What I was told about drying up: (?)

bigbootyjudi · September 2012

I talked to an LC this morning and this is what I was told concerning drying up:

- That I was putting myself in a "dangerous" position, since I already have a clogged duct and "drying up" would cause more, but if I wanted to do it and didn't mind having more than one lump, then to go for it.

- That I couldn't stop pumping all of a sudden. I was told to drop one pump every 3-5 days. I currently pump 8 times a day...so it's going to take at least 24 days to get this done and over with? Kind of defeats the purpose of me stopping pumping...the point was to be able to spend more time with DS immediately, not in a month when he's two months old and I've spent the past two months hooked more to the pump than to him.

- To not wear a tight bra.

- Use cabbage leaves and ice to relieve pain.

This all contradicts all of the advice I've received on both August 2012 and 0-3. I've been told to stop pumping, only express enough to feel relief (and to do it by hand, or pump if I really really needed), wear a tight bra. Did I just get a shotty LC or were any of you ladies told/doing the same thing as she said to do? WWYD?

tokenhoser · September 2012

Your LC is correct.

I wouldn't take advice from the general boards about bf-ing specific issues over a trained professional.

perplexed59 · September 2012

Suddenly stopping when you already have a clogged duct may cause you problems. You may want to clear up the clogged duct before stopping or you may end up with an infection.

Wearing tight bra's or binding your breast can lead to more clogged ducts and certainly won't help the one you have now.

It just isn't a milk problem that may occur when you stop suddenly. Your homones are going to go through a huge change. If you can it is better to slowly stop.

Here are some resources from Kelly's Mom.

https://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/wean-how/weaning_mom/

https://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/considering-weaning/how_weaning_happens/

bellelamb · September 2012

I agree with pp, what your LC said makes more sense than what you heard on these boards. If you do it all at once it will hurt like crazy and may cause clogged ducts and mastitis.

tokenhoser · September 2012

bellelamb:
I agree with pp, what your LC said makes more sense than what you heard on these boards. If you do it all at once it will hurt like crazy and may cause clogged ducts and mastitis.

Or worst case scenario, an abscess.

You could speed up the dropped pumps a bit, but cold turkey and a tight bra is asking for trouble.

cecilyandgautam · September 2012

Whether you need to wait 3-5 days between each dropped session, I'm not so sure about but being gradual is the recipe for a smooth transition off the pump. If you just suddenly stop pumping, you could get mastitis, fever, etc plus it would be terribly uncomfortable. You can start by going longer between pumping sessions and pumping for shorter period of time. So right now, sounds like you pump every 3 hours, probably for 15-20 minutes each? I'd start off with trying to go 4 hours between sessions. If that goes well, then I'd just continue to gradually elongate time between sessions and adjust based on how comfortable it is. Good luck!

blondie42107 · September 2012

When I weaned from the pump when LO was 13 months and with my chronic clogged ducts, my LC also told me I could try Sudafed (have to ask the pharmacist for the real stuff behind the counter) as it typically reduces milk supply. Otherwise you need to follow the advice of the LC. I did the same thing and yes it takes time.

JaimeG183 · September 2012

I wouldn't just stop pumping. I am on antibiotics for mastitis right now and I wouldn't risk it. Mastitis is horrible and will take you away from your LO for 2 days at least.

Space your pumps out more (5 hours?) and you will slowly drop pumps.

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