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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.
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Wear
a snug fitting bra.
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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.
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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.
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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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