Best ways to dry up milk- Sans Cabbage please!

froggystomper · August 2013

So, time has come to dry up my minimal milk supply. My choice to BF turned into EPing and is preventing me from taking meds I need to be taking. So I turn to you lovely ladies. What helped you the most? I'm icing pretty often, taking Ibprofen, and thinking dry thoughts. I wanna speed this up it's a pretty uncomfortable (read OUCH!) Any suggestions or advice or anything would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. Pretty please no flames. I made it 6 months against doctors orders not to avoid my meds that long and put myself at serious risk. I don't need anyone's guilt.

BBS! · August 2013

I was an EP too. I just kept decreasing a pumping session a day. I went to just morning and evening then cut out the evening session. After a few days of that I stopped. However, I got so engorged I had to pump one more time after my 3 day break and got like 10 ounces! It's been two weeks and I'm completely comfortable and dry. I was proud to make it to 5.5 months pumping and you should be too!

BBS! · August 2013

Also, If you need to take meds you can always pump minimally to gradually stop and not give the lo the milk (I know what a waste). Ill also say I decreased my minutes at the pump too from 15, to 10 then to 8. So between decreasing the minutes and the sessions it was a painless transition.

froggystomper · August 2013

I cut down the sessions for a couple weeks cuz my supply tanked. I was down to 2 or 3 a day before this so I'm pretty glad to here it went so well for you after decreasing sessions! Thank you for the hope this won't suck too much!

penguingrrl · August 2013

Making it to 6 months EPing is amazing!! I did that with my first when BFing didn't work out and I'm always amazed by people who do it. It sucked!

Try sudafed. I know it's recommended to avoid that while nursing due to its drying properties, so that might help a bit. Also gradually wean instead of abruptly stopping. Good luck!

kleigh926 · August 2013

I agree with all the PP's. When I had oversupply issues, my LC recommended Altoids mints (for the peppermint) and Sudafed to help decrease supply.
I could never have EP'd for 6 months. Ladies who EP have my utmost respect and awe. Congrats on 6 months and you have no reason to feel bad for anything!

kelly321 · August 2013

My MW said sage tea is one of the few things that has been scientifically proven to dry up milk production, so when I was attempting BFing and ended up EPing, she told me to avoid it, and when I stopped she told me to drink it. My supply was so crappy I didn't need to with either girl. Sigh. Hope your discomfort ends soon!

wholenewworld · August 2013

I started drying up about 10 days ago from EP. When I was down to 2 pumps/day, I stopped cold turkey. The third day was the most uncomfortable. I just tried to avoid putting pressure or laying on them. Today is the first day that I think I'm completely dry, but I stopped feeling uncomfortable around day 5. Like you, I stopped pumping in order to take a medication. It was soooo hard for me to give it up, but I feel very relieved now that its over. it was the right decision for me. Congrats on making it 6 months!!

marshmallows · August 2013

What Kelly said. Sage tea is what finally worked for me this time around.

snok83 · August 2013

Just quit EP several weeks ago. First thing I did was gradually reduced # of sessions every couple days and length I pumped. I got down to 3 pumps a day and then became enforcement. I used cabbage leaves, ice packs, ate pepperment altoids throughout the day. I then switched to hand pump and only expressed enough to be comfortable so like a 1/2 to 1 oz and tried to go as long as I could make it each day before pumping. First 3 days of engorgement sucked but eventually I got to the point where I wasn't uncomfortable between pumps so I then just quit

ally2011 · August 2013

I think tight sports bras are supposed to help too. Congrats on making it this long! Now, go take care of you...babies need healthy mommies

emd886 · August 2013

I dont have any advice for drying up. I just wanted to say I doubt you'll get any guilt trip here! You've done great momma!

MBush4 · August 2013

I'm still EPing but what I plan on doing is just pumping until the engorgement is relieved. I'm already at 3ppd but plan on EPing until 9m, probably a year; we'll see how it goes. Good luck though!!

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Best ways to dry up milk- Sans Cabbage please!

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