What to do to stop milk lactation. How to stop breast milk lactation correctly and quickly - tips and tricks

Many women, sooner or later, may face the need to stop lactation. There are many individual factors that cause this need, but whatever the reason, it makes the new mother think about how to properly stop lactation at home and what possible methods exist for this.

, a physiologically complex process consisting of complete disappearance in a woman breast milk. In order to avoid the hated stretch marks, inflammation or sagging breasts, it is necessary to take into account the physiology of the appearance of breast milk. Like all other organs, the mammary glands function under the influence nervous system and cerebral cortex. The process of formation and excretion of milk is carried out with strictly coordinated interaction with the food, respiratory, reproductive and other centers. Therefore, for a more comfortable adaptation to changes in the body, it is so important to make the process of cessation of lactation gradual and slow.

In any case, it is necessary to understand that even for a two-year-old child, the sudden abolition of breast milk is a violent decision by his mother. However, if termination breastfeeding preferably for a number of reasons, if possible, try to extend the lactation period until the baby is one and a half years old.

Let's consider existing methods cessation of lactation at home.

Natural cessation of lactation

Completion of lactation naturally, can occur in the following cases:

• With long-term feeding. After approximately 2.5 years of feeding, the quantitative composition of breast milk begins to change dramatically. As you know, breast milk consists of permanent components, including: water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and various micro- and macroelements and other substances useful for the development of the child. Changes in the composition of milk occur gradually. When a child reaches 2.5 years of age, the amount of breastfeeding is only 1-2 times a day, and the composition of the milk becomes more similar to colostrum. During this period, the number of leukocytes, immunoglobulins and other anti-infective components increases. By that time, the child’s body is already able to resist viruses and bacteria, and breast milk becomes a kind of help for him, but no longer food.

• Decreased sucking reflex. As the child's nervous system develops, the need for the sucking reflex gradually decreases. Full maturation occurs upon reaching 3-4 years of age, which means that the need for breast milk rich in neurostimulating substances disappears.
• Separate sleep. Without this factor, it is impossible to get rid of breast milk in a natural way. As the baby grows up, it becomes necessary to resort to pedagogical education. Each mother finds her own way to put her child to bed separately, even if sometimes it is not easy. If the baby needs feeding at night, after latching on to the breast, the baby should be put back in the crib. Thus, the period between feedings increases, and the number of feedings gradually decreases.

Method for reducing breastfeeding

For women who gradually reduce their baby's breastfeeding, the problem of getting rid of breast milk does not arise, because it disappears on its own. In addition, as the child grows up, he loses this physiological need. Therefore, the most ideal solution to stop lactation naturally is to reduce the amount. At first, it is possible to reduce one feeding per day. For example, remove the attachment during the day, while the baby is awake. It can be replaced with various cookies and purees. As soon as the child begins to get used to it, you can gradually remove further one feeding at a time. stop completely. Remember to express milk, leaving a small amount in your breast each time. Over time, its production will decrease naturally. Do not allow your chest to expand to avoid inflammation. Over time, the intervals between feedings begin to reach 12-24 hours, and in this case the woman does not experience discomfort in the chest. After some time, you will notice that milk comes less and less often and in smaller quantities. This is the easiest and most natural way to reduce lactation.

Method of reducing lactation using products

There are no products that could simply reduce location to a minimum, although it would seem that nutrition is closely related. Let's look at the situation from the other side. Salty, spicy and smoked foods cause a person to become very thirsty, which in turn will lead to drinking plenty of fluids, and as a result, a flow of milk. Therefore, if you are wondering how to reduce lactation, be sure to limit the consumption of these products and the amount of fluid entering the body.

Traditional methods for stopping lactation

Diuretic herbs

This article discusses methods for reducing lactation at home, which means that first of all everyone will pay attention to folk recipes. To reduce the production of breast milk, decoctions of diuretic herbs are helpful. Such herbs include lingonberry leaves and berries, bearberry leaves, sage, fennel, chicory, nettle, horsetail and other herbs. Decoctions of these herbs will help remove stagnant fluid from the body, as a result, reduce milk production by the mammary glands.

Preparing infusions is not difficult. Take one tablespoon of one of the above herbs, pour it into a mug or thermos and pour 250 ml of boiling water and cover with a lid. After 2 hours, the decoction is ready for use. It is permissible to drink up to 6 glasses of infusion per day. Soon after you start taking it, you will feel significant relief and your milk flow will decrease.

Herbal infusions

You can also purchase herbal infusions directly from the pharmacy. Such teas are brewed and drunk strictly according to the instructions written on the package.

Peppermint infusion has a milder effect. In addition to being a diuretic, it is also a sedative. It is useful to simply add mint to tea; you just need to chop 2 teaspoons of mint and add it to the teapot with black or green tea and enjoy the aromatic and useful decoction. You can drink 3-4 cups of this tea per day. The infusion is made like this: 3 tablespoons of mint per 2.5 cups of boiling water, leave for an hour, filter and drink 300 ml. per day.

All prepared infusions and decoctions should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days.

Sage to reduce lactation

Sage can help reduce and then stop lactation. This herb quickly blocks milk production, helps strengthen a woman’s immune system and has therapeutic effect on her genitourinary system. A decoction of sage is prepared in the same way as other diuretic herbs. Take half a cup 3 times a day cold. You will see the effect after about four days from the start of use, the amount of milk will be significantly reduced.

If you often feel nervous or have a psychologically difficult time, opt for calming herbs such as mint, motherwort, and valerian. Thus, by reducing the amount of any liquid entering your body, you can reduce the supply of breast milk.

Compresses

Also to traditional methods This includes the use of a variety of compresses.

Camphor oil compress

Take camphor oil and massage your breasts (excluding the nipple area) with it every four hours for the next three days, wrap yourself in a warm scarf or downy shawl. If there are painful sensations or severe swelling and tingling, take paracetamol. This massage with camphor oil will make pumping easier.

Cabbage leaf compress

Cabbage is believed to relieve swelling and work as a cold compress, which helps reduce breast milk production and makes breasts softer. To make a compress, you need to take two cabbage leaves and cool them in the refrigerator, which increases the anti-inflammatory properties of cabbage. Next, you should roll them out a little with a rolling pin or simply knead them in your hand to release the juice. Apply the softened leaves to your chest, carefully bandage it or put on a bra. Leave the cabbage leaves for at least an hour until they wilt. You need to do this compress once a day until your condition improves and there is a visible result.

Cold compress

For chest pain, burning and inflammation, it is recommended to use a cold compress. To do this, you need to take ice or any other frozen product from the refrigerator that will be convenient to apply to your chest. Be sure to wrap it in a towel or soft cloth to avoid hypothermia. Apply to the sore chest. You don’t need to hold it for very long, usually a maximum of 20 minutes is enough.

Tablets that stop lactation

In cases where lactation needs to be stopped for some reason as soon as possible, there is no other option but to turn to medications. This method of reducing lactation is gaining popularity among women due to the variety of different tablets available and the quick effect. However, the feasibility of their use has not yet been proven in medical practice.

Before using them, it is important to understand the real need for the application. It occurs in cases where prolactin levels are critically high, and it becomes impossible to stop lactation in other ways. In other cases, the use of tablets is not recommended, since they provoke not only side effects that occur in the short term, but also other problems, such as hormonal disorders.

Most often, doctors prescribe medications such as "Bromocriptine" or . The first remedy is prohibited for use in the USA due to the presence of multiple side effects which he calls. The second can cause headaches, fatigue, and nosebleeds, but is allowed in some countries due to the fewest side effects.

Self-administration of medications

Most medications to reduce breast milk production are hormonal. And it is impossible to say with certainty whether you get more benefit or harm from them.

Therefore, do not take them without a doctor's prescription. Each drug has restrictions on its use. They may cause harmful effects. Most of them should absolutely not be taken by women with diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, kidney disease and some other diseases. Only a gynecologist or other specialist can prescribe treatment. He will determine the required dose of the drug for you, when and how to take it.

List of popular drugs

Today, the most popular drugs to reduce lactation are:

• Norkolut;
• Parlodel;
• Microfollin;
• Acetomepregenol;
• Bromcamphor;
• Turinal;
• Bromcreptine;
• Utrozhestan;
• Orgametril;
• Duphaston;
• Sinestrol;
• Cabergoline;
• Primoluta – bur;
• Dostinex.

They are produced based on varying concentrations of different hormones. The duration of use also varies and ranges from one to fourteen days. These drugs are prescribed if lumps are found in the mammary glands, causing pain, inflammation, or other symptoms indicating the presence of mastitis.

About taking medications:

• Take medications only if really necessary.
• Be sure to consult a specialist.
• Do not exceed the dose prescribed by your doctor.
• During drug treatment, express milk to avoid inflammation.
• If you take the medicine and then begin to feel worse, be sure to consult a doctor. He will change the dose or prescribe a different drug.
• Progestogen-based tablets are considered less dangerous.
• During treatment, breastfeeding the baby is strictly prohibited

If you decide to return your baby to breastfeeding, allow the time necessary for the drug to clear from the body. Then express milk from both breasts. And only after that they begin to feed the child.

Immediately after stopping breastfeeding, slight drops of milk may be released when pressing. However, if milk is detected after six months, this is a reason to immediately contact a gynecologist. This may be a signal of the development of the disease.

After finishing breastfeeding, a woman may often experience discomfort and pain. At this time, the presence of family and friends is so important for a woman, their support not only morally, but also help with housework.

Due to the existing risk of side effects from medications, do not self-medicate. If there is no need for emergency cessation of lactation, do not immediately reach for pills, try resorting to traditional medicine.

Conscious mom pays attention to breastfeeding special attention. She tries to prolong the process, improve milk separation and increase its fat content while the baby needs it. Soon the time comes to switch to regular food, and the breast becomes not a vital source, but a toy. The baby hangs on the nipple, smiles and even bites, but does not leave the mother unattended. Any excitement, irritation or fear causes a desire to attach to the breast, although it is already almost empty. How to stop lactation correctly and not injure the baby? What methods should you use to avoid harming yourself or your baby?

In what cases is it necessary to suppress lactation?

In the old days, infants were breastfed until they gave up on breastfeeding. The process could drag on for 3 or even 5 years. Pediatricians and gynecologists advise modern women to feed a maximum until the age of three, and then gradually wean the baby from the breast. It happens that lactation needs to be stopped urgently.

Good reasons why a mother has to give up breastfeeding are:

• late self-abortion or stillbirth;
• mother's drug or alcohol addiction;
• the mother has malignant neoplasms that require treatment with chemotherapy or radiation;
• herpes infection of the nipples and breasts;
• HIV infection of mother;
• tuberculosis in an acute stage;
• lactose deficiency in an infant;
• antibiotic therapy incompatible with breastfeeding.

It is necessary to slow down lactation when:

• diseases of the mother’s internal organs;
• abnormal structure of the mammary glands and nipples;
• categorical refusal of the child to breastfeed and forced transition to artificial feeding(about the reasons for refusal -).

Stop lactation naturallynecessary when:

1. The little one is over 2.5 years old. By this time, there is almost nothing valuable left in breast milk and its composition resembles colostrum.
2. Sucking reflex. The longer a baby nurses, the slower the nervous system develops. By the age of three, sucking should be replaced by a swallowing reflex.
3. Declining need to attach to the breast. The physiological need for sucking gradually fades away, and is replaced by crawling and walking. The less frequently the baby suckles, the less milk is produced and it disappears.
4. Mom's emotional fatigue. When feeding causes irritation and a desire to free yourself from the baby hanging on your chest.

When is the best time to start?

If we are not talking about emergency weaning, you can understand that it is time to stop breastfeeding based on several signs:

• the child has reached 1.5 years of age and his main milk teeth have grown;
• baby chews solid food and eats regular food 3 times a day;
• he is not indignant when they refuse to breastfeed him and is easily distracted if he is offered a toy, a book, or an interesting new object in return;
• the baby is put to the breast 3-4 times a day;
• he can fall asleep without a breast if you sing him a song or tell him a fairy tale.

If all points are completed, you can safely stop lactation and begin weaning.

Ways to stop lactation

There are several ways to stop lactation:

• physiologically (naturally);
• medicinal, with taking drugs that inhibit milk production;
• folk methods.

Each has its own advantages and features.

Physiological methods

An accessible, natural and gentle method of ending breastfeeding for both mother and baby. By gradually reducing the frequency of feedings, less milk will begin to be produced and over time it will disappear. First, the daytime feedings are removed. Instead of breast milk, the child is offered regular food according to age.

The final step will be complete failure from night feedings. It is not possible to quickly stop lactation using a physiological method. Its essence is a slow and painless weaning. This often takes about 2-3 months. Mommy is patient and pays maximum attention to the baby. It is impossible to refuse lactation after childbirth in this way. The baby must be able to chew and digest food from the children's table.

Drugs to stop lactation

You can suppress lactation using medications. With their help, breast milk production stops completely.

1. Dostinex. A popular drug that acts on the hypothalamus. It activates substances that stop the synthesis of prolactin. This remedy causes minimal harm to the body and is considered effective even in small doses. Dostinex contraindicated for heart, liver and gastrointestinal diseases. It is not prescribed for hypertension and mental disorders.
2. Bromocriptine or Parlodel. They are able to stop lactation in the same way as Dostinex. But the course of treatment with these drugs is longer and the dosage is higher. Side effects include dizziness, nausea, and increased blood pressure. Bromocriptine has a positive effect on stopped or disrupted menstrual cycles.
3. Microfollin. A hormonal drug that is well absorbed by the intestines. It is used not only to repay lactation, but also for furunculosis and prostate diseases. Side effects include headaches and disturbances in calcium metabolism.
4. Bromcamphor. Non-hormonal medication containing bromine. Has a sedative effect. Contraindicated for diseases of the liver, kidneys, and heart. The drug slowly stops lactation, so it has mild side effects.

Taking pills to stop lactation includes the following recommendations:

• Progestogen-based drugs are considered the safest. They cause fewer side effects;
• You cannot prescribe medications to yourself. Only a doctor, after consultation, can determine the drug, dosage and course of treatment;
• Hormone use is often accompanied by side effect. If it manifests itself actively, you should consult your doctor and change the dosage;
• When taking pills that inhibit lactation, you need to express yourself so that lactostasis or mastitis does not form;
• until breast milk completely disappears, you need to wear bras without wires;
• After taking the baby’s first pill, breastfeeding is strictly prohibited;
• after completion of treatment, lactation may be restored. It is necessary to take the pills for another week to avoid unwanted consequences;
• if the mother changes her decision and wants to continue feeding, the stopped lactation process can be resumed after the drugs are removed from the body. Milk is expressed (how to do it correctly) and only then offered to the baby.

Terminating lactation by medication is a dangerous and responsible step. Treatment should be professional, competent, taking into account the personal characteristics and general condition of the mother. Hormonal drugs aggravate all existing diseases and are not always effective. If the reason for stopping breastfeeding is not an emergency - stillbirth, osteoporosis, pituitary adenoma, purulent mastitis in the mother, it is better to try to extinguish lactation without pills.

Traditional methods

You can stop lactation with folk remedies using diuretic decoctions and herbal infusions. They are not difficult to prepare at home. By removing fluid from the body, they will significantly reduce milk production.

1. Herbal infusion is prepared from parsley, nettle, yarrow, basil, lingonberry leaves, chicory. 2 tbsp. put the herbs in a thermos and pour 2 cups of boiling water. After 2 hours, the strained infusion can be drunk instead of tea or water. The maximum amount of infusion drunk per day should not exceed 6 glasses. After 3-4 days, the milk flow will decrease and the breasts will stop getting engorged.
2. Belladonna, elecampane, horsetail, and bearberry leaves help remove excess water from the body. They are brewed and taken strictly according to the instructions on the package.
3. A sedative that stops lactation is peppermint. Chopped leaves 3 tbsp. l. pour into a mug or thermos and pour 0.5 liters. boiling water After an hour, you can drink the strained drink, dividing it into 3 doses.
4. You can reduce and later stop lactation with the help of sage. It will strengthen the woman's immune genitourinary system. The decoction is prepared according to the instructions and drunk half a glass three times a day. The effect is noticeable already 3-4 days after the start of the course. Ways to use sage.

All decoctions are stored in the refrigerator with the lid closed for no longer than 2 days.

Mommy should drink less fluid to reduce hot flashes. It is not advisable to eat smoked, salted and meat products. These foods make you thirsty. Apples, persimmons, pears, cranberries, viburnum, and gooseberries remove liquid well. You can prepare a diuretic cocktail. A glass of viburnum juice, mixed with a glass of rowan juice, 0.5 cups of fresh lemon juice and 2-3 tablespoons of honey. It is possible to add any diuretic herb. Take the drink three times a day with meals, 1 glass.

From folk remedies Compresses are often used:

1. Lubricate the mammary glands with camphor or sage oil every 4 hours, avoiding contact with the nipples. The chest is wrapped in a scarf or woolen scarf. For swelling, tingling and pinching, you must take a painkiller (Paracetamol or Nurofen).
2. Cabbage leaves make swollen breasts softer, helping to burn down milk. The leaves are cooled in the refrigerator, softened with a rolling pin and applied to the chest for an hour. One compress per day is enough. After a week, the result will be obvious and lactation will decrease.
3. Cool compress. A cloth soaked in cold water is applied to the chest for 20 minutes.

How long does breast milk burn out?

Using a physiological method or using traditional methods, breast milk burns out gradually. The body cannot be ordered to turn off milk production. Lactation will decrease significantly after a week, but milk will continue to be released from the breast for another 5-6 months, especially when drinking hot tea or taking a warm bath. This is a natural phenomenon called the “oxytocin reflex.” Drops of milk may appear for a year, and sometimes for a lifetime. The gradual decline of lactation will be painless. Mommy will avoid discomfort, painful breast engorgement and stagnation of milk. Taking medications quickly inhibits the functioning of the mammary glands. To completely repay lactation, it is enough to undergo a short course of treatment.

How not to suppress lactation

Many mothers do not know how best to stop lactation, and succumbing bad advice grandmothers, use methods that are hazardous to health. Breast pulling is considered an instant method, problem solving a screaming baby and a mother suffering from the bursting breast. Apart from fever, swelling, lactostasis and pain, this will lead to nothing. Milk is secreted due to hormones, not the mammary glands. Tight breasts do not affect the processes inside the body.

You must first remove excess fluid from the body. Diuretic herbs, for example, horsetail, elecampane, basil, parsley and others, will help with this. A decoction prepared from these medicinal plants should be drunk throughout the week.

Peppermint infusion - a “drug” to suppress lactation

Grind a few tablespoons of dried leaves peppermint and pour two glasses of boiling water over them. Leave the product to infuse for an hour. Then strain the infusion. Take half a glass three times a day (it is better to drink before meals).

Prepared according to this recipe medicine Use only fresh.

Sage will help suppress lactation

Take 2 tbsp. dry sage leaves, lightly chop them and pour a glass of boiling water. Infuse the “preparation” for 1-1.5 hours, then strain it. Drink ½ glass of infusion three times a day.

No less effective is considered a remedy for suppressing lactation, which contains sage leaves, walnut leaves, and hops. These components should be taken in a ratio of 1:1:2, pour 1 tbsp. Add 200 ml of boiling water to this medicinal mixture and leave to infuse for 55-65 minutes. Afterwards the product needs to be filtered. The finished “product” should be taken three times a day, ¼ cup (this remedy is recommended to be consumed before meals).

In addition to sage infusions, make cold compresses or apply ice. This contributes to the “burnout” of milk.

In addition, a compress with sage helps stop milk production. To prepare this healing remedy, take 2 drops of sage oil, 3 drops of peppermint aromatic oil, 2 drops of cypress oil and 20-25 ml of vegetable base oil. Mix these ingredients. Soak a cloth in the prepared mixture and place it on your chest for an hour. This procedure is recommended twice a day for 5-7 days. This compress reduces lactation and also helps to avoid lumps in the mammary glands. This remedy also prevents the development of the inflammatory process, which means your breasts will not hurt.

Cabbage leaf will reduce lactation

Roll out carefully with a rolling pin cabbage leaves(they should become soft). Each time after breastfeeding, apply this compress for 30-40 minutes. After just a few such procedures, you will notice that the flow of milk will decrease, and soon lactation will stop altogether. Cabbage leaves are also great at fighting inflammation.

Weaning is an event that requires time from the child to rebuild the body and switch to a more complex diet than breast milk. Mothers stop breastfeeding for a variety of reasons. To make cessation of lactation as easy as possible, you need to choose a competent “strategy” for cessation. A properly selected method will make the weaning process comfortable for the mother and her baby.

5 steps to ending breastfeeding

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding your child until he or she is at least one and a half years old. But only the mother will decide when to stop breastfeeding her own child. The calmer and more consciously she approaches giving up feeding, the more favorably the baby will tolerate it.

No rush

The longer the folding process takes breastfeeding, the easier female breast will adapt to this. The breast produces as much milk as the baby sucks it out. Oddly enough, even the human body has the concept of “supply and demand”. Therefore, you should start by removing 1 feeding every 3-4 days. An abrupt cessation of breastfeeding can provoke stagnation and even mastitis, so follow the smoothest course possible to reduce feedings.

Time to adapt

The process of adjusting the baby’s digestive tract to different foods is not easy. How younger child, the more difficult it is for him to get used to the new diet. It happens that having started abrupt weaning, the mother does not know what to do with the baby - he does not absorb/eat the proposed formula and loses weight. Before starting the weaning process, it is worth making sure that the child is successfully digesting the food that replaced breast milk.

An alternative to breastfeeding is hand expression.

If you no longer have the strength to feed (unpleasant, painful, etc.), but the mother is ready to spend time and effort on carefully folding breastfeeding, then you can resort to using a breast pump for a while. Of course, pumping cannot be called a full-fledged break from feeding, but this method will help you avoid problems with your baby’s digestion (after all, he will continue to drink his mother’s milk), and the breasts, if emptied in a timely manner, will not be in danger of unpleasant mastitis/lactostasis.

GV – remove, contact – leave

When reducing the number of breastfeedings, do not forget that feeding is not only a nutritional process. For an infant, physical contact with his mother is very important. This includes communication, tenderness, and a sense of security, which cannot be deprived along with the cessation of lactation. Hug your baby more often, carry him in your arms, play and walk on fresh air. In addition, be sure to introduce your baby to new foods and expand complementary feeding.

Drop in hormones

When breastfeeding stops at a rapid pace, a woman experiences a sharp drop in hormone levels. Quite often, with the end of lactation, the mother begins a period of sadness, tearfulness and increased emotionality. If this happens to you, do not despair - within a couple of weeks your mood will return to normal.

Basic weaning methods

Remember, the main principle if you want to complete natural feeding is “do no harm.” Every mother needs to know how to stop breast milk lactation correctly to avoid negative consequences. You can safely move on to the next stage of feeding your baby only by choosing the key method of interrupting breastfeeding and sticking to it.

Way	Key Points
Natural	The method is step-by-step and is used after 6 months of the baby’s life (with the start of complementary feeding). The baby learns to eat something other than breast milk; then the consumption of new food begins to predominate, and breast sucking fades into the background. Feedings come to naught, and sooner or later they exhaust themselves. This is a process stretched over several months.
Gradual	One of the most effective ways termination of breastfeeding. Feedings are removed slowly, the breasts gradually and without stress stop producing milk. The period of excommunication is indefinite and has no specific framework.
Cutting	The most unpleasant and harsh method of stopping lactation (often medication). From the beginning to the end of weaning the baby from the breast, 1-3 days pass. This method should be used in the most extreme cases.
Partial	This method is used by student mothers, or those who are already going to work. During the day, the baby receives breast milk from a bottle (or its substitute - an adapted formula), and after the mother returns home, she is put to the breast again. This situation can last 6-8 weeks, during this period breast milk “as unnecessary” will begin to gradually decrease, and there will be fewer and fewer hot flashes. With a decrease in the amount of milk in the breast, the baby will lose interest in the sucking process and lactation will stop.

Pay attention! A mother should not feel guilty for deciding to stop feeding a child who could still be breastfed. If you are unsure whether you should stop breastfeeding due to certain circumstances, talk to a breastfeeding consultant. It is possible that stopping lactation in your case is not at all necessary.

Instructions: how to stop breastfeeding in children of different ages

The end of the lactation period looks completely different in babies up to six months, up to a year and older. Understanding the intricacies of weaning is not easy; they often have an individual nuance, so we tried to characterize each period in general terms. This will help parents have an idea of ​​how to correctly say “stop” to breastfeeding at a specific point in the baby’s growth and development.

From birth to 6 months

Children of this age They do not have a conscious attachment to the breast, so it is easier to accustom them to feeding from a bottle than older babies.

• Set an hourly schedule for when you breastfeed your baby (for example, in the morning after waking up, before bed and at night).
• Find out how much adapted mixture the child must receive at the current age (daily amount and per dose).
• Replace one of the breastfeedings with formula feeding once every three days;
• Maintain feedings and milk production until you are sure your baby is tolerating the formula you choose.
• The breasts will continue to fill for some time. If hot flashes cause you discomfort, then you can help your body reduce milk production using folk remedies.

From 6 to 18 months

A child of this age is already more developed digestive system, formula and complementary foods are better absorbed, abdominal pain practically does not bother the baby.

What to do to wean:

• During this period, the psychological well-being of the child comes first when weaning. It is important that interruption of breastfeeding is not abrupt, but lasts at least 2-3 weeks.
• If you replace the breast with a bottle, the baby may become so accustomed to it that weaning from it may be difficult later. Try to teach your baby to drink from a cup.
• Do the same as in the case of stopping breastfeeding in the first half of the child’s life. Don’t get hung up on formula milk - the older the baby, the less the baby needs.

From 18 months and older

A child of 1.5 years old already eats “adult” food and is even familiar with the common table. But often babies at this age are dependent on the breast and actively protest when weaned.

What to do to wean:

• Remember about the psychological well-being of the baby - it will be better for him if the weaning is gradual, spread out over at least a month.
• Choose which feedings you want to eliminate first: daytime or nighttime. If feedings as such do not bother you, then for the child’s peace of mind, act slowly, asking him to replace one feeding every three days with a variety of snacks.

Suppressing lactation naturally: traditional methods

If breastfeeding is gradually interrupted, the female body begins to stop lactation on its own. If you have 2-3 feedings left per day, and they need to be removed, then you can safely count on your “natural mechanism” - every day your breasts will produce less and less milk. But when you need to get rid of full lactation with 8 or more feedings, you definitely won’t be able to do without special procedures - folk methods will come to the rescue.

Folk remedy for completing lactation	Directions for use
Sage	Refers to phytohormonal agents. In the form of tea, it helps to gradually stop the production of prolactin and complete lactation. For 200 ml of boiling water take 2 tbsp. sage herbs, cover the liquid with a lid and let it brew. Take 30-50 ml after meals.
Cabbage leaf	Reduces breast milk production. Used as a compress. Fresh cabbage leaves are rolled out with a wooden rolling pin until soft and juice is released. Cools in the refrigerator. Then it is applied to the chest (can be placed in a bra). The compress lasts for 2 hours, the procedure must be repeated on both breasts for at least 5 days.
Mint	An infusion of dry peppermint herb helps reduce the amount of milk in the breast by directly acting on the mammary glands. To prepare it, 2 tbsp. peppermint is poured into a thermos and filled with 2 cups of boiling water. After an hour, the infusion is filtered and 3 tablespoons are taken. an hour between meals.

Medical cessation of breast milk lactation

Drugs that stop breast lactation are very popular as the easiest way to reduce milk production. But it is worth knowing that drugs that are part of the group of dopaminomimetics (suppressing lactation) have a bad reputation and are banned in many countries. Very often, after studying the instructions for such drugs, nursing mothers decide to complete breastfeeding naturally and are interested in information on how to stop lactation without pills.

In what cases is the use of medications to reduce lactation necessary? There are 4 main situations:

1. Deterioration of mother's health due to breastfeeding– purulent mastitis, lactostasis, elevated temperature, coupled with inflammation in the chest, are often recurrent in nature and can lead to surgical intervention. As prescribed by the doctor, feeding in this case is stopped with the help of selected medications to restore the woman’s health;
2. Serious illnesses during pregnancy(tuberculosis, HIV infection, etc.) can cause weaning immediately after childbirth, and taking medications to curtail lactation;
3. Presence of cancer in the mother is also an indication for stopping breastfeeding with medication if radiation and/or chemotherapy is to be carried out;
4. The birth ended with the death of the newborn - the goal is to suppress milk production, and for this purpose pills are used to lower prolactin and end lactation, which is unnecessary in this situation.

Remember that suppressing lactation with pills is severe stress for the body. Before resorting to an emergency method, weigh the pros and cons - the triggered mechanism for stopping breastfeeding cannot be reversed. The decision to end breastfeeding in this manner must be made carefully and with good reason.

Medicine	Operating principle
Dostinex	One of the most popular remedies for mothers who want to stop lactation quickly and without unnecessary hassle. It is available in tablet form and is taken for only two days (rarely – up to 7-8 days). The level of the milk production hormone decreases in the first three hours after taking the drug The effect of the medicine lasts up to 2 weeks, which allows the milk to “burn out” and its release will stop Has a minimum of side effects compared to analogues – high price(from 700 rub.)
Agalathes	Suppresses both physiological postpartum lactation and already established ones, but only according to honey. indications. Release form: tablets. Well reduces prolactin levels in blood plasma Relatively low price(from 350 rub.) – side effects are common (nausea, headaches, breast tenderness) – periodically after taking the drug, colostrum continues to be released
Bromocreptine	It has a wide spectrum of action; in addition to suppressing prolactin, it is used for menstrual irregularities. It is taken in a long course of 14-21 days. Available in tablets. When taken conscientiously and regularly, it helps to gently stop breastfeeding. Low cost of the drug (from 250 rubles) – has a number of contraindications – long course of medication

Important! Pills to stop lactation have many side effects and contraindications that cannot be ignored. If you think you need medication to stop breastfeeding, talk to your gynecologist about this.

After studying the basic methods, we recommend watching a video about the rules for stopping lactation from a breastfeeding consultant:

How to curtail day and night feedings - step-by-step tips

Often these simple methods are enough to reduce the number of breastfeedings by almost half without unnecessary discomfort.

Removing daytime feedings:

• We offer the baby the breast at those moments that are convenient for you - this is an indirect transition from feeding on demand to feeding in certain cases. Record in your mini-schedule the times when you will definitely breastfeed your baby over the next month. The remaining “unscheduled” feedings can be replaced with something else;
• During the day, do not offer the breast to the baby - often the mother herself is no less dependent on feeding, and at any opportunity she offers the breast as a sedative. Do not refuse to feed your child, but only if he asks for it;
• the child often requires breastfeeding only at home - try to “go out” with the baby more, go for walks, visit guests. At the same time, do not forget to take a snack for the baby, and offer to eat before he starts asking for the breast;
• If you are determined not to breastfeed until the evening feeding, keep your word. If your baby cries when you refuse, try to distract him interesting activity: drawing, playing, cartooning.

Removing night feedings:

• rule number one - the child should always go to bed at night well-fed;
• if the baby is used to falling asleep with the breast, then when he is half asleep, try to calm and relax him without sucking - stroke his back, sing a lullaby. Sooner or later the baby will be able to fall asleep without the breast;
• When the baby has already learned to fall asleep without the breast, it’s time to try to refuse feedings during night awakenings. After the first awakening, do not breastfeed, try to “rock” with a monotonous song or stroking;
• sometimes sleeping together is the main stumbling block when completing breastfeeding. Try increasing the distance between you and your baby by placing a nursing pillow in the middle or transferring your baby to his crib.

How to end breastfeeding - 7 tips from a star mom (video):

A whole complex of body systems is involved in supplying milk to the mammary glands. Before deciding how to get rid of breast milk, you need to understand the physiological processes.

• naturally;
• with the help of medications;
• use of traditional medicine recipes.

The best time to wean

Under some conditions, it is possible to stop lactation naturally. Milk burns out under the following circumstances:

• The child's age is over 2 years. At this time, the composition of milk changes. It becomes close to colostrum. It also contains a lot of antibodies that increase the child's immunity. But there are not enough nutrients. Therefore, breastfeeding is not nutrition, but only protection against various infections. The intensity of milk flow decreases.
• The sucking reflex decreases by the age of 3 years. At this time, the formation of the baby’s nervous system ends. There is no need for breastfeeding. Breast milk contains substances that have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
• As the baby grows, the need to attach to the breast gradually disappears. There is less and less milk, and it gradually disappears.
• Rare breastfeeding, after 12 hours, leads to a decrease in lactation. In this case, completing the feeding process naturally will not be difficult.
• Sleeping in a crib after 2 years of age leads to the fact that the child learns to wake up at night. At first, after night feeding, he needs to be put back into his crib.

When breastfeeding ends naturally, the milk burns out within 5-6 days.

In any case, weaning should occur gradually so as not to traumatize the child’s psyche. After all, breastfeeding for him is a lot of pleasure, closeness with his mother and peace of mind.

The complete cessation of breast milk supply after the last feeding occurs after 1.5 months. Therefore, lactation can be restored even after a month of weaning.

In addition to the natural cessation of lactation, there may be other situations:

• lactation must be stopped immediately after the birth of the baby, as there are medical indications;
• refusal of the baby to take the breast;
• a woman's independent decision to stop breastfeeding.

Natural weaning has a number of other advantages:

• you don’t have to worry about the condition of the mammary glands (the risk of lactostasis and mastitis is reduced);
• with abrupt weaning from breastfeeding, a disruption occurs in the production of the hormone prolactin, which leads to mother’s depression and stress;
• the baby does not experience any discomfort.

Unforeseen situation

There are times when a woman has to face the problem of how to get rid of breast milk immediately after giving birth. There can be many reasons: illness of the mother or child, death of the child, late miscarriage, lactase deficiency in infants, pathologies of the mammary glands.

The mammary glands work according to a certain pattern. First, colostrum is produced, and around the 5th day milk itself begins to be produced. Improper care or the inability to empty the breast leads to inflammatory processes in the body, fever and breast diseases. It will take several weeks to completely stop lactation.

A woman should discuss all actions with a doctor. The following steps can be taken to stop feeding correctly:

• Wear a tight, supportive bra day and night.
• Pain and heaviness in the chest can be relieved at home with cold compresses.
• The mammary glands should not be allowed to become completely filled with milk. You need to pump a little. If you pump constantly, it will be more difficult to stop lactation.
• Medicines that relieve inflammation and pain are allowed during this period.
• At home, instead of medications, you can use cabbage leaves, which are applied to the chest. Before this they need to be beaten well. Wear until they wither.
• A decoction of some herbs helps reduce milk flow (for example, from sage). A tablespoon of sage is poured into a glass of boiled water and left for an hour.
• Decoctions of diuretic herbs (elecampane, parsley, bearberry) can reduce lactation. These decoctions act quickly, the milk burns out within 2-5 days.

If you notice lumps in the chest, an increase in body temperature and other signs of inflammation, you should immediately visit a doctor.

Medicines

When there is a lot of milk, the doctor may prescribe medications that can stop lactation (Bromocriptine, Dostinex, Duphaston, Utrozhestan). All sides should be weighed before using them. They quickly stop the flow of milk, but cause a lot of side effects, including hormonal disruption.

If medications are prescribed, they must be taken strictly according to the instructions. The difference between the drugs lies in the different concentrations of hormones. Many of them have contraindications, such as diabetes, kidney and liver diseases.

The pills quickly stop milk production, and it is no longer possible to restore lactation after them. The woman must be sure that the baby will not need breast milk.

The course of taking tablets ranges from 1 to 7 days. During this period, the milk burns out.

Rules for taking pills:

• Reception only when necessary.
• You cannot increase or decrease the dosage on your own.
• Don't forget to pump to prevent inflammation.
• If your condition worsens after taking the medicine, you should inform your doctor.
• After taking the first tablet, you should not feed the child.
• Do not tighten your breasts while using medications.

The most negative consequence When lactation is completed with the help of pills, it is believed that during the next pregnancy there may be no milk at all.

Independent decision making

Feeding the baby often leads to the fact that mothers are tired, as they are forced to be with the child all day long. I also have to get up several times at night. Therefore, mothers themselves decide to stop breastfeeding at home.

If the decision is made, then it is necessary to choose the most favorable time. You cannot stop feeding during a move, illness, or family quarrels.

You need to wean your baby off the breast correctly. The scheme for gradual weaning from feeding at home is as follows.

1. Initially, you should give up daytime feeding. Replace breast milk with another liquid: tea, compote, juice.
2. When a child wakes up after sleep, it is better if another family member approaches him.
3. After this, you should begin to eliminate feeding before bedtime. It is necessary to come up with a different ritual, for example, reading fairy tales, singing songs, stroking the baby and talking.

Gradual weaning will not harm the child, but it will take a long time. Milk burns out only at the end of the 2nd month after weaning.

You can find such a method as breast pulling. However, most gynecologists are confident that this does not stop milk production, but only reduces milk flow, which can lead to serious problems. Blood circulation in the chest is disrupted, swelling and inflammation occur.

It is believed that the most the best way is the mother's departure from home for a while. The method works quickly and gives good results.

The disadvantages of this method are:

• psychological trauma for the child and mother;
• the onset of breast inflammation and a rise in mother’s temperature;
• the risk of developing mastitis increases.

In cases where this is not possible, you should wear clothes that cover your chest. The baby will try to find it, but you shouldn’t follow his lead, you need to patiently explain that there is no milk.

No need for breast milk

There are cases when the child himself has given up breastfeeding, but the milk continues to come. In this case, mothers can try the following methods:

• you should limit your liquid intake, especially hot liquids: soups, tea;
• drink decoctions of medicinal herbs;
• no need to dress too warmly, especially for the chest area, as heat stimulates milk flow;
• limit the child’s presence in their arms so that close contact does not stimulate lactogenesis;
• To keep the breasts soft and free of lumps, milk must be expressed from time to time, but not completely.

There are two ways to empty the breasts of milk: manually or using a breast pump.

With the first option (manually), you can quickly stop lactation, but this is accompanied by unpleasant sensations. With the second option, you will have to wait a long time to stop milk production, but the woman does not experience discomfort.

A child may refuse breastfeeding for the following reasons:

• additional pacifier sucking;
• using a feeding bottle;
• timed feeding;
• improper attachment to the breast;
• violation of emotional contact between baby and mother.

The exact time when milk burns out is unknown, since it all depends on individual characteristics body. Great influence the duration of burnout is influenced by methods of combating and psychological state. If the mother weans the baby correctly, the milk will burn out within two weeks.

Whatever method is chosen, you should first of all think about the child’s condition. Nature intends to breastfeed a baby for a long time. You should not make your own adjustments to this. Let the baby get everything he needs with milk. In the case when stopping breastfeeding is not a whim of the mother, but a necessity, you should be patient and follow the doctor’s recommendations.