Breastfeeding/Stop lactation

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Expert: - 8/1/2007


Question
I had my son 8 and a half months ago and never breastfed, but I am still lactating. Is this normal and if not how can I make it stop. My doctor told me to bind my breast for 7 days straight but I can't sllep and because I am in the military it makes it extremely difficult to function at work.

Answer
Hello Natasha - Thank you for your contact.  I'm glad to see you have already consulted with your doctor on this. And typically if you don't breastfeed at all, your lacatation process ceases anywhere from 2 days to two weeks with your body regulating the production based on need.  In your instance, nature is causing your body to be continuing to produce breast milk possibly from a number of stimulates from something maybe in your diet, to friction from clothes you wear, your biochemistry/hornonal levels...but none the less, I agree with your doctor that you do need a consistent run of days to focus on constricting movement of the breast and the breast milk producing membranes.  Given your situation of not being able to bind at work...(actually you don't want to "bind" as that can easily clog ducts) BUt you can use something like the LaMa Bra http:///www.lamabra.com that will apply the appropriate amount of pressure to your breasts and also the cold form fitting gels packs to comfortably reduce breast milk production...you most likely don't ahve engorgement and I'm guessing your production is still light, but nonetheless if you want to stop, try that and use the cold packs as much as you can...discreetly at work and also at night.  Good Luck!  If that still doesn't eliminate your production after a week to ten days, do see your doctor again.

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Sue Ennis

Expertise

I am looking to support the segment of mothers that encounter engorgement issues that prevent them from continuing to breastfeeding, those that do not breastfeed or are ready to start weaning. As an aside, I wish to add that questions asked in terms of those not breastfeeding will not be given guilt for their choice. In many forums, including this one, there is currently no category developed for this "not breastfeeding" audience. I do believe that breastfeeding is best for both mother and child, however, I believe more strongly that there is a lack of support for the woman that for either personal or medical reasons cannot breastfeed. My strengths would be in answering questions related to stopping breast milk production comfortably either right after delivery or after nursing their children for some time, reducing breast engorgement pain and dealing with overactive lactation. Questions I would not try to answer are those tied to emotional feelings as I feel many times women that don't/can't breastfeed struggle with it...and that should be directed to the appropriate counseling channel.

Experience

I am the inventor and founder of LaMa Bra and for years have researched the human body functions, both in process and emotions/hormones to develop a bra to help mother slow or stop their breast milk.

Education/Credentials
I hold a BS in General Biology, a MS in Human Nutrition and an MBA in Marketing.
Also, am the the founder of LaMa Bra found at http://www.lamabra.com that has helped many women with engorgement while breastfeeding and through stages of weaning when ready to stop breastfeeding.

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