Ways to Wean-Dry Milk? by Jenny Lee (with a follow up by Heather L.)

In honor of Heather, I decided to write on the topic of how one can dry up their milk supply in hopes it can help her as well as others.  Below is a list of things you can and shouldn't do if you are trying to wean or  dry up your milk:

1.  Don't eat oatmeal.

2. Do not bind your breasts to help your milk "dry up."

3. If your breasts feel full and uncomfortable, then express just enough milk to relieve the fullness. Don't pump or extract most of the milk.

4. Take pseudoephedrine--120 mg/day, a decongestant. research shows that it can decrease milk supply by as much as 24%. (found in Sudafed, Actifed)

5. Take 1/4 teaspoon of sage 3x per day for 1-3 days. You can mix the sage in vegetable juice (for example, V-8), but it won't mix well into other juices.

6. Another effective treatment is to apply fresh, crushed jasmine flowers (Jasminum sambac) to the breasts to decrease milk flow. A study has shown this to be effective

7. Other herbs that can decrease milk supply: Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Spearmint, Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Chickweed, Black Walnut, stinging nettles (not nettle - that increases milk supply), Yarrow, Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Lemon Balm, Oregano, Periwinkle Herb (Vinca minor), Sorrel (Rumex acetosa).

* Sage, peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, oregano, and cabbage leaves can all be incorporated into a pressed oil (cold pressed or hot) to make massage oils for milk suppression.

-As always, consult your doctor before taking any medication, OTC or herbal!

Heather, You and your family continue to be in my prayers.

With Love, Jenny Lee
__________________________
Dear Jenny, Thank you so much for this post.  The info you included above was something I never thought I would need to know.  When my husband went to our local health food store to get Sage and Parsley to help dry up my milk the lady was baffled at why his wife would want to dry up her milk.  She of course teared up when he explained and probably felt bad for saying anything.  I am sure that others will find this info helpful.  I am happy to report that I am doing SO much better than I would have expected in the area of engorgement.  I had one day of really painful engorgement.  Since then I still can feel that there is a lot of milk and they are very full but the tenderness was only present if i was touched on the second day and today (the third day since my milk came in) I am not even tender.  A BIG answer to prayer in my book!!!  For those of you who are interested here is what I did and didn't do:
-Starting on the day Sawyer was born I started taking the herbal supplements Parsley and Sage (the daily recommended dosage 6X a day).  The Parsley was in capsule form but the Sage was in liquid form (and tastes HORRIBLE in my opinion no matter what it is mixed with but Jenny is right something like V8 works best).
-The day my milk came in (I should have done it sooner probably but I forgot to get it from the store) I wore cabbage leaves in my bra all day and during the first night.  I could have/should have perhaps done it again on the second day but I went to MOPS that day and didn't want to wear it in my bra while "out and about" just in case it would be poking out of my bra accidentally;).
-I took bendryl (the recommended dose) before bed on the second and third night as I had heard this helps.  This can make you sleepy so be careful not to do this when you are going to be driving as I discovered (I took just one pill instead of two during the day and was pretty sleepy).
-I am still taking Parsley capsules but gave up on the Sage just because it tastes so bad.
I am convinced that God answered all our prayers and that is why I am feeling so much better in this area.  I think the things I did above were also very helpful and I am so thankful for all the healing herbs that God created for us to use in so many ways!

Thank you Jenny for your post and prayers!  I will follow up with a post on how things are going in the near future,  I decided to take a little blog break tonight:).

Comments

[Micky (Heather D's cousin)]

Heather,
I have been keeping updated with all that is going on for you with your beautiful blogs. My heart is aching for you and with your words and pictures I feel like I have seen a small glimpse of what you are feeling. The LORD is so good to take care of us and hold us through these trials and I am so glad that He has done just that for you. He had a special plan for Sawyer even though his life was so short. What an amazing testimony.

Ps 139:13-18

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother's womb .
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous — and how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!
They are innumerable!
18 I can't even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up in the morning,
you are still with me!
NLT

Blessings to you and your family,
Micky

[Shelly]

Still praying for you and your family. You and your angel, Sawyer, truly are a source of strength for others who have gone through a loss similar to yours and you are also helping others realize the blessings they already have in their daily lives.

[Shannon]

Heather,

We continue to pray for solace and peace for all of you. I am thankful that your milk is not giving you too much trouble. I pray that God washes all of you in His word, and that each day becomes more bearable and functional. I pray that Sawyer's memory will be healing and peaceful for you.

Shannon

[Cynthia]

I continue to pray for you and your family for peace and understanding to why this happened.

I was also told by a nurse that if you put cabbage on your breasts it will dry your milk up almost immediately.

[christy]

I was laying in bed the other night praying for you; well scratch that I was more crying out to God for wisdom on what to pray. I had no words. I simply went to him on your behalf and cried out to him. Then I remembered you asking for prayer about your milk drying up and I focused in on your request. I don't understand this process to much being that I have never given birth but I do hope it is quick and you are not in to much disomfort. I continue to pray for you and think of you and your family as God places you on my heart daily.

[Claudia]

Hello,
Your path of life reminds me of a friend from work who lost her child just this past May 15. Her baby girl died on her due date. She also has two other girls. I cannot imagine the pain you and her are feeling. I keep thinking of her as I dress my one-year-old baby girl. I actualy stopped complaining that I am so tired, sleep deprived, etc. I am cherrishing every moment with my child because I know God is the one who knows when I will go or they will leave me. I pray that I go way before they do. I pray that I have a long, long, long life so I can capture every moment of happines and joy they live and also stand by them when they are weak. I will pray for you. May God bless you on your jorney. Look at the blessings God gave you. What a beautiful family you have. I am sure that your children keep you from drowning. God is in the water with you. Have faith. Jesus loves you and so does your baby boy in heaven.
God bless you!
Sincerely
Claudia