Weaning my baby & drying up breastmilk naturally

Rocks under the skin. River rocks, maybe some a bit jagged, like the ones from our yard. Compacted under my skin until you can’t shove any more in there, then, just add a few more. That’s what I tell my husband, even though he didn’t ask for an explanation. It has been almost three years since I weaned a baby off the breast. Honestly, I don’t remember anything about the last time except the pain. Excruciating pain. How did I wean him? What did I do about the pain? I have no clue. So it’s as if I’m starting from square one. Like it’s the first time all over again. And it sucks. It really sucks. Here’s a good rabbit hole to fall down if you’re considering weaning your baby and drying up breastmilk naturally.

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This is not an article about baby led weaning. Not even close. It’s about a mother making a choice for the best. For my family and my sanity. 

My boy is 19 months. We’ve been nursing, all day, all night for 19 months. That’s longer than my last by a few months and my last really did most of the hard work himself. Gus, my current baby, would keep nursing until he went to school if he could. He’s a comfort kid. He eats a ton of food during the day. He has never slept through the night in his life, no matter what ‘strategy’ I apply. Never works. That happens. Babies don’t sleep sometimes. Toddlers through tantrums. It’s just life. 

How long does drying up breastmilk naturally usually take?

The internet literally was no help. Some sites said days, some said weeks. It’s varies depending on how often you were nursing. 

My hope is that this article will be a bit more specific and helpful. My 19 month old was nursing through the night when we stopped. Waking anywhere between 3-6 times a night. Some nights it felt like every hour. 

I decided against a pumping/weaning schedule because I just went gung ho. All in. Cold turkey.  

I pumped Wednesday night before bed time since we usually nursed to sleep and I was in excruciating pain. 

Five days in and the mountains have not turned into mole hills…if you catch my drift. It doesn’t hurt as much. Today is better than yesterday and yesterday was better than Saturday. 

It feels as though I’m not making any more milk, but the milk that’s in there is just sitting in there not receding much. 

I don’t ‘hand express’ because I never figured it out and they’ll just leak on their own as needed. 

**update: officially eight days in and its finally receding. much less pain but still pain

What can you do to naturally dry up breastmilk?

There are so many things people will tell you, from cabbages to Sudafed. I did try the Sudafed for a day or two when I weaned my first. I personally felt it made zero difference. Apparently, it just is supposed to dry you up. 

This time around I certainly didn’t want to opt for taking random pharmaceuticals out of desperation. 

1. Cabbages…what’s up with them? Is that a real thing? Does it actually work? Seemingly, yes. There’s science behind it. And just the cold compress aspect is helpful enough. . I leave them on until they start to wilt and the juices release. A good tip is to wait until you can start to smell the Brussels sprout scent. 
2. Frozen wash cloths. I have thin wash cloths and tissues that are reusable for the kids so I dampened those and stuck them in the freezer for 10 minutes. I’m telling you what, the cold is the only relief I got with the swelling. 
3. Cotton bralettes and sports bras that are supportive and somewhat binding but not overly suffocating.  My mother in laws advice on binding is that it’s a good thing and her mother did it to her. She never really said if it actually helped the pain because all she remembers is the pain. The internet says otherwise and claims it puts you at higher risk for mastitis. 
4. Good herbal drinks. Sage, parsley, mint, and I’ve seen oregano recently too. I haven’t tried it myself, but it wouldn’t hurt to throw it into my no more milk mama recipe (recipe to be posted soon!) Topically, I tried using peppermint essential oil in the morning and jasmine, with lavender and chamomile at night. If you don’t want to make your own, Earth mama Makes a great tea.

**KEEP DRINKING LOTS OF WATER** 

Decreasing my water intake thinking ‘oh if I’m a little dehydrated maybe it’ll dry up my milk supply.’ Nope. Tried it. Didn’t help. Actually, drinking ice cold water more frequently helped. The first four days I didn’t drink a ton of water and I wish I hadn’t. I read somewhere in the web of research that your body needs to be hydrated because your blood needs to be oxygenated to reabsorb the milk….or something like that. I apologize for not saving that source, but I am sure if you look hard enough, you’ll find the research yourself.

• 5. Pillow barrier for the kiddos was up when we were playing and I don’t want to get hit to hard. I have two young, wild boys so they tend to rough house. 

• 6. Rest, rest, rest. Probably MY MOST IMPORTANT TIP, besides drinking water. On Sunday, I over did it because I was so ancy about not doing anything. I helped plant and dog in the garden and while that was all fun, I suffered Monday from it. I was more swollen, extra tired, angrier in general. No bueno. I set myself back a day. 

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Drying up breastmilk naturally is a marathon. It takes time and, in some cases, a good plan. I didn’t have much of a plan, so I’d recommend thinking one out ahead of time. Meal prep too. I didn’t do that, and I wish I had. I could’ve saved myself so much stress if I had some freezer meals I could’ve whipped up in advance.

How I helped my baby through the transition of drying up my milk supply

Big dinner for baby. He eats a ton any way so that wasn’t a problem.

Have milk for him during bedtime. On hand, filled up, asking as needed. 

Keeping him up a bit later. Not too late because I don’t need an overly tired babe. 

Keep the same routine. We still read stories and play a little then sing a song with our bear bear, and it’s time for bed. 

A water bottle, that closes securely, in the crib for the night if he wakes up and gets thirsty. He has something that won’t spoil and I can grab quickly.

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For my baby, he really just wants comfort. So as long as we keep co sleeping and he’s next to me, he seems to be taking well the the change. It took about three nights, maybe four, for him to not fuss over not nursing. He still wakes maybe once or twice and calls for me, but once he’s in my arms he’s out again. 

The first night, by some miracle, he fell sleep almost INSTANTLY. Within ten minutes. I was shocked and elated and in awe. Compared to the 30-60 minute time I would spend nursing and transferring him to bed. 

What’s the hardest part about drying up breastmilk naturally?

Not being able to hold them and cuddle as closely as I want. Temporarily, of course. The pain hurts too greatly to have even the slightest touch. 

I can’t lift my arms over my shoulders. My back hurts from hunching over with the weight of milk in front of me. It’s just like I’ve had to call in sick from my work for three days. 

Oh yeah. The hormones. I’m so angry one minute, then I want to cry and break down the next. Then I just feel silly and laugh fifteen minutes later about it. It’s a roller coaster of emotions that’s for sure. Which can be difficult navigating, but there are simple ways to help.

My wonderful husband has stepped in and taken the kids more, and extended me a lot of extra grace because he knows how much pain I’m in. He’s cooked most of the meals the last few days. Simultaneously, going to work and school full time. 

Weaning is a great time the call the relatives in for backup and support! Especially if you go cold turkey like me and are drying up breastmilk naturally without drugs as a quick fix.

Oh, oh, oh how our adventures in natural parenting are challenging yet strengthening! 

If you have any other specific questions that I didn’t answer, reach out or leave a comment! 

In gratitude, 

Tayler