unpleasant process. Therefore,once you do not need to produce any more milk, you are supposed tostop producing it. Luckily, there are several methods which can helpyou achieve this successfully.

Tips for Stopping Breastfeeding

The first things you need to do, oncethe moment of your baby's diet changes is near, is to reduce thebaby's intake of breast milk. You can do this by adding bottled milkas an alternative to your baby's nutrition, giving your baby less ofyour own milk. This way, your body will interpret the gradualreduction as a sign for an eventual cessation of the milk productionprocess, while your baby will not feel a difference in nutrition andwill continue taking the alternative easily.

Next, applying cool cabbage leaves onyour breasts may reduce your milk production. You are to place theleaves on your breasts, inside the bra and leave it for a while,changing the leaves afterwards.

Often, women feel pain and discomfort if they do not get rid of the milk in their breasts. However,ejecting milk forcefully on a daily basis will keep your bodyproducing it for a longer period of time. Alternatively, if pain isyou main trouble, you might take some over-the-counter painkillers.Just make sure you consult with your doctor beforehand since many ofthese may have dangerous side-effects.

Drinking sage tea about 3 times a daymay reduce your milk production. Increased water consumption may helphere as well. Finally, you are not supposed to have your nipplesstimulated in any way during this period, since this will result inlactating. Therefore, be careful.

All in all, it is possible to stop yourmilk production, you just need to follow the above mentioned tips.Sometimes, you will want to get rid of the excessive milk in yourbreasts and feed your child with it. However, do not do this, sincethe more milk you spend, the more your body will produce.