7 Methods to Dry Up Breast Milk and When to Contact a Doctor

Certain medications and herbal remedies can help reduce your breast milk supply. Still, abruptly stopping breastfeeding can lead to side effects.

You may need to stop lactation quickly for various reasons. The process of reducing or stopping milk production is often called lactation suppression.

Gradual, low-stress weaning is generally best for both you and your infant. The optimal moment to wean is when both the lactating parent and the baby are prepared.

Occasionally, you might have to end breastfeeding faster than planned. Several factors influence how long it takes for milk to dry up, including your baby’s age and your current milk output.

7 ways to reduce your breast milk supply quickly

Health professionals advise tapering off breastfeeding slowly, but that’s not always possible. Abrupt weaning can be uncomfortable and increase the risk of infection or other complications. Talk with your physician, midwife, or a lactation consultant before trying any of the approaches below.

Here are 7 strategies you might consider:

Stopping nursing cold turkey

Your milk supply will decline on its own if you stop nursing and avoid stimulating your breasts. How long this takes depends on how long you’ve been breastfeeding.

Keep these suggestions in mind if you use this approach:

• Wear a well-fitting, supportive bra to hold your breasts firmly.
• Apply cold packs and consider over-the-counter pain relievers to ease discomfort and inflammation.
• Hand express small amounts of milk to relieve engorgement, but do this sparingly to avoid continued stimulation.

Herbal options to suppress lactation

Sage might aid with weaning  or an oversupply, though direct studies on sage’s impact on excess milk are lacking.

There’s limited information about the safety of using sage if your baby continues to ingest breastmilk after you’ve consumed the herb.

Start with a small quantity of sage to observe how your body responds. Sage-containing herbal teas are widely available and can be diluted to find a tolerable dose.

Other herbs reported to have potential to decrease milk production  include:

• peppermint
• chasteberry
• parsley
• jasmine

There is limited evidence about how these herbs affect infants, and some may be harmful. Herbal remedies can cause adverse effects for you or your baby, so consult your healthcare provider or lactation consultant before trying them.

Using cabbage to reduce milk

Cabbage leaves  might help suppress lactation when used over extended periods, though more research is necessary.

To try cabbage leaves:

• Separate and wash leaves from a green cabbage.
• Place the leaves in a container and chill them in the refrigerator.
• Lay one leaf over each breast before putting on your bra.
• Replace leaves once they wilt or about every two hours.

The cold leaves may reduce swelling as your supply declines and can relieve engorgement symptoms early in breastfeeding.

Birth control and milk suppression

Progestin-only contraceptives don’t typically reduce supply. Pills containing estrogen, however, may be effective at suppressing lactation.

These suppressive effects can occur even after milk supply is well established.

Not everyone will notice these effects, but many do. Discuss with your clinician the best timing to begin an estrogen-containing pill postpartum.

Contraceptives are not FDA-approved specifically for stopping lactation, but they may be prescribed off-label in some cases.

Off-label drug useOff-label use means a medication approved by the FDA for one indication is used for a different purpose that hasn’t received official approval. Doctors can still prescribe drugs off-label because the FDA regulates drug approval but does not dictate how physicians use medications in patient care.

Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) to reduce production

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), a common cold remedy, may decrease  milk production. Research showed participants taking pseudoephedrine had a meaningful reduction in breastmilk output compared with those given a placebo.

In that study, taking the maximum daily dose did not appear to harm infants who continued to nurse while lactation was being reduced. The maximum recommended dose studied was 60 milligrams (mg) four times daily (a total of up to 240 mg in 24 hours).

That study is older, and additional research is needed.

Always check with your healthcare provider before using any over-the-counter drug while nursing. Sudafed is used off-label for drying up milk and may make some nursing infants irritable.

Vitamin B to help suppress lactation

If you haven’t begun breastfeeding yet, large doses of vitamins B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin) have been suggested as potential lactation suppressants.

An older study  from the 1970s indicated high doses of B6, B1, and B12 halted lactation in 96% of participants without adverse effects. More recent reviews, including a 2017 literature analysis, show mixed results on effectiveness.

The 2017 review noted participants received B6 doses of 450 to 600 mg over 5 to 7 days. Two studies reported B6 was effective, while five others did not find an effect.

There’s limited data on the harms of high-dose B1 or B12, or how long elevated doses are safe.

High doses of vitamin B6 (over 200 mg/day) can cause numbness in the hands and feet, and with prolonged use this may become permanent.

Always consult your healthcare provider or a lactation consultant before starting high-dose vitamins.

Other medications that can stop milk

Cabergoline is a medication that can suppress milk by inhibiting prolactin production.

The FDA has not specifically approved cabergoline for lactation suppression, but it may be prescribed off-label; your doctor can discuss potential benefits and risks.

Some people see their milk stop after a single dose, while others require multiple doses.

There’s limited information about cabergoline’s safety for nursing infants whose parents took the drug. Speak with your clinician or lactation consultant before using it.

Some formerly used milk-suppressing drugs, such as bromocriptine, are no longer recommended because of long-term adverse effects.

High-dose estrogen injections were once used to halt lactation but have been discontinued due to increased blood clot risks.

Frequently asked questions about stopping milk production

Are there approaches to avoid when trying to stop milk?

Yes. Tight binding or wrapping of the breasts is a practice some have tried to halt milk production. A 2003 study  comparing breast binding to wearing a supportive bra found that women who bound their breasts experienced more pain and milk leakage than those wearing a support bra.

Another approach to avoid is reducing fluid intake. Nursing parents are advised to drink at least about 16 cups of fluids per day from beverages and food. However, some research suggests that increasing fluids may not actually boost milk supply. Further study is needed.

How long until milk stops after weaning?

For some, milk production ceases within a few days. For others, it may take weeks for supply to end completely. Let-down sensations or leaking can persist for months after suppression. If milk returns without an obvious cause, consult your healthcare team.

Risks of stopping breastfeeding abruptly

Suddenly ending breastfeeding can lead to engorgement and increase the chance of blocked ducts or infection.

You may need to express some milk to ease engorgement, but frequent expression prolongs the time it takes for supply to diminish.

When to get medical care

Lactation suppression can be uncomfortable, and if you develop significant pain or concerning symptoms, contact your doctor, midwife, or lactation consultant.

A plugged duct can cause localized tenderness. Massage the area gently while expressing or nursing.

Seek medical attention if you cannot clear a blocked duct within 12 hours or if you develop a fever, which may indicate a breast infection such as mastitis.

Other signs of a breast infection include:

• warmth or redness
• feeling unwell or fatigued
• breast swelling

Oral antibiotics are sometimes prescribed to treat infections before they worsen.

A certified lactation consultant can also help; these specialists are trained in breastfeeding management and can offer strategies or troubleshoot problems.

Takeaway

Drying up your milk supply is a personal decision and may be necessary for a variety of reasons.

If you’re stopping breastfeeding for medical reasons but still want your milk to benefit another infant, milk banks in the United States and Canada accept and distribute donor milk. You can locate a milk bank via the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).

Donated breast milk is screened and pasteurized to ensure safety. These organizations also accept donations from parents who have experienced a loss or otherwise wish to donate their milk.