How to stop lactation

Everyone knows that breastfeeding is good for the baby and there is nothing better for him than mother's milk. But sooner or later the time comes when the child needs to be weaned. How and when to do this?

How long to breastfeed a baby

There are different opinions about breastfeeding. Experts in the field of child health unanimously insist that the baby should be fed mother's milk at least until the age of six months. The opinions of mothers themselves on this issue differ. Some believe that breastfeeding should be continued until the age of three, while others are confident that lactation can be stopped with the introduction of complementary foods.

As statistics say, most modern mothers in our country breastfeeding their babies up to one or one and a half years old. This is no coincidence. It is at this age of the child that many mothers leave maternity leave and return to an active social life.

In any case, only you can decide when to stop breastfeeding. No grandmothers, grandfathers, other relatives, much less acquaintances, should be an authority for you in this matter.

How to stop lactation

The most correct way to stop lactation is to gradually wean the baby from the breast and gradually reduce milk production. This entire process will take approximately three weeks. Sometimes it takes longer for the milk to completely burn out. These days, your breasts will no longer be tight with milk, but some amount will still remain.

Here are some tips on how to stop breastfeeding painlessly for mother and baby:

• Before weaning your baby from mother's milk, take care of introducing complementary foods. Your baby will need less milk if you give him formula.
• To naturally complete lactation, you need to gradually reduce feedings.
• Gradually increase the amount of infant formula, then the baby will need less breast milk. Over time, the baby will stop asking for the breast.
• During this time, express milk to reduce breast swelling and relieve pain. To avoid triggering the production of new milk, do not express your breasts completely.
• Wear underwear that supports your breasts well without squeezing them.
• To reduce swelling, apply cold compresses to your breasts for short periods of time.
• Try not to drink a lot of fluids during this time. Milk flows especially strongly after hot sweet tea. Therefore, give up this drink first.

Tablets that stop lactation

Many women know that increase the amount of milk possible with the help of special medications. But not everyone is aware that there are pills with the opposite effect. These products are sold in pharmacies, but they should only be used with the permission of a doctor.

These medications, which reduce milk production, act on the brain, causing the pituitary gland to work more slowly. You need to take such drugs from 1 to 14 days, depending on the type. All of them contain one or another dose of hormones in different concentrations. This explains the different periods of their reception. Each such drug, like any other medicine, has side effects and is harmful to the female body. Therefore, before deciding to take such radical measures, do not be lazy to see a doctor.

Usually, the doctor prescribes these medications in extreme cases, when it is necessary to stop milk production in any way: with mastitis, prolonged pain in the mammary gland, long-term lumpiness. If you notice one of these signs, be sure to see a doctor. You will be prescribed one of the following drugs: Duphaston, Parlodel, Microfollin and others.

How to quickly stop lactation

One of the most effective ways to reduce and then completely stop milk production is to sharply reduce the amount of fluid you drink. Moreover, in addition to water, the concept of “liquid” also includes tea, soup, juice and liquid yogurt. If you are thirsty, do not quench it with water or tea. For this purpose, it is best to use a decoction of herbs with a diuretic effect. This can be a decoction of parsley, basil or bearberry.

A decoction of sage or mint reduces the production of breast milk. Already on the second day you will notice that there is significantly less milk appearing. After a couple of weeks, lactation will stop altogether.

We have described several ways to stop lactation. In any case, only you can decide which of the proposed methods to adopt after consultation with your supervising doctor.