How long will I lactate if not nursing?

Question

I gave my baby to an adoptive family and now after birth I'm lactating. Quite frankly, it hurts and I want to know how long it'll last since I'm not nursing? My mom had told me there was a pill available to put a stop to it but apparently that's no longer available. I don't want to be miserable for months. How long will this keep going on?

Answer 1

Binding your breasts could cause plugged ducts and mastitis, so this is no longer recommended. Some things that can help dry up your milk:

1. I know it sounds wierd, but put cold cabbage leaves in your bra. I didn't make it up, I promise. It's an often-used technique for relieving engorgement and reducing milk supply.
2. Don't try to express any milk, unless you have to do so to relieve pain. Do it as little as possible.
3. Decongestants, like Sudafed, have been known to decrease supply.
4. You might talk to your doctor about going on birth control pills (not the mini-pill, which contains no estrogen). Estrogen will help dry up your milk.

Good luck. It will not last for months. Your milk will dry up very quickly, you just have to find ways of making yourself comfortable until it does. Ibuprofen helps, too. And if you start to get a painful lump, or redness, have your doctor check for mastitis or a clogged duct.

Answer 2

Sometimes you wont be able to after not nursing for a while. There is a natural supplement though that you can take that my lactation consultant told me about. I cant remember the name. Try visiting the La Leche League website for some ideas to help get your milk going again.

Answer 3

The milk will come in by day 5 after the birth and if not removed will start to gao a way 2-3 days after that, Most of the pain is gone at that point. You may leak for days or weaks, but it sould not hurt. Good luck.

Answer 4

If I am not mistaken they don't use that pill any longer because it will dry up your milk but it has been known to come back so they just recommend that you bind your breasts with an ace bandage and give it a couple of weeks. It hurts like crazy but theres not much you can do about it.

Answer 5

I took lactating class because I nursed, but i was taught to wrap your breast in cabage and it will dry you up when you decided to stop breast feeding. I did this and it worked well. Good Luck!

Answer 6

my milk completely dried up two weeks after i stopped breast feeding and i didn't wrap them in anything.