How to Dry Up Your Breast Milk Supply
If you're beginning the process of weaning your baby from breastfeeding or decreasing pumping sessions, you may be wondering how to dry up your milk supply.
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Medically reviewed by Rebecca Agi, MS, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and breast pumping comes to an end for all of us. Sometimes it fades away on its own as your baby weans, or as you decrease pumping frequency over time. But other times, you may be looking to dry up your milk supply at a quicker pace.
If you’re in that place right now, you likely have lots of questions. You might want to know the best way to decrease supply without risking engorgement or mastitis. You might also want to know how to ensure that your baby is happy and well-fed as less breast milk becomes available to them. You might also want to know if there are any safe medications or herbs you can take to speed things along.
If you are looking for answers to these questions and more, you’ve come to the right place. We teamed up with experts who answered parents’ most pressing questions about how to dry up breast milk supply.
Related: Pictures of Mastitis Go Viral for an Important Reason
Why Would Someone Want to Dry Up Their Breast Milk Supply?
In short, a person might want to dry up their breast milk supply when they are ready to end their breastfeeding, chestfeeding, or pumping journeys as a child ages. Perhaps they are ready to wean their child, and are looking to taper off their milk supply to support this parenting transition.
However, there are are many additional reasons why a parent might choose to dry up their breast milk that goes beyond weaining, says Nicole Peluso, IBCLC, lactation consultant and manager of lactation services and education at Aeroflow Breastpumps. These may include:
Simply not enjoying the experience
Having a mental health issue that may be negatively affected by breastfeeding
Having a history of sexual abuse that makes breastfeeding or pumping uncomfortable or triggering
Feeling that breastfeeding isn’t working, because of an ongoing breastfeeding challenge or lack of support for continuing
Some parents need to dry up their milk supply because they’ve experienced a stillbirth or other pregnancy loss, says Lina Bublys, RN, IBCLC, lactation consultant at Phoenix Children's Hospital. “When you are pregnant and give birth, your milk supply comes in whether you want it or not,” she explains. “Therefore, if you are choosing an alternate feeding method or if your baby has passed, you may choose to dry up your milk as you do not need to produce it.”
Other parents may choose to wean because of a health condition or medication they’re taking that’s not compatible with breastfeeding, Peluso notes. According to the CDC, most medications are compatible with breastfeeding, but there are certainly exceptions, and you should discuss any medications you are taking with a health care provider.
Although most health conditions don’t require weaning, there are some that the CDC lists as incompatible with breastfeeding, including:
Having an infant with galactosemia (a rare metabolic disorder)
Being a breastfeeding parent who has an active case of HIV that is not suppressed by antivirals
Infection with human T-cell lymphotropic virus, type I or type II
Infection with Ebola virus
Taking illicit drugs, such as opioids, cocaine, or PCP
Related: How Safe Is Marijuana Use While Breastfeeding?
Weaning from breastfeeding or drying up milk can come with a lot of conflicting emotions—and let’s face it, feelings of guilt and even shame. It’s okay to feel whatever you feel, but you don’t need to justify your reasons for wanting to dry up your supply. Anyone who wants or needs to stop breastfeeding or pumping should feel validated and supported in doing so, period.
How to Slow Production of Breast Milk
Okay, so let’s get into the nitty gritty. How should you go about decreasing your milk supply and/or weaning your little one from breastfeeding? Here’s what our experts recommend.
Go Gradually, When Possible
Of course, sometimes it’s necessary to wean abruptly, such as when you need to take long-term medication that’s unsafe for breastfeeding. But most of the time, you likely have a few weeks to dry up your milk, and this approach is usually recommended because it helps you avoid engorgement and other unpleasantries. This usually means slowly dropping pumping sessions or feeds and spacing them further apart, Peluso recommends.
Make Sure Your Baby Is Well-Fed
As you decrease the amount of milk that you’re pumping, or the amount of time that you’re nursing your baby, you’ll want to make sure they remain well-fed. This may mean substituting feeds with formula, or adding in more solid food meals, along with water. The Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP) says that babies should receive breast milk or formula for the first 12 months of life, even when solids are introduced. After a year, you can switch to whole milk (or continue breastfeeding if you choose).
Medication Options For Drying Up Milk Supply
According to Peluso, there are two medications that may be appropriate for you to take to encourage a drop in your milk supply. First, you can consider taking over-the-counter cold medications with pseudoephedrine (Sudafed is one example), as research has shown that this ingredient decreases milk supply—however, it's super-important to get clearance from a health care provider first. Additionally, you can ask a health care provider for a prescription for cabergoline, a medication that suppresses the hormone prolactin and that has been found to decrease milk supply.
Herbal Options For Drying Up Milk Supply
Before taking any herbal supplements while breastfeeding, you should get clearance from a health care provider. It's also crucial to keep in mind that many herbal supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA. That said, there are several herbs that have been known to decrease milk supply, Peluso says. First, the herb sage, which is often consumed as a tea, has been shown to decrease milk supply, backed up by research. Many parents swear by peppermint as well, though this is largely anecdotal, as there is no research to back up these claims.
Related: Is Baby-Led Weaning Right for Your Baby?
Tips for Weaning Your Baby Off of Breast Milk
Every baby is different and will react to weaning off of breast milk in their own way. Some babies may be deterred from breastfeeding as your supply becomes lower and they realize that nursing isn’t worth their efforts any longer, Bublys says. But for babies who are more attached to breastfeeding, this may not work, she says.
“It is best to either start shortening the duration, or the frequency of breastfeeding, if your child actively breastfeeds,” she advises. “If they are older, you can also introduce a certain amount of distraction or alternate methods of bonding.”
Giving your baby tons of cuddling and hugs will help them transition emotionally away from breastfeeding, Peluso says. “Find other ways to bring comfort to your baby such as rocking, singing songs together, giving them a lovey thay have formed an attachment to, and creating happy times around their new (replaced) feed,” she suggests.
It can also be helpful to make bottle feeding as similar to breastfeeding as possible, if bottle feeding is new to your baby. Consider using a bottle that’s more like a breast, such as one with a wide base and a slow flow nipple, Peluso suggests. Pace your baby’s feedings and have a partner offer the bottle if your baby won’t take a bottle from you.
Related: The Most Lifelike Bottles for Breastfed Babies
Tips for Managing Discomfort While Drying Up Breast Milk Supply
It’s common to experience a bit of breast fullness and engorgement when you are skipping feeds or stretching them out. That’s why it’s best not to go cold turkey, because doing that you can leave you super engorged. But even if you spread out the feedings and drop them gradually, you might experience some engorgement or discomfort.
“When weaning, pay close attention to how your breasts are feeling,” Peluso recommends. “If the sensation of engorgement is present, express just enough to make it comfortable again.” But you don’t want to pump too much, because that will only keep your supply up. “The key to weaning is going at the pace your body will accept,” Peluso adds. While some parents are able to wean at a quick pace, others need more time to avoid engorgement, clogged ducts, and mastitis, she points out.
Peluso’s other tips for management weaning discomfort include:
Cold compresses on the breast
Expressing a very small amount for comfort between pumps or nursing sessions
Considering anti-inflammatory medications, like NSAIDs (with health care provider approval)
Wearing a supportive bra
Related: How to Stock Your Medicine Cabinet Like a Pediatrician
Risks and Concerns Associated With Drying Up Your Breast Milk Supply
The main risks or concerns while drying up your milk is that you may experience engorgement, which could potentially lead to breast infections like mastitis. Mastitis is no fun and can include unpleasant side effects like a very sore area on the breast and flu-like symptoms.
You can decrease your risk of mastitis by being mindful of your symptoms (such as significant engorgement) and taking things at a gradual pace, Bublys reminds. “If weaning/drying up your milk is done correctly, and done with patience, there is not a risk,” she says. “I would recommend that the individual is aware of how their body is feeling and managing the symptoms as they present themselves.”
Another element to consider is that weaning can be an emotional experience, even if you're ready for it. “Aside from the hormonal shift parents experience, they may also have emotions about their breastfeeding journey ending: happy, sad, angry, bittersweet—all are common,” Peluso says. Her advice? “Seeking counseling or joining a local moms group to find support during this time can be helpful.”
If you have any further questions about drying up your milk supply, please connect with a pediatrician, lactation professional, or health care provider.
Related: When Can My Baby Have Water?
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