Breast milk is vital for a baby because it contains nutrients for proper growth, development, and strengthening the immune system. However, the time comes when the child has to get used to adult food, and the woman has to go through the end of lactation. At this time, the nursing mother feels discomfort in the chest, dense nodes appear in the tissues of the mammary gland, sleep is disturbed, irritability and anxiety increase. What needs to be done to normalize the condition during the period of “burnout” of milk?
The most natural way to wean a child from the breast is considered to be a gradual reduction in the number of daily feedings. This process is lengthy and takes several months. In order to wean a child from breastfeeding, the areolas of the nipples can be lubricated lemon juice. It is necessary to drink the baby from a cup more often in order to dull the sucking reflex. To reduce pain in a woman during the end of lactation, there are effective folk recipes that are highly effective and do not cause adverse effects on the body.
Folk remedies can replace medications hormonal drugs to reduce milk synthesis by the mammary glands. They are appointed when existing contraindications to the use of medications (coronary disease, arterial hypertension, kidney disease). In addition, natural recipes are much cheaper and do not cause side effects.
Sage
The use of sage is considered the most popular folk remedy for reducing lactation. It contains plant estrogens - substances similar in quality to female sex hormones. The properties of the medicinal herb are not limited to inhibition of milk production, it also has anti-inflammatory, tonic and restorative effects.
To prepare the product, you need to pour 50 grams of dry crushed raw materials into 280 ml of hot water and leave for at least an hour. The strained drink is taken three times a day, several sips. The medicine can be used for compresses. In this case, mix 2-3 drops of sage, geranium, cypress, mint oil, and then
add the mixture to 30 ml of warm vegetable oil. A gauze napkin is moistened with the resulting product and applied to the chest for 2-3 hours, secured to the body with a natural, clean cloth.
Mint
Dry peppermint leaves are ground into powder, then 40 grams of the raw material are poured into 380 ml of boiling water and left for at least an hour. The cooled infusion is filtered through a metal strainer and drunk half a glass in the morning and evening.
In addition to stopping lactation, mint has a calming effect on the nervous system, normalizes sleep, and has an analgesic effect.
Diuretic teas
To reduce milk synthesis it is necessary to get rid of it in the body. For this process, various tea recipes with a diuretic effect are recommended.
In this case, it is necessary to limit the intake of liquids, soups, and hot dishes. It is recommended to wear a cotton bodice without wires, which supports the breasts, which reduces painful sensations.
Cabbage
And discomfort in the mammary glands use fresh, juicy ones. Before use, the raw material must be cooled in the refrigerator and then mashed to release the juice. Prepared cabbage leaves are applied to painful compacted nodes mammary gland for 3-4 hours. Before the procedure, to enhance the effect, you should express Not a large number of milk to reduce tension in the glandular tissues of the breast.
Usually, the use of folk recipes contributes to the “burnout” of milk within a week. During this period, the breasts become softer, the feeling of discomfort and burning decreases. However, a slight discharge of milk from the nipples can be observed for six months after the end of breastfeeding, which is considered physiological norm. For longer residual lactation, you should consult a doctor to rule out a disorder. hormonal levels. It would be a good idea to consult a gynecologist before using traditional recipes for proper selection of medications.
What herbs to stop lactation can be recommended to stop breastfeeding? What herbal preparations will make this process painless and safe? What should a mother's technique be? Features of suppressing lactation using herbal infusions.
The end of breastfeeding sooner or later occurs in every mother-baby pair. The sooner a woman insists on this, the more difficult it is to separate from the breast. Moreover, difficulties are most likely to arise not only in the child’s behavior and his reaction to new living conditions, but also in the mother’s health.
Herbal preparations will help make cessation of lactation less uncomfortable. However, if neither you nor your child are ready to “part with the breast” yet, you need to be prepared for negative consequences.
When the baby is not ready
There is an opinion that breastfeeding should definitely be stopped after a year. The World Health Organization insists on increasing this period to two years. This is the minimum threshold to which a baby should be breastfed. Early weaning creates more difficulties than benefits.
The child’s unwillingness to say goodbye to his beloved “sissy” can be traced by the following criteria of his behavior.
- Applications before and after sleep. You can't imagine putting your baby to sleep without breastfeeding. The baby will definitely ask for it when he wakes up, not only in the morning, but also during the day.
- Frequent feedings at night. Having fallen asleep, the baby spends several hours in his crib. After midnight he wakes up and asks for the breast. He spends the rest of the night next to you, increasing the intensity of sucking in the morning hours.
- Applying after meals. The baby asks for breastfeeding to wash down breakfast or lunch, and doesn’t mind drinking milk after dinner. He can ask for it when he is just thirsty.
- The need for moments of excitement. The best consolation when you are upset, upset, is still your mother's breast.
- Attachments after separation. The baby can easily do without his mother when she is not at home. Without whims, he will go to bed with his grandmother or father, spend several hours playing games or going for a walk with other relatives. But as soon as he sees his mother, he immediately asks her for the breast.
- Applications “just like that.” They happen when mom sits down to rest on the sofa or in an armchair. A kid who is bored or doesn’t know what to do will definitely be nearby.
Most children under two years of age behave this way. According to lactation consultant Liliya Kazakova, this indicates that the baby is still too attached to the breast. He needs milk constantly, and your body produces too much of it for stopping breastfeeding to be painless.
Weaning with love
Before you begin weaning and taking anti-lactation herbs, you need to weigh the pros and cons of continuing to breastfeed.
The following evidence supports the decision to continue feeding:
- child's age up to two years;
- demonstration of his unwillingness to part with his breasts;
- frequent feedings during the day and at night.
You may consider stopping breastfeeding if:
- baby over two years old;
- during the day he does not ask for breastfeeding, he is busy playing;
- attachments were preserved only at “special moments” and before bedtime;
- your mammary glands remain unfilled for a long time, there is no feeling of fullness.
Gentle weaning eliminates violence against the baby and your own body. The principle of the international organization “La Leche League” to stop breastfeeding “gradually, with love” excludes a one-time break. It is unacceptable to wake up one morning and decide: “That’s it, I’m not feeding today.”
This creates risks negative consequences for the child and for the mother.
- Psychological trauma of the baby. The baby's life was connected with her mother's breast. And suddenly everything changed in an instant. An abrupt separation from the breast causes anxiety on the part of the baby, causing whims, crying, and behavior that is unusual for you. The younger the child, the more difficult it is for him to adapt. The older he is, the greater the chances of reaching an agreement with him and minimizing the risks of unpleasant reactions.
- Mom's discomfort. Your body long time produced a certain amount of milk. And your decision “not to feed today” will not affect this mechanism. It takes time to reduce lactation levels. The normal period of its suppression, when irreversible, is forty days. The first three to five days will be critical for a woman, when her breasts will be painful, as if they were made of stone.
- Danger of mastitis. The accumulation of milk in the breast without its usual removal creates a threat and... The beginning of a dangerous process is indicated by compactions or lumps in the mammary glands, which invariably occur during simultaneous weaning. They need to be dealt with, otherwise infection of the mammary glands with the development of acute inflammation is inevitable.
- Depression. Not only the child, but also the mother worries when breastfeeding stops. On the first day, the woman feels relief. She is pleased that soon she will be able to get a full night's sleep or leave the house for a few hours without worrying about how the baby will perceive it. Her hands will now be free, and she will have the opportunity to relax in rare moments. But within a couple of days, the feeling of joy is replaced by sadness, tearfulness, bad mood and irritability. So complicated emotional condition formed by a hormonal surge. Due to the cessation of production of the hormone prolactin, a malfunction occurs in the hormonal system, which causes a depressive state. Plus, the child is capricious. The woman feels helpless and despair.
Avoid negative consequences abrupt excommunication tactics of gradual cessation of breastfeeding will allow. One of its elements may be the intake of plant complexes. Herbs to suppress lactation will reduce the physical discomfort of the mother.
Mom's technique
“It will take some time to finish breastfeeding,” comments La Leche League leader Natalia Gerbeda-Wilson. - Its duration depends on how frequent the feedings were. But as a result, neither you nor your child will experience discomfort, pain, or depression. Don’t rush, the weaning should be gentle.”
- Maintain a positive attitude. Your confidence will become best start a difficult path for a child.
- Reduce the number of feedings gradually. Avoid those that are not “too important” for your baby, such as during the day. Feedings before bedtime and at night will last longer.
- Negotiate, look for alternatives. If your baby sucks a lot, replace some of the feedings with juice or water from a bottle. Suggest that he wait to feed until some point, for example, when dad returns home.
- Change the conditions. Most often, babies breastfeed while at home. Try to walk more or go for a visit. In an unusual environment, the likelihood of feeding decreases.
- Change your habits. The signal for the baby to latch on to the breast are familiar moments, for example, when he wakes up or when his mother finds her on her favorite sofa. Ask grandma or other relatives to be with your baby when he wakes up. If this is not possible, distract him with a toy and look out the window together. Avoid sitting on the sofa where feedings usually take place.
- Reduce lactation. As breastfeeding decreases, milk production will decrease. You can help your body with this by taking herbs to stop breastfeeding.
According to lactation consultants, only an integrated and patient approach will make cessation of lactation safe and painless for the baby and mother.
Selecting Herbal Remedies
Traditional medicine offers many solutions to stop lactation. There are recommendations for taking belladonna, walnut leaves, diuretics and diaphoretics. Some of the tips are dangerous to your health.
For example, belladonna, which is recommended to be taken to suppress milk production, was known in Rus' as rabies. The reason for this is the natural component atropine, which is part of the plant, which causes severe agitation in humans, even to the point of rabies.
When choosing a herb to suppress lactation, you should adhere to the most important principle"do no harm". Reviews from lactation consultants indicate two absolutely safe plants with a mild inhibitory effect.
- .
- A medicinal plant widely used in medicine to treat the mucous membranes of the throat and oral cavity for inflammation and stomatitis. Indicated for oral administration for bronchitis, edema, radiculitis. Has an anti-inflammatory, tonic effect. Provides mild inhibition of lactation. Completely safe for nursing mothers and babies.
Mint. A plant with a distinct fresh aroma, known for its calming effect. Gently suppresses lactation, gradually reduces milk production. Using these herbal preparations
will not pose a threat to the health of the woman and baby, and will help to complete breastfeeding gently and safely.
Reception features
- “You don’t need to do anything to stop milk production at the natural end of lactation,” comments AKEV expert Irina Ryukhova. - It will stop smoothly on its own. Taking herbs will help reduce the duration of involution and reduce the amount of new milk produced each day.” Take herbs and feed. Infusions of sage and mint gently suppress lactation. As the feedings decrease, they will also reduce the production of breast milk, so the woman will not feel any discomfort. These herbal remedies
- compatible with lactation, do not have a negative effect on the baby. Use as infusions.
- It is convenient to brew sage or mint infusions in filter bags. One or two sachets are needed for one glass of boiling water. Drink a cool infusion half an hour before meals three times a day. Continue taking after finishing breastfeeding.
Sage infusion has an anti-inflammatory effect. It will be a good prevention of mastitis when breastfeeding stops completely.
Herbs do not have such a pronounced, “magical” effect on the production of breast milk as pills do, and do not inhibit lactation at once. However, their most important advantage is that they are completely safe for your body, unlike hormonal drugs. The question of how to take herbs to stop lactation must be resolved comprehensively. Herbal complexes are ineffective if a woman hopes to suppress the production of breast milk only with their help. Make sure that yours, act gradually and confidently. In this case medicinal herbs
will help to gently reduce lactation and protect against inflammation.
1722
Print breast milk for the baby is nutritious and useful product, the time comes when the baby needs to be weaned. This may be due to the transition to a common table due to age; there are also cases when the production of milk by the glands needs to be stopped due to medical indications from the mother herself. There are many ways to reduce lactation at home and gradually stop it altogether. Let's look at the most effective of them.
When should you stop lactation?
Normally, it is recommended to stop feeding when the baby reaches two years of age. This is explained by the fact that as the baby grows older, the sucking reflex fades, and by the age of two it decreases significantly. In addition, breast milk ceases to be an important food product for the baby’s body at this point. A growing child requires other substances obtained from food, and cessation of lactation in in this case becomes justified and physiologically normal.
The need to use methods that reduce the functioning of the mammary glands arises when there are contraindications to breastfeeding. Previously there were more of them, but due to the development of medicine their number has decreased. Therefore, nursing women should eliminate the phenomenon of lactation in the following cases:
- purulent mastitis with severe intoxication;
- open tuberculosis;
- malignant tumor during treatment;
- abnormalities in the structure of the mammary glands with impaired secretion.
It is also necessary for a woman to stop breastfeeding during treatment for a number of diseases that require the use of potent drugs or antibiotics that pass freely into breast milk.
Eliminating lactation naturally
The process of reducing the functioning of the mammary glands is best carried out gradually. Only in this case will the body gradually adapt, and thickening and inflammation will not occur in the chest. In addition, the breasts will not stretch and sag in the future.
Reducing feedings
It is best to compare two processes at once: if you gradually reduce feedings, then a decrease in lactation will occur. To begin with, you can remove one feeding, and then gradually do the same with the second and third. When the time comes for breastfeeding, you need to express the milk little by little, leaving a little behind. This will help start the burnout process.
First, you need to stop feeding at night, and then during the daytime.
How long does it take for milk to stop coming out completely? It must be said that this method does not give results immediately, but the flow of milk will steadily decrease. This method is gentle, but requires some time and depends on individual characteristics nursing woman.
Bandage or bra
Until recently, it was considered correct to use a tight bandage to tighten the breast gland to get rid of lactation. It is mistakenly believed that this helps to quickly eliminate milk production and helps maintain breast shape. This is not entirely true. The fact is that with this method, lactostasis occurs, mastopathy and mastitis develop. Increased stagnation in the local bloodstream leads to aggravation of the situation and provokes inflammatory phenomena.
Therefore, experts recommend using a comfortable bra, which should support the breasts during this period, but not squeeze them. It is important that it is made from natural fabrics and is dense, but at the same time there should be no supporting bones in its design. This will prevent the appearance of stretch marks and will prevent the breasts from sagging when lactation ends.
Nutritional Features
Everyone knows that certain foods are used for lactation to stimulate this process. But are there dishes that help reduce milk supply? In fact, such products do not exist in nature. But in the process of refusing to feed, you should not consume salty and spicy foods, since a woman’s need for fluid increases, and its excess will stimulate, rather than suppress, lactation.
Other techniques
For many women, lactation stops after using the above methods. To make this happen faster, you should:
- Avoid overheating your chest. It is necessary to provide a flow of cool air to it.
- Do not take a hot bath. You need to rinse your body in the shower and pour cool water over your mammary glands.
- Take the child in your arms and hold him close to you as little as possible.
To obtain the desired effect, it is necessary for the woman to stop feeding and wean the baby from the breast simultaneously and gradually.
Elimination using traditional methods
To reduce lactation, you can use methods and recipes that were practiced long before the invention of drugs. These are homemade herbal decoctions for oral administration and compresses for topical use. Providing assistance with folk remedies is quite possible, but before proceeding with the manufacture and use of this or that natural preparation, you should consult your doctor.
Official medicine
When there is a need to reduce lactation as quickly as possible, and use time and opportunity traditional methods no, you need to see a doctor. In this case, the specialist can recommend the most effective remedy. However, the use of tablets for this purpose is not considered appropriate in all cases. In addition, these drugs are most often produced on the basis of hormones that stop the formation of milk, and therefore their uncontrolled use will cause undesirable consequences.
Exist various means to stop lactation. These are Bromkreptin, Parloderl, Turinal, Dostinex. Another indication for their use is the appearance of lumps and inflammation of the mammary glands. If you are taking these medications that reduce milk production, breastfeeding should be stopped immediately. If you need to return to feeding after using them, it is important to wait a while and express the milk thoroughly, and only then start feeding.
Any method of stopping lactation requires the right approach. In order to choose the most suitable one, you should consult a gynecologist and act strictly according to his instructions.
The World Health Organization considers breastfeeding to be the optimal way for newborns to receive nutrients. IN human milk the basic nutrients are in ideal proportions; it contains vitamins, minerals, as well as immunoglobulins, which are responsible for the baby’s immunity in the first months of life.
But sometimes breastfeeding is impossible and you have to take drugs to suppress lactation. They are used strictly according to indications; a woman’s desire not to breastfeed for her own selfish reasons is not taken into account here.
Mechanism of milk formation
Preparation for lactation occurs throughout pregnancy. The mammary gland of a woman of reproductive age has milk ducts, but no secreting cells. Pregnancy is accompanied by an increase in the concentration of progesterone and estrogens, which contribute to the transformation of the gland. Alveoli appear in it, which are lined with epithelium - lactocytes. It is these cells that will be responsible for the secretion of milk.
Already from the middle of pregnancy, colostrum is formed in the breast. But its quantity is small. It does not pass into real milk: lactation processes are restrained by placental hormones, in particular high hormones.
But after the birth of the placenta, the concentration of the hormone rapidly decreases, prolactin begins to act more actively, and the process of milk formation begins. It will appear in 2-3 days.
After each breastfeeding, the concentration of prolactin increases, which stimulates milk production. That’s why it’s so important to put your baby to the breast often and give even a few drops of colostrum.
The release of finished milk from the alveoli occurs under the influence of oxytocin (oxytocin reflex). It affects the smooth muscle cells surrounding lactocytes and stimulates their contraction.
Stages of the oxytocin reflex:
- Irritation of the nipple during sucking is transmitted to the pituitary gland, oxytocin is released.
- The hormone affects the myocytes of the alveoli, the fluid is squeezed into the ducts.
- The milk ducts dilate and milk flows freely.
During one breastfeeding, the reflex can work several times. At this time, the woman feels fullness, tingling in her chest, and a feeling of thirst.
Secretion is suppressed by a protein found in the breast itself, factor inhibiting lactation (FIL). If you do not breastfeed for a long time, a sufficient amount of this polypeptide accumulates, and milk production is worse.
The stress hormone adrenaline suppresses the production of oxytocin. The amount of secretion in the chest remains the same for some time, but the oxytocin reflex does not occur and its separation is impaired. The lactation inhibitor gradually accumulates, and secretion decreases. Therefore, to maintain breastfeeding, you need to maintain a good emotional state for the nursing mother.
The production of prolactin is also inhibited by the action of dopamine, which is secreted by the cells of the hypothalamus.
When is lactation suppression necessary?
It may be necessary to cause a decrease or cessation of lactation immediately after childbirth or in a later period, when diseases appear that are contraindications for breastfeeding, or as the child grows older.
After childbirth, lactation is suppressed according to strict indications, which are divided into two groups. The absolute indications are:
- stillbirth;
- state after ;
- alcoholism and drug addiction in the mother;
- herpes rash on the nipples;
- HIV infection;
- active pulmonary tuberculosis;
- malignant tumors that were diagnosed during pregnancy or after childbirth, requiring chemotherapy or radiation treatment;
- galactosemia in a newborn.
Relative contraindications for suppression of lactation are conditions that are considered on an individual basis. Sometimes they can be neglected, resort to expressing milk or reduce its production - causing inhibition of lactation. These conditions include the following:
- severe somatic illnesses of the mother;
- abnormal development of nipples;
- infiltrative or purulent mastitis;
- pathological changes in the mammary glands: scars, mastopathy, gigantomastia, purulent mastitis in the past.
Termination of lactation due to mastitis
Still causes controversy. The cause of this condition is a violation of the outflow due to the following factors:
- change in nipple shape;
- scar tissue in the gland, mastopathy;
- violation of personal hygiene and feeding rules;
- decreased immunity.
On the one hand, if you continue to feed the child, he may become infected Staphylococcus aureus, which causes the formation of a purulent focus. Also, the newborn will receive toxic substances with milk that are formed as a result of the activity of the microorganism and the breakdown of tissues.
But obvious clinical changes V mammary gland appear after the microbe has begun to actively multiply. Refusal to breastfeed will reduce the immune defense of the child, who has already received his portion of staphylococcus while eating. Therefore, the choice of tactics depends on the specific situation.
Severe cases of mastitis
In some forms, you have to take pills to suppress lactation. The indications include the following:
- rapid progression of inflammation despite treatment;
- purulent mastitis, in which new lesions form after surgical treatment;
- indolent, treatment-resistant purulent mastitis;
- phlegmonous and gangrenous forms;
- combination of mastitis with severe pathologies of other organs.
For infiltrative mastitis
This is a condition in which a purulent focus has not yet formed. There is an inflammatory reaction in the mammary gland. With lactostasis, it is compacted, painful, red, and the outflow of milk is difficult. There may be a rise in body temperature, general malaise, headache.
In this case, lactation inhibition is used - a temporary decrease in the amount of milk produced. The woman's condition should improve. Treatment is carried out comprehensively conservatively for 2-3 days. If there is no improvement, the disease progresses and becomes purulent, then they resort to suppressing milk secretion.
Unilateral breast lesion
If inflammatory changes have affected one mammary gland, then you do not have to resort to suppressing lactation, but express milk. It is unsuitable for feeding from a sore breast. The milk obtained from a visually healthy gland is pasteurized and used for feeding.
Methods to suppress lactation
You can stop lactation using various methods. Some of them have an evidence base, others were used before the development of medicine, and are of historical value. In medical practice they are used medicinal methods, as having a sufficient evidence base.
Medications
To suppress lactation, two main pharmacological agents are used:
- Bromocriptine;
- Cabergoline.
They affect the production of dopamine, are agonists of its receptors, and therefore lead to an increase in its synthesis. Dopamine suppresses the production of prolactin.
Bromocriptine
After oral administration, it is quickly absorbed, after 2-3 hours it is determined in the blood in maximum concentration. The mechanism of action is based on stimulation of dopamine receptors in the brain. This leads to suppression of the production of hormones of the anterior pituitary gland: prolactin, somatotropin, but does not affect other types of hormones.
A decrease in prolactin is observed within 1-3 hours after taking Bromocriptine. The maximum suppression of prolactin is observed 5 hours after taking the tablet. The effect lasts for 8-12 hours.
The use of Bromocriptine is also permitted in cases of prolactinoma tumor, infertility treatment for hyperprolactinemia, acromegaly, and Parkinson's disease.
The dosage regimen depends on the start date of treatment and other features.
- To prevent the onset of lactation
Bromocriptine is started on the day of delivery 2.5 mg. The next day, use 2.5 mg twice a day for 14 days. There is no need to change the dosage.
- To suppress lactation in the postpartum period
On the first day, the dose of 2.5 mg is divided into two doses. In the next 2-3 days, this dosage is increased to 5 mg in 2 doses. This pattern remains for the next 2 weeks. There is no need to gradually increase or decrease the dose.
- For lactation mastitis
The dosage regimen depends on the severity, intensity of milk secretion and the severity of the general condition:
- At increased lactation, severe lactostasis and general condition, prescribe 2.5 mg 3 times a day for 2-3 days, or 2.5 mg 2 times a day for 11-12 days.
- With moderate milk synthesis and moderately expressed lactostasis clinical picture, take 2.5 mg 2 times a day for 14 days.
- With reduced lactation, unexpressed lactostasis and the general clinical picture, the dosage can be reduced to 1.25 mg 2 times a day for 7-14 days.
The use of Bromocriptine is contraindicated in the following cases:
- allergic reactions and individual intolerance to the drug, as well as ergot alkaloids;
- uncontrolled arterial hypertension;
- , which occurred during pregnancy and can occur in the first few days after birth;
- serious illnesses of cardio-vascular system, previous heart attack;
- bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- severe liver failure;
- past mental disorders;
- Raynaud's syndrome;
- smoking.
The drug is incompatible with alcohol, oral contraceptives, antidepressants from the group of MAO inhibitors, and antipsychotics.
Side effects can be in the form of dry mouth, nausea, constipation, numbness of the fingers, decreased blood pressure, even collapse, weakness, drowsiness, headache, nasal congestion, leg cramps.
In case of overdose side effects increase exponentially. Blood pressure drops sharply, headaches occur, and hallucinations may appear.
In the pharmacy chain, the drug is presented in the form of various commercial analogues: Parlodel, Bromocriptine-KV, Abergin, Bromergon, Serocriptine.
Cabergoline
It is a long-acting drug for suppressing lactation. It has been shown in studies to directly reduce the secretion of prolactin in the anterior pituitary gland. After taking a dose of Cabergoline, after 2-3 hours its plasma concentration reaches its maximum. Elimination occurs very slowly, which ensures long-term preservation of the prolactin-lowering effect. Studies have found that the half-life is more than 3 days, and the persistence of the prolactin-lowering effect can last up to 14 days.
The use of Cabergoline is contraindicated in case of allergies to it, heart rhythm disturbances, arterial hypertension. Limit use for liver diseases, past. The absorption of the drug is not affected by food intake, so Cabergoline can be taken at any time.
The dosage depends on the time of administration. If it is necessary to prevent the onset of milk production, then Cabergoline is taken immediately after childbirth: 1 mg once.
If a woman has already breastfed, but there is a need to stop breastfeeding, then 0.25 mg is prescribed twice a day with an interval of 12 hours. Course – 2 days. This small dosage is aimed at preventing orthostatic hypotension in nursing mothers.
Side effects include pathological drowsiness, anxiety, headache, dyspeptic disorders, and cardiac dysfunction. An overdose manifests itself in the form of constipation, dry mouth, headache, sudden drop in blood pressure, and hallucinations.
Commercial analogues are the following drugs: Dostinex, Bergolak, Agalates.
Herbal remedies
Women themselves widely use herbs to suppress lactation. Their action is based on the content of analogues of female estrogens in some plants -. This effect has not yet been studied or proven.
Sage is used in various options. It can be oil, infusion, decoction. To enhance the effect, it can be used as a herbal tea.
Peppermint reduces milk production. It is brewed in boiling water and taken in small portions; increasing the dosage can cause the opposite effect and increase lactation.
Pharmacies sell tea to suppress lactation. It consists of various herbs (sage, mint) enclosed in convenient sachets. Brew and take it as a regular drink, but do not abuse the drink. Otherwise, a large intake of fluid can lead to the opposite effect.
Herbal preparations are not suitable for use if there is an urgent need to stop breastfeeding. This is a method that requires some time.
other methods
Some women resort to folk remedies to suppress lactation. These methods have no proven effectiveness and can lead to serious complications.
Tight breast bandaging is used if you want to wean your baby off the breast. To do this, an elastic bandage is wrapped around the mammary gland. Negative side is a violation of blood and lymph circulation. A woman does not feel when her milk starts to come in. This method can cause the development of lactostasis and mastitis. Then you will have to resort to tablet drugs.
Increasing the amount of salt in the diet and eating obviously salty foods is designed to bind excess fluid in the body and prevent it from passing into the chest. This method is ineffective. Large amounts of salt will lead to thirst and increased water consumption. The consequence will be an increase in the amount of milk.
Some resort to diuretics for the same purpose - to reduce the amount of fluid in the body. But it is worth remembering that salts are excreted along with urine, which leads to seizures and heart rhythm disturbances. Self-prescribing diuretics is dangerous.
There are methods for reducing milk volume using saline laxatives - sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate. Medicines cause violent peristalsis and loose stools. But this method negatively affects the electrolyte balance and can cause deterioration in well-being.
You can safely reduce secretion without taking pills by reducing feedings. First of all, you need to reduce night feedings. During the day, you can also gradually skip breastfeeding, replace with formula or introduce complementary foods according to the child’s age. Gradually, the amount of lactation inhibitor in the breast will increase, and the amount of milk will decrease.
Suppressing lactation with folk remedies involves the use of chilled cabbage leaves. It is rubbed with your hands until the juice appears, and bandaged to the chest for an hour. There is no evidence of the effectiveness of this method.
Methods using cold compresses can only do harm: local hypothermia can cause lactostasis and an outbreak of infection.
When should you stop breastfeeding?
Sometimes you can not resort to suppressing lactation, but temporarily stop feeding the baby and pumping.
It is not a contraindication for breastfeeding. If you follow the rules of personal hygiene and treatment with local drugs, there is no danger to the child. An exception is the use of Fluconazole orally in severe forms. Then you need to stop feeding the baby and expressing milk for 3-4 days.
Infectious diseases of the mother do not always cancel breastfeeding. If it is HIV infection, then the fact of transmission of the virus through milk has been proven. Bacterial infections subject to treatment with antibiotics. The possibility of breastfeeding depends on the type of drug used. If it is allowed for breastfeeding women, then there is no need to worry and you can continue to feed the baby. The forced use of antibiotics from the group of Metronidazole, Chloramphenicol and some others leads to the need to temporarily stop breastfeeding.
Suppression of lactation for medical reasons can be eliminated if it lasts no more than 1-3 weeks. Desire Women continue breastfeeding; special techniques, including latching the baby to the breast and irritating the nipples, can restore milk production.
Sooner or later the time comes when a woman begins to think about ending breastfeeding. However, milk does not stop being produced at the request of the mother. This is the same long process as the formation of lactation. Eat different ways stop the production of valuable fluid, but folk ones are especially popular.
Herbs, decoctions, infusions and teas to stop lactation: how to brew and take them
Situations are different: someone waits for the baby to wean himself off the breast upon reaching a certain age, others are forced to stop breastfeeding due to illness and breastfeeding. medications. Lactation consultants and obstetricians-gynecologists point out to breastfeeding women that lactation should be completed gradually. The volume of milk that the body is set to produce for each feeding cannot simply stop being produced at the mother’s request. This process takes time, and it should be approached with all responsibility in order to avoid problems such as lactostasis and mastitis.
A sharp refusal to breastfeed a baby often leads to stagnation of milk in the ducts. If treatment is not started in time, the situation may worsen. Sometimes surgery is required to prevent possible complications.
Some women react very painfully to decreased milk production. But you need to understand that the extinction of lactation is a natural process, the same as breastfeeding itself, so you need to approach it calmly and prepared. To make it happen faster and without problems, many mothers use folk remedies. One of the most popular and accessible is the use of decoctions, infusions or special teas.
Women have been using infusions from medicinal plants for more than one generation, and in modern medicine, gynecologists often prescribe them to their patients. However, doctors advise going to see a doctor. He will conduct an examination, on the basis of which he will competently talk about the use of a decoction or infusion. You need to strictly follow the dosage, because even a well-known herb when taken in large quantities can cause side effects.
Peppermint infusion
Peppermint contains menthol, which has a suppressive effect on milk production. The substance accumulates in the body and penetrates into breast milk, so doctors warn women that while using the infusion, they should not put the baby to the breast. This can be harmful to health: lead to heart rhythm disturbances in the baby.
Peppermint is often used to stop milk production
The infusion is prepared from a dry plant (it is sold in a pharmacy or you can dry it yourself) as follows.
- Pour two tablespoons of chopped herbs into 400 ml of hot water.
- Cover tightly with a lid and let sit for about an hour and a half.
- Strain the finished drink.
- Take two tablespoons before meals three to four times a day.
You should not increase the dosage of the drink. Mint contains essential oils, which stimulate blood circulation, dilate blood vessels, thereby promoting fluid flow.
Some women prefer to make a large amount of infusion at once, but it should not be stored in the refrigerator for more than two days. Remember that the drink spoils very quickly, so it is recommended to infuse a new portion every day.
Doctors do not recommend taking peppermint infusion to mothers who suffer from hypotension (low blood pressure), as well as heart rhythm disturbances.
This poses a danger not only to a woman’s health, but also to her life: the plant can cause a sharp drop in blood pressure, which in some cases leads to cardiac arrest.
If you have hypotension, it is better not to take peppermint-based products.
Lingonberry tea and decoction
Lingonberries can be bought frozen in supermarkets, and the leaves can be dried yourself or purchased at a pharmacy. It should be remembered that they need to be collected before the plant begins to bloom. The raw materials are laid out in a ventilated place and turned over periodically. As soon as it becomes crispy, chop it and store it in a dry container.
Lingonberry tea contains a huge amount of vitamins and nutrients.
To prepare lingonberry tea, you need dry leaves of the plant.
- Pour four to five tablespoons of raw material into one liter of boiling water.
- Cover the container with a lid and leave to brew for ten minutes.
- Strain the finished drink and cool slightly.
- Add honey or sugar to taste and drink 200 ml before meals five to six times a day.
During cooking, add a tablespoon of regular black or green tea without additives, as well as three teaspoons of lingonberries. If after brewing the drink is too strong, you can dilute it with boiled water.
The decoction is also effective. Many women prefer to cook it, because when warm, it tastes like compote with sourness, which is not only healthy, but also tasty.
- Prepare one glass of dried or frozen lingonberries.
- Rinse them thoroughly and add them to the pan.
- Add one liter of water.
- Place on the stove and bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat and cover tightly with a lid. Leave for three to four minutes.
- Strain and cool.
- Drink warm, adding honey to taste. You are allowed to drink up to six glasses a day.
Bearberry is popular among women who are about to finish breastfeeding. It very gently helps relieve the symptoms of stopping breastfeeding. According to its principle of action, the plant is similar to lingonberries: it removes excess fluid from the body, thereby preventing the flow of milk to the ducts.
It is worth considering that bearberry does not affect the process of nutrient fluid production itself, so you cannot count on a quick effect. The infusion of the plant helps to alleviate the woman’s condition, the breasts remain soft, there is no pain in the mammary glands.
Bearberry is effective due to its diuretic effect. Therefore, your doctor may recommend taking the infusion for several weeks or months until the milk has completely left the breast. To prepare the drink you will need dried and crushed leaves.
- Pour two tablespoons of dry raw materials into 400 ml of boiling water.
- Cover tightly with a lid and leave to steep for at least two hours.
- Divide into three parts and take in the morning, at lunch and in the evening before meals.
Bearberry is safe for babies, so many doctors recommend starting to drink the infusion a few days before you completely stop breastfeeding your baby. Thus, on the first day of stopping breastfeeding, the mammary glands will not be filled with milk too much, and the woman will not experience discomfort associated with the cessation of lactation.
Sage is the most famous and popular folk remedy that has proven its effectiveness many years ago. And today, modern gynecologists primarily recommend that women who decide to complete breastfeeding drink an infusion of this particular herb. During consumption, the production of the hormone prolactin in the body is reduced, which leads to a decrease in milk production.
The big advantage is that sage is harmless to the health of the baby. Therefore, you can start taking the infusion a few days before the baby is completely weaned from the breast.
Sage infusion is the most popular remedy for completing lactation.
To prepare the infusion you will need a dry plant. It can be bought at any pharmacy. The cost of one package is very low.
- Pour one teaspoon of sage into a glass of boiling water.
- Cover with a lid and leave to steep for at least one and a half hours.
- Strain the drink and cool.
- Divide into four servings and drink before meals 4 times a day.
On the shelves of pharmacies you can see sage in bags. Many women buy this particular form to make brewing easier. However regular tea will not be as effective as an infusion. This fact should be taken into account during the period of cessation of lactation.
Compresses to stop lactation
Another very well-known way to complete breastfeeding is the use of compresses. Some of them are recommended to be done only at night, others - during the day, periodically changing the dressings. Before using this method, it is better to consult a specialist. The gynecologist will palpate the mammary glands and tell you how to apply the bandage correctly.
Sometimes this method is effective not only during the completion of lactation, but also for relieving inflammation in the breast if milk stagnation has formed in the ducts.
Camphor oil compress
The use of camphor oil during the period of stopping breastfeeding began quite a long time ago. The principle of action is based on a warming effect, which is why the compress is recommended to be applied at night.
- Heat camphor oil in a water bath until warm.
- Apply to chest. You can use a bandage or gauze soaked in the product.
- Take an elastic bandage or diaper and tie it around the mammary glands.
You cannot bandage your chest tightly to avoid fluid stagnation.
- Tie a warm scarf or scarf on top.
- Leave the compress on all night.
The main condition for achieving the effect is to keep the chest warm. After applying the bandage, a woman may experience a slight tingling sensation, as if the mammary glands are warming up. This is fine.
Camphor oil can be applied directly to the chest or soaked into a section of bandage.
Before applying the bandage, you can massage the mammary glands using camphor oil. Kneading movements will be a good prevention of milk stagnation. If, after removing the compress, the breasts are hard and painful, you need to express some fluid until relief occurs.
Cabbage leaf compress
Cabbage leaves have anti-inflammatory properties, so this compress is often used by women who have stopped breastfeeding.
- Take two cabbage leaves and wash them well under running cold water.
- For better effect chill in the refrigerator for two hours.
- Press them with your hands so that a small amount of juice comes out.
- Place it on your chest and cover it with an elastic bandage or gauze.
Some women simply put them in their bra. But the main rule is that the sheet should fit tightly to the skin of the mammary glands.
- After three to four hours, the compress can be changed.
Cabbage leaves help relieve inflammation in the breast during lactation.
This procedure can be performed once or several times a day for a week. If a woman feels lumps, pain, or increased body temperature, it is better not to self-medicate and consult a doctor.
Other folk remedies for completing breastfeeding
Among folk remedies, breast tightening is often distinguished. This method is familiar to more than one generation of women. And even today, when modern medicine does not recognize it as effective, many young mothers use contraction of the mammary glands to prevent milk from flowing.
The principle of this method is simple: previously it was believed that it was enough to express the breast until it was completely empty, tie it tightly with an elastic bandage or diaper and leave it in this position for a day, two or even longer. Liquids simply will not be able to enter the ducts, and the milk will burn out on its own.
Gynecologists warn young mothers not to tighten the mammary glands under any circumstances. Milk production is controlled by hormones, which will not disappear from the body just because the breasts are bandaged. Liquid will still begin to form, but due to compression of the ducts, stagnation may appear, turning into lactostasis, and then into mastitis. Treatment started at the wrong time very often causes surgical intervention
