I just weaned my 1 year old daughter. There is still milk, what do I do - will it go away on its own?

Question

Any advice would be helpful. All of the books only focus on her needs - i.e. how to get her to take a cup. How to slowly replace breast with cup. But I can't find any info on what I am supposed to do now that I've got all this milk and nowhere to put it. Thanks!

Answer 1

Go slowly. dropping one feeding at a time, and then making that one shorter and shorter. You can wear cabbage leaves inside your bra if you get engorged while your weaning. (Sounds weird and gross, but it works.)

Eventually, the milk will mostly dry up. Although even a year after I'd quit nursing my last one, I'd still leak every once in a while. Usually when I heard a baby cry or, embarrassingly, during sex.

Answer 2

Leave it alone. If you don't keep "checking" if you still have milk, it will stop leaking within a couple of weeks. You may continue producing small amounts of milk for several months (up to a year), but it will go away on its own.

Do *not* take any drugs to dry up your milk. Every previous drug used for this purpose has been taken off the market because women *died* from taking it. You don't want to be the statistic that proves that the latest one is just as unsafe!!

Some thing that may help include:

Eat a lot of mint. All mints help dry up your milk supply, but it really takes a *lot*. Sage will help, as well.

Put raw green cabbage leaves on your breasts. You can use them straight from the fridge or at room temperature (whichever feels better to you). When the leaves are wilted, replace them. You can wear them 24 hours a day (if you want), but it's probably not a good idea to wear them in public; you will smell like cooked cabbage!

Ice packs may help, too. Some women use a bag of frozen vegetables because it's easiest to shape to the breast.

If you are in actual pain, pump--just a *bit*. Pumping will make drying up take longer, but if it really hurts, you are in danger of getting a breast infection or even an abscess, which is a serious health problem and could require surgery. Not something to mess with!! You should find that you can pump less from week to week (don't expect anything to change in a day or two--you may even need to pump a bit more one day than the previous). If not, you are pumping too much.

Answer 3

It'll probably be painful,but it will "dry up" on it's own.Your breasts will get engorged and hurt but not for too long. When I quit feeding I couldnt stand the pain,it was horrible,my ob said I could stand in the shower when I really needed relief,the warm water pouring down on your chest and lightly squeezing your breasts will help some milk come out.Even taking some milk out once in a while, it will still eventually dry up because its not the same as you feeding regularly,your body will slow down the production on its own...just dont go pumping or feeding her,it will just drag out the process therefore causing you to be in agony longer than needed.

Answer 4

It is going to hurt like you know what for a few days or maybe a week or two. You can use cabbage leave that have been washed and dried and applied directly to the breast. This is supposed to help with the engorgment. But more than anything I would get some ace bandages and wrap your breasts very tightly so they don't move!!! Then take some advil or tylonol ot ibprofin to help with the pain. Whatever you do do not express any no matter how much you want to. I found that taking a fat burner pill (a diet pill) helped to dry me up quickly...hope it dries up quickly!

Answer 5

The milk will go away on its own. Hopefully you were down to 1-2 feedings per day. I recall I was a little swollen for a few days, but it went away. If you're really uncomfortable, you can pump out a little bit, but don't do a lot as that will just encourage milk production. You could also check out the La Leche website and see if they have any advice.

Answer 6

Ok first you will need to bind your breast as tight as possible. They will hurt like Hell for about a week and they will feel like you are caring around 10 lbs on each side. But they will slowwly go away and you will feel normal in about 2 weeks give or take. Also you can ask your doctor to give you a med that will help dry up the milk but they will still hurt. Sorry it's the curse and blessing of motherhood.

Answer 7

My wife and I did breastmilk by bottle for 3 children. It will dry on its own eventually. Though you may have a very small amount of milk even a year later! I've read that a cold cabbage leaf compress can speed up the process, especially if they are painfully sore (from what to expect when you're expecting).

Answer 8

Please do NOT bind your breasts. This could lead to painful infection. It's ok to manually express very small amounts of milk to relieve engorgement, just don't pump. Sometimes a warm shower can also help.

You could try taking an antihistamine. Breastfeeding mothers are often warned to avoid antihistamines because they can cause a drop in milk supply (they dry up fluids).

It's normal to continue to have small amounts (drops) of milk for years after weaning.

Answer 9

don't pump the milk it wud induce the milk production! Yeah it;ll surely dry up on its own. It;ll take a while though. Breasts swell up for a couple of days. If u want u cud take medication for the drying up of milk.
With me I left it on its own to dry up. It was a little difficult a couple of days...but it actually took months to dry up completely! If its really bad i wud still suggest u to take the medication.

Answer 10

My doc told me that I all could do to get my milk to dry up was wrap my breasts in an ace bandage and try not to stimulate them into producing milk. It hurt so bad, I had to slowly stop over a month. It was too painful to stop cold turkey.

Answer 11

It will dry up. It usually takes about a week. Don't pump or try to express any milk or it will just prolong drying up. It will be uncomfortable for the first couple of days, but it will get better.