Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds - 8/22/2007

Question
Hi Sally! Just yesterday I stopped my 20 month old daughter from breastfeeding. My mother gave me some advice as to how to stop, putting vinegar on my nipples, it actually worked. She smells and tastes it and drinks from her sippy or bottle. I would usually give her milk when she woke up, naptime, and at night so she wasn't exclusively just on breastmilk and too used to it. I would like to know what at home remedies i could use to stop engorement and lactation. Another quick question... She's becoming really fussy and just mad about everything, is this because of the weaning and if it is what should i do? THANKS SO MUCH!!!!

Answer
Dear Bree,

First, congratulations for giving your daughter the best start in life by breastfeeding her!

I am attaching an excerpt from my book (see below) with suggestions to stop engorgement and lactation. As far as your baby's fussiness, yes, it could very well be because of the weaning -- this is a big adjustment for a baby! The best thing to do is give her lots and lots of attention -- especially physical affection (cuddling, time on your lap) and one-on-one time with you (reading, walking in the park, playing baby games).

Good luck!

Sally

Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters.
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from CHAPTER 18: WEANING YOUR CHILD

It may take several months for you to lose the bulk of your milk, even though none may be apparent within days after the last nursing session. Some women are able to express a drop or two of milk from their breasts up to several years after weaning. Remember that nipple stimulation promotes milk production, so if you are always checking for milk, you are likely to find some. Also, consistent nipple stimulation during sexual activity can result in slight milk secretion for some time.
  It may also take several months for your breasts to return to their former size. They will most likely be less firm than they were before you became pregnant, but this is the result of childbearing, not breastfeeding. They will probably seem to be the same size they were before your pregnancy, although some women feel that their breasts become larger or smaller after nursing. This may have something to do with the amount of weight gained or lost or with their having become accustomed to having larger breasts.
  If you wean slowly, you should have little or no discomfort from milk pressure. You'll gradually produce less and less milk until there's virtually none at all to speak of. If at any point during weaning, your breasts become overfull, you can express just enough milk to ease your discomfort, or you can put your child to the breast for a minute or two (if she's willing to stop at that). Don't overdo it or you'll just encourage your breasts to continue producing copious amounts of milk. If you're uncomfortably full most of the time, slow down the pace of weaning.
  If you have to wean suddenly, you are likely to be quite uncomfortable for several days unless you're producing very little milk. You can hasten the drying-up process and minimize discomfort in a few ways. You'll want to wear a firm, but not too tight, bra, perhaps in a size larger than the one you usually wear. You can also relieve discomfort by expressing just enough milk to ease the pressure on your breasts. And you may also get relief from icepacks applied to the breasts several times a day. Ask your doctor to prescribe a pain-reliever, which can be relatively strong, since you don't have to worry about the medication reaching your child.
  Two once popular remedies are no longer recommended. One, binding your breasts, can actually make you feel worse and cause a plugged duct besides. And medicine to dry up your milk usually didn't work and often had unpleasant side effects; it has been taken off the market for this purpose.