[gardenmommy]

I am not sure the best place to post this. I am asking for a very close friend. My friend's baby died 24 hrs. after being delivered via emergency c-section. My friend had already begun pumping, and now, 3 days later, she is very uncomfortably engorged. She is not pumping at all, only manually expressing enough for her comfort level. She is looking for ways to reduce the engorgement and prevent further milk production. I've been doing some research for her, and have a list already. If you have any ideas, please share them with me. Thanks.

 

[inky leeuhhh]

i did not bf dd1. the engorgement did get better, it just took a bit. my breasts were back to pp size within 2 weeks (im sure everyone is different). i cant imagine dealing with it after the loss of a child though

. i think i heard someone suggest cabbage leaves?? maybe check out kellymom.com .

 

[ASusan]

Cabbage leaves in the bra
Mint, mint teas, mint everything. Mint is drying.
Sage

NO oatmeal.

 

[mirpnmama]

my deepest sympathies for your friend......

 

[ShwarmaQueen]

I'm so sad for your friend. The milk must be the most painful reminder.

In addition to the cabbage, she can wear a *tight* sports bra 24/7; she can also use a wide ace bandage to wrap tightly around her breasts/torso and this will speed the drying process.

 

[Cheshire]

I'm so sorry for her loss. My son died 12 hours after his birth in August. I didn't have a chance to start pumping. My milk came in about 4 days later and the engorgement was painful.

I took advil and chose to wear a tight bra 24 hours a day. I took showers with the bra on and didn't get my upper body wet (I didn't want to stimulate my breasts in any way). When I needed to wash my hair I did it in the sink.

After a couple of days the pain was less and about a week later the engorgement finally went away.

I've heard the suggestion of cold cabbage leaves in the bra. I don't know if it makes it any faster but I have heard another mom say that she can't stand the smell of cabbage anymore.

I bet expressing is helping but if she can take advil or tylenol to help with the pain maybe she can stop all stimulation.

I'll pray for her family - it is a rough road. If she needs support let her know she can come to the Pregnancy and Birth Loss thread if she wants to chat with others who wear the same shoes (when she is ready).

 

[MommyofHero]

i had oversupply for months. the liquid form of the herb Red Clover Stilingia did the trick. you can buy it for about $10 at Wholefoods.

 

[Jojo F.]

i'm so sorry for your friend

 

[umami_mommy]

you friend might consider pumping for a milk bank.

 

[KristyDi]

I have head that meds meant to dry sinuses can reduce supply in nursing moms. Perhaps something like that may help. Someone correct me if that's a bad idea for any reason.

My heart hurts for your friend and she is in my prayers.

 

[gardenmommy]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I am brought to tears every time I think of her, every time I nurse my own baby. I think that having milk is just a terribly painful reminder of how empty her arms are right now. She really isn't interested in pumping for a milk bank, she said she can't stand to even see the milk.

She is only manually expressing when it is too much for her to bear, otherwise, she is using motrin for the pain. I did look on kellymom, and found some good suggestions there. I passed along the cabbage leaf remedy, as well as some herbal suggestions, and the sports bra idea. I will pass on the red clover information. Thank you.

Chesire, I am so sorry for your loss. It is something no mother should ever have to experience.

 

[elliecee]

I've struggled with oversupply with both of my children. I ep'd with my son and the only way I was able to dry up was with benedryl.

I'm sorry for her and her family.

 

[alegna]

I think motherlove has a product.

-Angela

 

[PatioGardener]

that is something nomother should ever have to experience. I'm so sorry.

Sudafed will help to dry milk quickly. It is usually behind the counter in the drug store, so you have to ask for it. The actual drug is pseudoephedrine - not any other type of Sudafed. It can be taken the same way that people use it to treat sinus infections - following the instructions on the box for a couple of days (one pill so many times a day) and then slowly decreasing the number of pills per day. And expressing only enough to feel better and not get mastitis.

 

[gardenmommy]

Thank you. I will pass that on to her.