How to dry up breast milk supply, according to lactation experts and paediatricians
Breastfeeding is a journey, and all journeys come to an end. As you prepare to wean your baby, you’ll likely want to know how to dry up breast milk to maximise your comfort — and your baby’s. From a realistic timeline to what side effects to expect, this stage of breastfeeding is just as important as the rest.
Women’s Health consulted a lactation consultant and a paediatrician — Andrea Syms-Brown IBCLC/RLC/CIMI, Board Advisor at Bodily, and Jenelle Ferry, board-certified neonatologist and director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix Medical Group — to give their expert advice on how to dry up breast milk quickly and effectively.
When to stop breastfeeding
‘Weaning is a deeply personal choice,’ says Syms-Brown. ‘Ideally, mothers and their babies get to decide when this should happen.’ The NHS recommends breastfeeding immediately after birth for a minimum of six months to provide the necessary nutrition and fight infections.
Stopping breastfeeding depends on personal, medical and practical factors, and there’s no fixed time to do it. ‘In some circumstances weaning must happen due to medical reasons such as a serious maternal, physical or mental illness which requires treatment,’ Syms-Brown adds. There may also be medical reasons for your baby to stop breastfeeding, like digestive issues or tongue tie.
Methods to dry up breast milk
Methods for stopping breastfeeding and drying up breast milk can be divided into two main approaches: lifestyle adjustments and medical options.
Lifestyle adjustments
Lifestyle adjustments involve changes you can make at home to begin the weaning process and reduce the amount of milk your breasts produce. Consider the following:
Wean gradually: Gradually reducing feeding or pumping sessions signals the body to produce less milk. ‘Removing milk regularly stimulates the breast to continue producing milk, so as babies remove milk less frequently production gradually reduces,’ says Syms-Brown.
Avoid stimulation: Minimise nipple stimulation to avoid signalling milk production.
Introduce a bottle: Direct breastfeeding stimulates hormonal signals that encourage milk production, while bottle feeding avoids breast stimulation.
Wear a supportive bra: Wear a well-fitted, non-underwire bra to hold the breasts firmly but gently in place to minimise movement and stimulation.
Try herbal remedies: Sage tea, parsley, and peppermint oil may help reduce prolactin levels. ‘Drinking sage or peppermint tea one to three times daily will generally halt milk production within one to two weeks,’ says Syms-Brown.
Increase physical activity: Exercise leaves less energy for milk production, potentially reducing milk supply.
Massage sparingly: Use gentle massage to relieve discomfort, but use it sparingly to avoid stimulating milk production.
Limit pumping: If necessary for pain relief, pump only enough milk to relieve discomfort without fully emptying the breasts.
Safety warning: Only apply peppermint oil when you’re no longer breastfeeding, as it can be toxic to infants.
Medical options
Medical options for drying up breast milk include the following:
Cabergoline (Dostinex): An oral medication often prescribed to suppress lactation by reducing prolactin production.
Bromocriptine (Parlodel): Another oral medication option for lactation suppression that’s less commonly used due to its potential side effects.
Signs of milk drying up
If your milk supply drops, it may be accompanied by the following signs:
Changes in your baby’s behaviour: Your baby may act fussy after feedings or begin to show less interest in nursing as supply decreases.
Reduced feeding sessions: As supply dwindles, feeding sessions may be shorter and less frequent.
Hormonal changes: You may resume menstruation or become pregnant again when your milk supply decreases.
Breast changes: Breasts will return to their pre-lactation size and firmness. ‘When milk-producing tissue no longer synthesises milk, breasts feel lighter and softer,’ says Syms-Brown. ‘Additionally, breast size decreases noticeably.’
Reduced leakage: Breasts may no longer leak, or leakage may occur less if milk supply drops.
No letdown reflex: The tingling or sensation of fullness associated with letdown becomes less frequent or disappears altogether.
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How long does it take for milk to dry up?
‘The length of time it takes for milk to dry up will vary based on how much your baby is feeding and how much milk you are producing,’ says Ferry. Some people see a reduction in milk supply within days, while others may take weeks or months, depending on how long they’ve been lactating and their body’s response.
‘Halting milk production takes time and patience,’ adds Syms-Brown, and ‘the method of weaning defines the speed with which milk production halts.’ For instance, the more feedings you drop, the more quickly your breast milk will likely dry up.
However, Syms-Brown says introducing certain herbs or medications can expedite the process. For instance, three or more cups of sage or peppermint tea per day or one to three doses of pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) could halt milk production in as quickly as two to four days. This is supported by a 2003 Sudafed breastfeeding study that showed a single dose of pseudoephedrine reduced milk volume by 24%.
Can I stop breastfeeding suddenly?
‘This is not advised, as it may lead to the extreme discomfort of milk buildup and breast inflammation,’ says Syms-Brown. ‘Also, the sudden change in lactation hormones may result in extremely negative mood changes.’ Ferry notes that stopping breastfeeding quickly can potentially lead to mastitis, breast inflammation that’s usually caused by a bacterial infection or clogged duct.
Will my breast milk dry up naturally?
‘For many women, yes, breast milk starts to naturally dry up,’ says Ferry. ‘This often mirrors the timeframe when a baby starts to self wean.’ Self-weaning is often signified by a disinterest in breastfeeding and happens when children are over a year old or even older.
However, Ferry points out that the drying-up process may not happen quickly or without strategic weaning for those who make more milk than their baby consumes.
Plenty of other factors can affect how quickly milk dries up, too, Ferry adds. These can include:
Maternal diet and water intake
Maternal medical conditions, especially those affecting hormone production
Medications, especially those interfering with hormone pathways, like birth control
Subsequent pregnancies
Sleep and stress
The need to return to work
When to seek help
‘Because there are so many variables and potential complications around weaning, I always recommend seeking the support of an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) when any mother chooses to end breastfeeding,’ says Syms-Brown. Lactation consultants can help you manage discomfort, poor latch, engorgement, and even drying up your breast milk.
Other symptoms that require support include:
Sudden breast fullness
Breast pain
Hard spots in the breasts
Flu-like symptoms accompanied by breast discomfort
Mastitis
‘Seek help from a lactation consultant for other tips on weaning and how to vary pumping or feeding timings to [minimise] discomfort and [prevent] possible mastitis,’ Ferry says.
Conclusion
For some, drying up breast milk can be a simple process that happens naturally with your baby’s impulsion to start weaning. For others, it requires more time and strategic effort. Whether you wean gradually, introduce a bottle, avoid stimulation or increase physical activity, you now have the knowledge to dry up your breast milk effectively. For more weaning content, check out our guide on how to stop breastfeeding and our baby weaning essentials.
FAQs
How long do cabbage leaves take to dry up milk?
Cabbage leaves don’t dry up breast milk. Instead, they help with swelling and inflammation from engorgement, a condition where the breast becomes overly full with milk.
How long does it take for your milk to dry up if not breastfeeding?
After stopping breastfeeding or pumping, milk production typically decreases within a few days to a week. However, residual milk may remain for several weeks or months.
What can I put on my breast to wean a baby?
Chilled cabbage leaves, cold compresses like the MyHalos Breast Cooling Gel Pads and topical creams can help reduce discomfort associated with weaning. However, they don’t directly help wean your baby.
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