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Mommy tips – Relieving engorgement and drying up breast milk

If you are having a baby and not planning to breastfeed, you may be interested in hearing the quickest ways to dry up your breast milk. Your milk will dry up on its own within a week or so if you do not nurse. You may, however, experience engorgement after your milk comes in. There are some things you can do to help relieve the discomfort of being engorged. If you have not made up your mind about breastfeeding, you may want to pump your breast milk until you decide. If you are sure that you do not want to breastfeed or if you cannot breastfeed, here are our best tips for drying up.

Tips for Relieving Engorgement

• Wear a snug fitting bra.
• Place refrigerated cabbage leaves inside your bra for a couple of hours or till they wilt. Cabbage leaves have been used for years to help relieve engorgement. We do not know exactly why cabbage leaves help with engorgement but some researchers believe that there are substances in the cabbage that help to reduce swelling and inflammation. Break up the cabbage leaves so that there are no hard veins in them. Arrange them in your bra so they are comfortable and there are no hard spots pressing against your breast. Do not use cabbage leaves if you are allergic to cabbage or sulfa.
• Use ice packs or frozen vegetables for compresses. Use cold compresses for twenty minutes a few times a day. Do not put ice or frozen veggies directly on your skin. Use a towel between the ice and skin. You may have used heat before to relieve discomfort; this is not advised for engorgement. Warm compresses may encourage your milk to let down and increase milk production.
• Use an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprophen, as needed.
• Do not pump. Pumping will signal your body to make more milk. Your body works on supply and demand. If you empty your breast, your body will think that it needs to make milk. When your breast becomes full it signals your body to make less milk. If you are very engorged, hand expressing milk is okay, but just empty enough to relieve discomfort. There is no point in being miserable while you are drying out.
• Drink a few cups of sage tea daily. Sage has properties in it that inhibit milk production.
• Do not restrict water intake. Some moms try to dry out milk by drinking less. Restricting your fluids will not reduce your engorgement and may lead to dehydration.

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