Decrease in breast milk. Natural cessation of lactation. Tight bandaging of the breast to stop lactation

22.07.2019

Breast milk is the healthiest food for babies in their first year of life. Only it is able to provide a full range of necessary nutrients, strengthen immunity. But often a woman is faced with a situation where feeding must be interrupted. For this, it is important to know how to stop breast milk lactation correctly?

Weaning occurs for a variety of reasons. Most often this is due to the fact that the child grows up, it must be given to kindergarten. In order for the adaptation in the children's institution to be favorable for the baby, it is necessary that he does not feel discomfort. And if he is breastfed during this period, separation from his mother will become a real stress.

It is necessary to transfer children to bottle feeding already 1.5-2 months before the mother goes to work or sends them to kindergarten.

Breast milk suppression may resolve naturally in the presence of the following factors:

When a child is 3 years old, the composition of milk changes, it begins to resemble colostrum. In addition, the intensity of its production is noticeably reduced.
By the age of three, the nervous system is established in children, the sucking reflex fades.
At this age, children no longer need to be attached to the mother's breast.
It will be possible to complete feeding naturally only if the mammary glands are not completely filled.

Breastfeeding can only be stopped if the mother and child sleep separately. Even if the baby asks for a breast at night, he needs to be fed and laid back in his crib.

After the birth of a child

Women often have to deal with the inability to breastfeed their baby. Someone cannot do this because of their health condition, and sometimes the baby is too weak and cannot breastfeed on his own.

It is important to reduce lactation, but not completely extinguish it. so that the mother has the opportunity to resume breastfeeding when she recovers. How to do this is the topic of the publication.

Not always the desire to breastfeed the child coincides with the capabilities of the mother. Sometimes this is not possible because of her illness or the child himself. It is also necessary to stop lactation quickly and safely even if the baby was born dead. For this, medical methods are used.

In the first few days, a woman has colostrum. Milk comes only on the third day. Due to the fact that the removal of milk from the breast does not occur, the woman begins to be disturbed by soreness, redness, and the temperature rises. Complete extinction is possible only after two weeks.

A woman must wear a tight bra. He should not squeeze the chest much, but he needs to keep his shape well.
At home, apply cold compresses to the chest.
You can not allow an excess of milk. If it becomes too much, you need to gradually decant.
In order to relieve pain, you can take drugs based on paracetamol.

It is impossible to stop lactation quickly. To do this correctly, you will need to achieve a gradual decrease in lactation.

By woman's decision

Often, after the birth of a child, a woman is under stress, especially if this is the first child in the family.

Often the thought of how to stop lactation at home occurs in women due to severe fatigue.

Night feedings take a lot of strength from the mother, because of the state of health, not everyone can withstand such a regimen. It is best to return to this issue when the child is 1.5 years old.

To stop lactating breast milk quickly, the following steps are recommended:

First of all, you need to remove feeding during the waking period.
Do not put the baby to the chest immediately after he woke up.
Gradually remove night feedings, accustom the child to fall asleep without a breast.

This technique will have an effect only after two to three months.

Physiological ways to stop lactation of breast milk

In order to competently stop lactation, a woman needs to follow certain recommendations:

Feeding should be reduced by one every two weeks. By the end of the period, only one feeding remains.
To satisfy the child's sucking reflex, you need to offer him a bottle of drink.
Mom will need to reduce the amount of fluid she drinks per day.
With discomfort in the chest, you can decant a little.

Natural Ways

The body of a woman is designed in such a way that the amount of milk produced depends on how often the baby will be applied to the breast. Milk will gradually decrease if you feed your baby less often.

During the period of cessation of lactation, it is necessary to express until relief is felt in the chest. You can't empty your chest completely..

If a woman feels a seal in the mammary gland, she needs to quietly express her breast completely so that the seal resolves. This is necessary to avoid inflammation. It is strictly forbidden to apply warm compresses to the places of compaction so that purulent mastitis does not form.

Dr. Komarovsky tells whether it is necessary to feed a child until the woman’s milk completely disappears and what breastfeeding experts advise:

Effective folk remedies

Folk methods are very popular, how to quickly stop lactation. Unlike drugs, they act more slowly, but are considered the safest.

The most effective recipes are:

Folk methods may be safer, but not faster

Recommended to stop lactation use diuretics. The most popular is the collection of sage and mint. To suppress lactation, one tablespoon of crushed sage leaves should be poured with a glass of boiling water. You need to insist it for an hour. Take the resulting solution 4 times a day, 50 ml. Sage not only has a beneficial effect on reducing milk production, but also helps improve women's health.
Peppermint helps to reduce the level of milk production. To prepare the product, 5 teaspoons of mint leaves are steamed in 300 ml of boiling water. The herb should be infused for one hour. You need to drink such a remedy, dividing the resulting portion into three times.
Cowberry leaf helps effectively. You can include tea with lingonberries in your daily diet. It acts as a diuretic. To brew a lingonberry leaf, pour 1 tablespoon of raw materials into glasses of boiling water. After half an hour, you can take it 1/3 cup three times a day.

It is important to remember that folk methods will not help instantly. Most often they are suitable for women who want to gradually wean the baby from the breast. If you need to reduce lactation for medical reasons quickly, this method will not work.

Compresses

It is important to know how to stop lactating breast milk correctly. Incorrect completion of feeding can lead to breast problems, inflammation. Compresses and breast wraps help to reduce milk production and alleviate the condition of a woman.

Cabbage leaf will not only help stop lactation, but also prevent the development of lactostasis.

A compress can be made from cabbage leaves. They are beaten a little so that the juice goes. Softened sheets are applied to the chest and changed every hour.

This is one of the most effective methods that prevents the development of lactostasis.. The compress will lead to a decrease in milk production, and, consequently, lactation will gradually decrease.

An effective way to stop lactation of breast milk at home is a camphor oil wrap. It can be used both as a compress and for rubbing. To carry out the procedure, it is necessary to prescribe a bandage or a napkin with camphor oil, attach it to the chest and warm it from above. The disadvantage of this is that the oil has a too pungent odor.

Preparations for stopping lactation

Unlike folk methods of eliminating lactation, medical methods much faster help to cope with a decrease in milk production. Women cannot do without drugs after miscarriages, stillborn children.

The appointment of tablets should be in the following cases:

If the decision to stop breastfeeding is finally made, since after taking the drugs it will no longer be possible.
Only a doctor should prescribe drugs, as they have many side effects.
You need to take pills only in cases where you need to stop lactation urgently.
Caution should be taken with hormonal drugs. They can not be taken with varicose veins, diseases of the liver and kidneys, high sugar levels.

Any drugs aimed at suppressing milk should be prescribed by a doctor. Many of them are hormonal, and this requires strict adherence to the dosage.

Name of the drug	Advantages	Flaws
BROMCRYPTIN	You can take the drug immediately a few hours after childbirth, which took place naturally or artificially. The advantage of the tool is milk recovery if necessary after finishing taking the pills.	When taking tablets, dizziness, weakness, nausea may occur. If side effects occur, the doctor can either reduce the dosage of the drug or add corrective medications.
BROMCAMPHORA	The advantage of the drug: it belongs to sedatives, helps relieve nervous tension. Improves the work of the heart. Full completion of milk production occurs on the 8-9th day after starting the pills. Despite the fact that the drug is intended to reduce the level of lactation, milk production does not stop completely. It can be restarted if desired.	For those who want to quickly stop lactation, this remedy is not suitable. It is not designed to quickly stop production. Of the side effects, the drug can cause drowsiness.
DOSTINEX	The drug is aimed at suppressing the hormone prolactin. Its decrease is observed within three hours after ingestion. Tablets are taken once, immediately on the first day after childbirth.	Tablets lower blood pressure. The drug belongs to the hormonal, therefore it must be taken strictly according to the scheme following the doctor's recommendations. May cause drowsiness, therefore not recommended for use while driving.
MICROFOLLIN	Tablets are aimed at lowering the activity of the mammary glands.	The drug has many contraindications, so it intake must be strictly supervised by specialists. When taking the remedy, women may be disturbed by uterine bleeding. There is a risk of breast cancer.
PARLODEL	This drug designed to stop milk production after abortion or for medical reasons.	The remedy is contraindicated for women with impaired blood pressure and heart disease. As side effects, allergic reactions, convulsions, shortness of breath, nasal congestion are possible.
CABERGOLINE	Tablets prevent and suppress lactation.	Sleep disturbance and dizziness may occur. With great care, you can use the drug for heart disease.

What contraceptives exist during breastfeeding and which is better: Charozetta or Lactinet is the topic of this article.

What not to do when weaning

Ending breastfeeding should be gentle for both mother and baby. The main thing is not to cause great harm to the baby. Mom should be as attentive as possible during this period, give the child as much time as possible.

I think that the best way is to gradually reduce the number of attachments of the baby to the breast. This will reduce stress.

But many mothers are most interested in how to stop lactation without pills. First of all, weaning must be structured in such a way that it does not become a trauma for the child. There are some tips:

You should not use the recommendation, leave and leave the child for a few days with his grandmother. It's stressful for the baby. He is immediately deprived of not only the opportunity to suckle the breast, but also to be close to the most important person for him.
It is recommended to take milk suppression drugs only in case of miscarriage, when milk must be stopped urgently. With a gradual decrease, it is recommended to use folk methods and ways to gradually reduce the amount of application to the chest.
You can not lubricate the chest with mustard and other spicy foods. This will not easily scare the child, but it can also ruin his stomach.
It is very dangerous to overtighten. At the same time, the milk ducts are clamped, milk remains there. The formation of stagnation leads to the development of mastitis.
If the baby is sick or teething, weaning should be postponed.

Conclusion

Stopping breastfeeding is a serious and difficult step for both mother and child. The main thing is to be patient. Cessation of lactation is a complex and lengthy process. To do everything right and not have negative consequences, you need to take your time and follow all the recommendations.

The most common problem for young mothers is an additional increase in milk production so that the baby is full and does not have to be transferred to artificial feeding. There is also the opposite problem. Sometimes doctors forbid breastfeeding due to illness of the mother. Some women have a lot of milk left when the time has come for the baby to switch to adult nutrition. In these cases, the question arises how to reduce excessive lactation in the shortest possible time.

There are many different ways to reduce it. These include medication methods, the use of folk remedies, reducing lactation in a natural way.

It happens that the baby has already been completely transferred to artificial feeding, and the mother’s milk has not disappeared.

Why might lactation reduction be necessary?

To choose the right method, doctors must take into account the reason why a woman wants to stop breastfeeding (more in the article:). If the mother simply has too much milk and the baby does not eat it in a day, it is enough to follow a certain diet to reduce the amount.

If the nursing mother was forbidden to breastfeed the baby for health reasons and it is necessary to wean the baby from the breast, you can not do without taking medications. They are not as harmless as other means, but they are necessary.

The main reasons for the need to reduce lactation:

After childbirth, the health of the mother and baby may require a temporary cessation of feeding.
Personal reasons, which include an urgent business trip, departure, relocation, time-consuming and stressful work. If the cause is temporary, lactation-reducing agents are used.
Profuse milk production. The mother has to express her breast all the time. From insufficiently complete pumping, mastitis or lactostasis may develop.
The most common reason is the cessation of breastfeeding due to the age of the child. Mom's maternity leave is coming to an end and she can no longer breastfeed her baby, weaning the baby from the breast is required.

If you have not contacted a specialist, remember that before medical termination of lactation, the child must completely switch to adult food. While he still occasionally sucks his mother, neither herbal preparations nor medicines can be taken.

Methods of natural reduction

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know from me how to solve exactly your problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!

Their advantage is that the mother does not take pills or herbal preparations. Milk gradually ceases to be produced naturally. How to reduce lactation without drugs?

Reducing the number of feedings is a long way, but a sure one. Its efficiency reaches 100%. Milk production gradually decreases until it disappears completely.

First, reduce the number of feedings by one. The missing amount of food the child must receive from artificial nutrition. After 3-4 days, the baby gets used to the new regimen. After that, you can replace another breastfeeding with regular food. After a few more days, refuse the third feeding.

Do not breastfeed your baby at night. In the intervals between feedings, it is necessary to soft breasts, but leave a little milk so that it can burn out.

The replenishment of fluid in the breast of a nursing woman will gradually stop until it disappears completely - this is the most sparing technique. With her, you do not need to take any medications, and you can continue to breastfeed your child 1-2 times a day.

Breast constriction

To stop breastfeeding, a woman sometimes with her towel, diaper, scarf or elastic bandage is "grandmother's" methods. Doctors don't like this kind of stuff.

Violation of blood circulation makes this method unhealthy. Lack of pumping can lead to mastitis. However, many women believe that when pulling, the channels for fluid to enter the breast are blocked and lactation stops.

In terms of reducing lactation, the tug method can be effective, but it can cause multiple physiological disorders of the mammary glands.

Using a breast pump

For some reason, some women believe that milk production can be reduced with the help of. It is not right. The active use of the breast pump, on the contrary, helps to increase the production of fluid in the mammary glands.

All the considered methods are good because the nursing one does not need to take pills and medicinal fees. The baby can continue to receive mother's milk until it disappears completely. If you want to reduce lactation for a while, you should try a special diet.

Reducing lactation with diet

The amount and quality of milk produced by her depends on what and how much a young mother eats. If the diet is aimed at increasing its quantity, the use of other methods will not give the desired result. What should you eat to reduce lactation?

Products that were previously forbidden to a woman during breastfeeding will help to achieve what she wants: spices and hot seasonings, smoked foods, canned food, diuretic drinks. You can use mint or lingonberry decoctions, just without adding milk to them (for more details, see the article:). It is better to refuse fermented milk products or eat them very little, reduce fluid intake - drink no more than 1.5 liters of fluid per day.

Mint decoction will help reduce the amount of breast milk due to the content of some phytohormones in its composition.

Make 2 lists - foods that promote milk production, and foods that help fight it. Include only the latest in the menu.

Prohibitions with a milk-reducing diet:

you can not drink tea with milk;
it is necessary to exclude walnuts, seeds, hazelnuts from the menu;
do not drink carrot juice;
do not drink beer;
do not eat too hot food.

With the above actions, you will reduce lactation, but you will not stop it completely. To stop it is necessary to apply other methods - compresses, medicines, herbal infusions.

When breastfeeding is stopped, the mother may experience pain and discomfort in the chest from abundant filling with fluid, inflammation begins. A similar danger threatens when the baby himself refuses the breast, preferring a bottle with a nipple as the easiest way to feed. To avoid discomfort, you need to follow a few rules:

until the complete cessation of milk production, it is necessary to wear pitted cotton bras;
do not overtighten the chest to avoid inflammation;
the most painless way to reduce lactation is natural, with constant expression of milk in small portions;
reduce your intake of liquids and the above prohibited foods.

The natural way to stop lactation is considered optimal, but only it requires periodic pumping of milk until its production stops.

The use of folk remedies

Folk remedies are used at home - they involve the use of diuretic herbs that remove excess fluid from the body, reduce milk production. Home methods that effectively reduce lactation are very popular. What means to accept?

One of the proven ways is to take bearberry. It is not difficult to find bearberry - it grows in clearings and is inexpensive in a pharmacy. If 30 g of grass is poured with boiling water and taken 1 teaspoon 2 times a day, the excess liquid will go away, milk production will decrease significantly - this is a harmless, fast, reliable way.

Sage has been tested by many mothers who want to reduce lactation. It really reduces milk production

Mom will help the usual parsley growing in every garden. It does not need to be bought or searched in the fields. The use of this herb is attractive because it is used fresh. Mom struggles with excess milk and at the same time continues to breastfeed. Compresses are made from parsley: it must be boiled, chopped, poured with hot boiling water and hot lotions are made on the mammary glands.

Mint (more in the article:) also often grows in the garden. Peppermint tea not only reduces lactation, but has a calming effect on mother and baby. The baby can continue to suck on the mother while she is being treated with mint.

Healing effect of cabbage

The milk-burning properties of cabbage have long been known. In addition, if you make a compress on the chest, the mammary glands will become soft. To reduce lactation, there is such a recipe for a compress: cabbage leaves must be cooled, mashed with your hands or rolled out with a rolling pin so that the juice comes out. Then the leaves are applied to the chest and tied with cloth. Polyethylene should be placed under the fabric on top of the cabbage. Such a compress can be done 1 time per day and kept for an hour. The course of treatment is 1 week.

All these recipes are best used after consulting a doctor. Perhaps he will recommend a certain plant, based on your state of health, the condition of the baby and a certain situation. If there is a need to wean the baby from the breast, because he stopped sucking it, this is one treatment, and when breastfeeding continues, the doctor will prescribe other means.

In the case when herbal treatment does not bring the desired result, the specialist will suggest taking medication.

Questions about breastfeeding excite every young mother. Most often, women experience a lack of nutrient fluid after the birth of crumbs, but some of them face another problem - hyperlactation, which means excess milk production. And this situation causes discomfort not only to the mother, but also to the baby.

Hyperlactation - what is it, why is it dangerous

In medicine, excess milk production in a woman is called hyperlactation. Some people think it's good. But experts refute this assertion. They recommend that mothers who are faced with a similar problem consult a doctor. He will give recommendations on how to reduce the amount of nutrient fluid and normalize the process of breastfeeding.

Excessive milk formation creates certain health risks not only for the mother, but also for the child, therefore, in modern medicine, doctors are trying to cope with this situation as quickly as possible and bring lactation back to normal.

Excess breast milk causes inconvenience in the process of feeding both the mother and the baby

For a woman, a large amount of milk is often the cause of problems:

discomfort and pain in the mammary glands;
lactostasis. The child cannot empty the breast completely, the nutrient fluid stagnates in the ducts, which leads to the formation of seals;
purulent mastitis. Its treatment must begin immediately to prevent an abscess. In this case, antibiotic therapy is used. If the disease is already running, a nursing mother may need surgery.

Many mistakenly believe that a large amount of milk is good for the crumbs. However, for the baby's body, this situation is fraught with a number of consequences:

discomfort during feeding. As soon as the baby begins to suck, liquid begins to stand out from the nipple in a strong stream. The baby chokes, coughs, does not have time to swallow milk, is naughty, cries, because he cannot eat normally;
There are times when a child simply refuses to breastfeed due to the fact that milk is secreted too quickly and abundantly from the mammary gland.
colic and frequent spitting up. Of course, these problems can also occur in babies who eat calmly during feeding. However, in such a situation, the baby often releases the nipple, because he cannot cope with the flow of milk, swallows a lot of air while eating, which leads to pain in the stomach;
indigestion. Doctors explain that milk in the breast is divided into "front" and "back". The first stream, which is released from the nipple much faster and easier, is very rich in lactose - milk sugar, but is practically not saturated with nutritious fats. With hyperlactation, the child drinks only the first portion of the liquid, and so every feeding, so the body is not saturated with fats, the baby feels hungry more often. Mom puts it on her chest, and the situation repeats. With a lack of fat, milk sugar breaks down very quickly. This causes increased gas formation, pain, diarrhea and even vomiting. But with the right ratio of fats and lactose, failures in the work of the digestive organs do not occur;
Often with such symptoms, the child is diagnosed with lactase deficiency. The pediatrician recommends stopping breastfeeding and transferring the baby to the mixture. But experienced specialists, having figured out and found out that a woman has hyperlactation, are in no hurry to cancel breastfeeding. In many cases, as soon as the mother's milk production is adjusted in a normal amount, the baby begins to suck out all the liquid. As a result, the balance of fats and lactose is balanced, and the problem goes away by itself.
lack of weight. Drinking only foremilk, the baby does not receive enough fat, and this is very dangerous for children of the first year of life. Being underweight can lead to rickets, anemia, and other health problems;
excess body weight. Often the situation is exactly the opposite. Due to overeating, the child gains weight very quickly, which also negatively affects his physical development. He cannot learn to roll over, sit up or crawl.

Hyperlactation causes indigestion, leads to underweight or excess body weight in a child

Causes of hyperlactation

Physicians distinguish two forms of this problem. Primary hyperlactation occurs due to hormonal disorders in the body of the woman who has given birth. After the birth of the baby and the separation of the placenta, there is a sharp hormonal restructuring, because the priorities change: if for nine months all organs and systems directed their work towards bearing the fetus, now the main task is to provide the newborn with the necessary nutrition for full growth and development.

Some women after childbirth feel a surge of strength, energy and joy, while others, on the contrary, are exhausted, tired and even fall into a depressive state. This is also due to hormonal changes in the body.

Hormonal disorders can occur due to:

taking contraceptives before pregnancy planning or immediately after the birth of the baby;
the use of serious hormone therapy to treat infertility or prepare a woman for an IVF procedure (in vitro fertilization);
pathology in the work of the ovaries, thyroid gland or pituitary gland.

All this causes the production of excess milk and leads to hyperlactation.

In some cases, the baby refuses the breast, if he cannot cope with the flow of milk in the process of sucking, then the mother is forced to bottle feed him

The secondary form of hyperlactation can be caused by incorrect actions on the part of the nursing mother herself:

shifting the baby from one breast to another during one feeding. Even in the maternity hospital, a breastfeeding consultant or neonatologist emphasizes that the baby must first empty one breast, and only then can it be applied to the other. If a woman neglects this advice, then the baby sucks out only part of the liquid, leaving the other in the ducts, a new portion arrives, which leads to an excess of milk in the mammary glands;
frequent pumping until completely empty. From the older generation, you can hear that after feeding, the breast must be decanted so that not a drop of milk remains in it. But obstetricians and gynecologists are categorically against this method. The fact is that the nutrient fluid is produced according to the supply-demand principle: how much the baby ate in one feeding, so much will come to the next. But if you completely empty your chest after each meal with a crumb, more and more milk will come, which will lead to hyperlactation;
the use of lactic acid preparations. Many mothers worry too much about the fact that the baby does not have enough food. They do everything to make more milk. This desire often leads to problems.

Alarm signal: signs of excess milk production

A woman should be alerted by the following symptoms, which signal a problem:

feeling of discomfort and pain in the chest (mammary glands are heavy, painful, swollen). A young mother constantly feels hot flashes, even after feeding the baby, there is no relief;
frequent stagnation of milk and the formation of seals in the mammary glands;
the baby cannot suck normally due to the strong flow of fluid;
incessant flow of milk from the nipples.
A breastfeeding mother has to constantly use breast pads to prevent her clothes from getting wet.

What to do: methods for eliminating hyperlactation

If a young mother has found signs and symptoms of hyperlactation, she should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will conduct an examination, ask about the baby's feeding regimen, his well-being and weight gain. All these facts will help the specialist to draw up the correct clinical picture and prescribe adequate, and most importantly, effective treatment.

Sometimes a gynecologist may recommend that a woman be tested for hormones in order to identify possible malfunctions in the work of some organs and systems. Do not neglect this advice, perhaps the problem lies much deeper and is caused by the onset of a serious illness.

Do not be afraid to go to the doctor: in some situations, only a doctor can draw up an effective treatment plan

Do not think that the doctor will prescribe pills, thanks to which the problem will be solved by itself. This is not so: the treatment will last a certain period of time, a revision of the feeding regimen and, possibly, a correction of the mother's diet will be required.

The treatment plan for excess milk production also depends on the breastfeeding period. If there is a lot of nutrient fluid after childbirth, then it is necessary to normalize lactation and set the woman up for long-term breastfeeding. But the process of reducing milk production with gradual weaning requires a completely different approach, because the main goal will be the complete cessation of breastfeeding after a while.

Table: how to reduce milk production during different periods of breastfeeding

Period of hyperlactation	Methods for eliminating hyperlactation
After childbirth: the formation of lactation	give the baby one breast during one feeding. The baby must completely empty the mammary gland. If he could not cope with such a volume of milk, in no case do not express the rest, but offer the baby the same breast next time. Thus, lactation will decrease naturally and gradually the nutrient fluid will arrive exactly as much as the child needs; alternate the mammary glands by the hour. Breastfeeding consultants refer to this technique as block feeding. Its principle is as follows: it is necessary to divide the day into parts, for example, by two or four hours. In the morning, you give your baby the right breast and feed only her for the selected period of time. Then change the breast and for the next 4 hours apply the baby only to the left. In a week, with the help of this technique, you can cope with hyperlactation; stop pumping completely. The more you empty your breast, the more milk will come. It is allowed to express a little liquid until relief in case of severe swelling of the mammary gland; help reduce the flow of milk to the ducts. This is useful if, during feeding with one breast, the second one is too full, and the woman experiences pain. You can wrap a piece of ice in gauze and wipe the mammary gland: cold slows down blood circulation. Cabbage leaf compresses have proven themselves well. They are allowed to be done constantly, which will help not only alleviate the condition, but also relieve inflammation; reduce the consumption of warm liquids (tea, broth, soup, etc.); use a pacifier to soothe the baby. As you know, the baby requires the breast not only for food, but also for comfort. Therefore, if you are sure that the child is full, offer him a pacifier when he cries; do not massage the mammary glands if you do not have congestion or lactostasis. Kneading the breast leads to the production of oxytocin, and this has a positive effect on the flow of fluid to the ducts. For the prevention of seals, only light massage is allowed for a short time, no more than three to four minutes.
During breastfeeding: mature lactation
During weaning: involution of lactation	gradually reduce the frequency of feedings. The baby is already eating solid food, so to reduce the amount of milk, first remove the daytime attachments to the breast, then at bedtime, and lastly - at night; distract the baby, for example, come up with a new game that will interest him. The less the baby suckles the breast, the less nutrient fluid is formed; do not ignore the feeling of discomfort. If the breasts are too full and swollen, express some milk; use means to stop lactation, for example, teas, infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs.

What is the most convenient way to feed the baby during the treatment of hyperlactation

Until the production of breast milk is normal, the woman still continues to feed the baby. Breastfeeding consultants give several recommendations on how to make this process more comfortable for the child:

before you give the breast to the baby, it is necessary to express a little "forward" milk. Then the flow of fluid will not be so rapid, and fat-rich food will enter the body of the crumbs;
feed in the supine position. Lay out a fast-absorbing diaper, lie down yourself and put the baby next to him, give him the breast. During suckling, if there is too much milk, it will flow out of the corner of the baby's mouth. So the baby will not choke;
a woman during feeding half-sitting or lying on her back. Milk will not flow out in such a rapid stream, which will enable the child to calmly suck on the breast;
take a break in the process of feeding: as soon as the flow becomes too strong, remove the baby, and let the liquid drain onto the diaper. Then put your son or daughter to your breast again.

In the semi-sitting position during hyperlactation, the flow of milk is slightly reduced

Means for reducing lactation

There are several ways that modern mothers use to reduce milk production. However, it should be understood that some of them are strictly forbidden to be used while feeding a baby, so as not to harm his health.

Before acting, consultation with a specialist is required. Do not forget that methods that have worked great for another woman can only make things worse for you.

Phytotherapy

Many generations of nursing mothers have used the properties of plants to suppress lactation. Prepare teas, decoctions or infusions and consume them according to the recommended dosage. However, the risks to the health of the child must also be taken into account. For example, sage or bearberry can be drunk and continued feeding. Drinks from them are often recommended by gynecologists to combat hyperlactation after childbirth. But, for example, mint and belladonna, penetrating into breast milk, will adversely affect the health of the baby. Therefore, with the use of medicinal herbs, you need to be very careful.

If the baby does not have an allergic reaction to lingonberries, it is allowed to drink several glasses a day of a decoction of these berries. The plant has diuretic properties, therefore, removes excess fluid from the body, reducing the flow of milk. And in cold weather, lingonberry tea is very useful for the prevention of colds.

Sage is allowed to be taken while breastfeeding

Medications

Many women prefer to solve the problem quickly - take one or more pills. But doctors warn that drugs to stop lactation can cause many side effects, and for some they are generally contraindicated. Therefore, without the recommendation of a gynecologist, they cannot be taken.

It is worth noting that after taking such pills, some women may experience hormonal failure. This entails various problems in the work of organs and systems.

Dostinex is the most popular drug for stopping lactation.

In some cases, when lactation is caused by a strong hormonal failure, all standard recommendations may not work. Then the doctor will prescribe tests for hormones. If the prolactin level is too high, the doctor will be forced to prescribe a medication to block its production in the woman's body.

Compresses

Some compresses do no harm, such as those with ice or cabbage leaves. But after giving birth, many women prefer to use camphor oil to reduce lactation. Doctors warn that camphor, being absorbed into the skin, penetrates into breast milk in large doses. And for a baby, this substance is dangerous to health.

Camphor, getting into the body of a child, even in small quantities, can cause headaches, vomiting, convulsions and even coma. Therefore, you should not continue to breastfeed a baby if a woman has begun to make compresses with this remedy.

Breastfeeding is thought out by nature itself. The female body has been coping with this task for many centuries. And if a young mother does everything right, lactation quickly improves and runs smoothly. But in case of excess milk, it is better to consult a specialist. Fulfilling all the recommendations of the doctor, the woman will quickly bring the GV back to normal and will enjoy the process with the baby.

While many breastfeeding mothers try to increase lactation by all means, some face the opposite problem. Sometimes so much milk is released that it becomes a real test, from which both the baby and the woman suffer. This phenomenon in medicine is called hyperlactation.

What is hyperlactation

With hyperlactation, milk is produced in the female breast so much that it begins to spontaneously flow out. Excess formation of nutrient fluid causes significant problems for both mother and child.

Experts distinguish two forms of hyperlactation.

Signs of increased lactation

Certain symptoms indicate the manifestation of hyperlactation in a woman:

milk constantly and quite abundantly flows from the nipples;
the breast fills up very quickly (for example, the child ate only half an hour ago, and the mother already has a lot of nutrient fluid);
congestion regularly forms in the ducts;
a feeling of heaviness and fullness in the mammary glands does not disappear even immediately after feeding;
milk is released in a strong stream, which prevents the baby from fully sucking;
the baby regularly suffers from colic, which is due to indigestion;
the baby is overweight, clearly exceeding the required norms (although in some cases the reverse situation is observed: the baby is not gaining weight well due to sucking problems).

Photo gallery: manifestations of hyperlactation

When a mother has an excess of milk, the baby's weight often exceeds the established norms. With hyperlactation, milk constantly flows out of the breast, a woman often has to change special pads The feeling of heaviness in the chest does not disappear even after feeding

The negative impact of excess breast milk on the condition of mother and child

Often, hyperlactation becomes a real test for a nursing mother. In addition to the constant flow of milk and pain in the chest, the woman is very tired, cannot sleep normally, and is in a depressed mood.

Hyperlactation negatively affects the physical and mental state of a nursing mother

Another problem associated with excessive lactation is swelling of the breast tissue due to its excessive filling. If at the same time you do not express a little secret, then the situation may worsen (blockage of the ducts, lactostasis, mastitis). For this reason, a woman finds herself in a vicious circle: pumping leads to even more milk production, but it is necessary to avoid complications.

Excessive lactation brings discomfort to the child. Due to the strong flow of fluid, he chokes, turns away, coughs, and sometimes may even refuse to breastfeed.

In addition, the baby manages to get enough of the "front" low-calorie milk, without reaching the most nutritious "back" milk (after all, it does not completely empty the mammary gland, as it should ideally be). At the same time, the crumbs' intestines are filled with a large amount of lactose (milk sugar), which prevents normal digestion: there is rumbling in the abdomen and colic due to the accumulation of gases, green foamy stools. It is clear that because of these problems, the baby will feel bad.

It is interesting that many young mothers associate crying and baby's nervousness with a lack of breast milk, although the problem may lie precisely in hyperlactation - in fact, there is even more nutrition than necessary. And so in the life of a child, due to the inexperience of a woman, additional feeding with an artificial mixture may unreasonably appear.

Saturating the baby with foremilk rich in lactose causes indigestion

Often with hyperlactation in the mother, the baby is overweight. However, in some cases, there is also a lack of body weight: the baby cannot cope with a strong flow of milk and even with frequent sucking does not receive sufficient amounts of food. Both of these situations adversely affect the full development of the child.

Causes of hyperlactation in women

If primary hyperlactation is due to natural causes associated with hormonal changes in the postpartum body, then the secondary (or true) form occurs under the influence of the following factors.

Special feeding techniques to help reduce lactation of breast milk

Lactation can be reduced if feeding is properly organized. The following tricks will help.

Before applying the baby to the breast, it is necessary to express the "forward" milk. This will help the baby quickly get to the nutritious back, and also prevent the appearance of a milk "waterfall", in which it is easy to choke. By the way, these stocks can be frozen and saved for the case when mom needs to be away from home. At the same time, you should not express too much at a time: a smart female body will regard this as a signal for even more increased lactation.
If at the beginning of feeding a woman feels a strong rush of milk, then you need to gently remove the baby from the breast, let the liquid drain onto a towel or diaper and resume applying. With an intensive exit of the nutrient fluid, to give the baby a break, briefly pinch the nipple or push it inward.
So that the baby does not choke, it is optimal to feed him half-sitting, carefully holding the head and back (up to 6 months, you should not keep the baby under the ass). In this case, the baby's head should be located above the female breast. Mom at this time sits, slightly leaning back, which reduces the flow of milk. Another suitable option is for the woman to lie on her side, and the excess nutrient fluid drains onto the diaper from the baby's mouth. You can also put the baby on your chest: under the influence of gravity, the milk simply cannot actively flow out.
Only one breast should be offered to an infant at each feed. If after 1.5-2 hours he wants to kiss again, then you need to give it again. Due to this, the second mammary gland will remain full, and the production of new milk will go much more slowly than in an empty one.
If the previous option does not bring tangible results in a few days, then try offering the baby one mammary gland several feedings in a row, gradually increasing the interval between breast changes (it can even reach 12 hours). Thanks to this method, lactation should return to normal within a week.
As you know, children love to suck on the breast not only because of hunger - it calms them and helps them fall asleep. However, a too “milky” mother cannot afford to indulge the requirements of the crumbs every time - this will be an additional stimulation of lactation for her. Just here the nipple will come to the rescue.

Photo gallery: optimal postures for feeding with hyperlactation

When feeding lying on your side, excess milk will drain from the corner of the baby's mouth, preventing him from choking. When a woman lies on her back, gravity will not allow milk to flow out in a strong stream. If the mother is half-sitting, leaning back a little, the milk will not flow out too intensively.

Situations requiring specialist treatment

If a woman competently uses a variety of methods to reduce the production of breast milk, but there is still a lot of it, then this is a reason to contact a specialist. Perhaps hyperlactation is caused by serious medical reasons, especially if before pregnancy the mother was treated for infertility or used oral contraceptives. A gynecologist-endocrinologist will help to correct the hormonal background, recommend a special diet with the exception of products that stimulate lactation.

There is also such a medical disorder as milk fever, when a lot of nutrient fluid suddenly arrives. Often this is accompanied by an increase in body temperature (sometimes up to 40 degrees), weakness, headache, chills or fever. The slightest touch on the chest causes a woman severe pain. In this situation, it is also necessary to consult a doctor to exclude the risk of inflammation. The specialist will recommend that the mother continue feeding, and put the baby to the breast as often as possible (after all, many, due to inexperience, stop feeding the child so that he does not become infected through milk with an incomprehensible disease).

An experienced gynecologist will help to cope with hyperlactation

How to reduce lactation during weaning

Sooner or later there comes a time when the baby has to be weaned. With the physiological completion of lactation, this occurs naturally and painlessly.

The situation is more complicated when the child needs to be transferred to artificial feeding due to certain circumstances. If the mother is too "milky", then weaning will be problematic for her. When the number of feedings decreases, you need to help the breast to rebuild to a new regimen: for this, in the intervals between applications, the milk is slightly expressed to eliminate discomfort. In addition, you can use additional means, for example, rebuild the diet, drink herbal decoctions in moderation. Gradually, the amount of liquid arriving will decrease, and over time it should completely disappear.

Means for reducing lactation

An integrated approach is needed to combat hyperlactation. If a woman has ruled out pathological hormonal disorders and follows the basic principles of feeding, then the following methods should not be neglected.

It is necessary to reduce in the diet foods that stimulate lactation (these are liquid meals, nuts, dairy products, ginger and others).
It is necessary to limit the drinking regime - do not take large volumes of liquid. This is especially true of herbal teas with the addition of rose hips, chamomile, anise, cumin and others. Conversely, a nursing mother can drink decoctions of herbs such as sage and peppermint (of course, in moderate doses).
Cold compresses, as well as the application of cabbage leaves and the use of camphor oil, will help reduce pain in the chest.

Decoctions of certain herbs, such as sage, help reduce excessive milk production.