Your Milk

*I’m not a doctor, and this is not medical advice.  It is just my experience.*

I wanted to dry up my milk as soon as possible.  I had a very healthy milk supply with my first two living children and my supply after Tinsley’s delivery was no different.

I became extremely engorged within the first couple days, although I tried all the suggestions below.

• Wear a tight sports bra
• Put cold cabbage leaves on your breasts/in your bra
• Ice your chest
• Avoid hot showers
• Avoid touching or stimulating your breasts
• Drink Peppermint or Sage teas.

What finally worked for me: Taking Sudafed and binding my chest with an ace bandage.  I had my husband wrap my chest as tightly as I could stand it.   I hand expressed a couple ducts in the shower when the pain became unbearable. This was a really physically painful process for me.  It took about 5 days of intense binding for it to stop and a full month for the leaking to stop.  13 weeks out, I still experiencing leaking on occasions (particularly when I’m crying or thinking about Tinsley.  Our bodies are amazing).

Some mothers choose to pump and donate their breastmilk.  I don’t know much about this, but if you are interested in this route, the Human Milk Banking Association of North America seems like a good place to start your research.