Preventing milk from coming in

stephierd81

I am not interested in hearing all the benefits of breastfeeding.  I am aware of them already.  For medical reasons, I need to begin a medication after the baby is born that I can not breastfeed with.  I am a FTM, so not sure how all of this works.  I have tried googling and will also, of course, speak with by OB but I am looking for recommendations on helping keep milk from coming in... if this is even possible.  I see things on binding.  Thanks in advance.

eghulse

I'm not sure about keeping it from coming in, but my SIL had a lot of success drying up using tea tree oil.

cnbean

As far as I know you can't prevent it from coming it, but you can do things to dry it up quickly. When I stopped breastfeeding I started drinking the Earth Mama's No More Milk tea. I dried up in 3 days with virtually no pain. I would recommend trying something like that. I've heard that binding can cause mastitis so I would steer clear of that.

ThereBeDragons

You cannot prevent it. You can limit the amount of time you are dealing with it though. Wear something binding all day/night. Cabbage leaves will help reduce inflammation and engorgement. Benedryl can help dry you up a little faster, but does come with the sleepiness side effect. If engorgement is very painful Tylenol and very very limited manual expression can help ease the pain.

Basically it'll be about a week (maybe two depending entirely on your body's response) of discomfort. There's really no way to avoid it, but it is a very manageable level of discomfort.

pistolpackinmomma

Avoid letting the warm water touch your breasts while bathing, cabbage leaves, tight bras, if it gets too painful you can hand express just a little to relieve pressure. The more you express the longer it will take though. Good luck! Hopefully by not starting at all it will be easier to dry up. I think I took about a week but I had EBF for 6 weeks prior.

ThereBeDragons

Mine took about a week and a half with no breast feeding (my milk came in with my late loss last year) but I had crazy leaking and production for someone who had only been pregnant for 17 weeks- might just be my body likes to make milk.

kalette

There isn't a way to keep it from coming in anymore (years ago there used to be some sort of shot you could get). Just try to dry it up fast. Obviously don't express any, sudafed and benadryl can help. Cabbage leaves. Ice packs for pain if you have any.

jjtyler

No shame...I do not BF for similar reasons.  Last time it was about a week-ish.  The first day or so isn't much and then BAM!

--When you are in the shower, turn the water as cold as it can and aim it at the porn star cans (your boobs WILL be huge!)

--Ice packs.

--TIGHT fitting bra (and I wore a size smaller tank over it to keep it really snug)...wear it 24/7.

--I also minimally touched, moved, did anything to them during that time and just had the nursing pads in the bra for whatever leaked out.

It was not terrible from what I remember.  

nickinbrandon

I chose not to breastfeed with my first, I didn't do anything to prepare. I wore sports bras in the hospital and shortly after with disposable breast pads. I had some show on the pads but it really didn't last long and I don't recall ever being uncomfortable. With that being said I am going to try breast feeding this time, hopefully this isn't a sign that I just can't produce much

NorthernGal248

When my sister lost her baby (full term) she was told to NOT TOUCH THEM and wear a tight sports bra. Of course her doctor told this to her after she had taken a shower and rubbed lotion into them.

rainydayluck

I FF from day one and there is nothing to prevent milk from coming in. I couldn't let the warm shower hit my boobs for a while, tight bra, avoid touching them at all or stimulating the nipples (like even pulling on a sports bra). I didn't try the sudafed thing last time, I will this time nor did I try cabbage leaves, but not sure I want to try it.

Make sure you have breast pads stocked up. You still leak like crazy (assuming your milk comes in).

BellaBlues777

I will not be breastfeeding for the same reason, so thank you for asking!

GoodToBeGeib

Vitamin B6 helps dry up milk supply

Xath

This topic comes up frequently on the loss forum, so they added it to the FAQ on the blog.  

Milk.

Your breasts will start to produce milk if they have not done so already.  If you have been breastfeeding or pumping for a NICU baby, quitting cold turkey can be very painful.  It is recommended that you decrease your pumping time and increase the time between pumping sessions, until you gradually wean yourself.  Binding your breasts will help, try a tight sports bra and oddly enough, raw cabbage leaves in your bra will also help and replace those every few hours when they get wilty.  If your breasts leak, you can use nursing pads or if you do not have any available, cut a maxipad or liner in half and place that in your bra, and replace those when they become damp, leaving your breasts damp can lead to infection.  It might seem like a good idea to let the hot water in the shower run on your breasts, but that only will  increase milk production. Ice packs on your breasts will actually be more beneficial.  If your breasts develop small, painful masses, this could be a clogged milk duct.  This is the only time that a little warm compress is good-place a hot towel over the area for a few minutes, then massage the lump, then add a cold pack.  If the pain continues or worsens, or there is any redness, heat or swelling with or without fever, please consult your doctor.  The process of drying up your milk could take more than a few weeks, and when it does finally go away, you might find that you are more sad now than you thought you would be.  This is normal, it is one less confirmation that you had a child.  You might also be interested in donating your breast milk.  Many women find that by being able to help another child with something so precious can be very healing, others find it too painful to give milk away that is supposed to be for their own.  The choice is yours.  If you do decide to donate, ask your doctor, hospital or lactation consultant at your hospital for more information about donating in your area.

Also, (according to my OB) the glands which stimulate milk production are similar to those which stimulate mucous production, so many decongestants will also stifle milk production.  He recommended pseudoephedrine (the Sudafed you buy from behind the counter) as the best option. 

PrincessJess19

I wore pads in my bras when the colostrum started coming in and then TOTALLY avoided nipple stimulation. I even wore a super padded bikini top in the shower. My milk never fully came in and after about a week I was good to go.

LittleAngel09

I bottle fed my 1st and was advised by my midwife to drink lots of fizzy pop drinks. And it worked, all dried up within two days. If it does come in and you get engorged, do not express more than a tiny amount just to relieve the pain, as this'll trick your body into thinking more needs to be made. In the UK there is a tablet that can be given, which completely stops it from coming in. But they'll only give it under really exceptional circumstances like a stillbirth.