How To Dry Up Breast Milk: 7 Methods To Try And 3 To Avoid

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7 Methods to Dry Up Breast Milk and When to Contact a Doctor

Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH — Written by Ashley Marcin — Updated on November 12, 2024

7 ways to try
Cold turkey
Herbs
Cabbage
Birth control
Sudafed
Vitamin B
Other medications
FAQ
Possible risks
When to get help
Summary

Certain medications and herbs may help dry up your breast milk production. However, stopping breastfeeding abruptly may cause side effects.

You may want to quickly dry up your breast milk supply for many reasons. This process of drying up breast milk is called lactation suppression.

Weaning slowly and without stress is best for both you and your baby. The ideal time to wean is when both the lactating parent and the infant are ready.

Sometimes, you may have to discontinue breastfeeding more quickly than you wish. Several factors will affect how long it takes for your milk to dry up, including your baby’s age and how much milk your body is making.

7 ways to dry your breast milk supply quickly

Health experts recommend weaning gradually, but it may not always be feasible. That said, abrupt weaning may be uncomfortable and lead to an infection or other medical issues. Before trying any of these methods, speak with your doctor, midwife, or lactation consultant about your options.

Here are 7 ways you can try:

Drying up breast milk cold turkey

Your milk can slow on its own if you don’t nurse or stimulate your breasts. Depending on how long you’ve been nursing, it may take time.

Keep these tips in mind when trying this method:

Wear a supportive bra that holds your breasts in place.
Use ice packs and over-the-counter pain (OTC) medications to help with pain and inflammation.
Hand express milk to ease engorgement. Do this sparingly so you don’t continue to stimulate production.

Herbs to dry up breast milk

Sage may help with weaning or oversupply issues. However, there are no studies that examine sage’s specific effect on excess milk production.

Not much is known about the safety of using sage if your infant consumes your breastmilk after you’ve consumed sage.

You should start with a small amount of sage and see how your body reacts. Herbal teas containing sage are available. These could easily be diluted until you find an amount that works best for you.

Other herbs that have the potential to dry up breast milk include:

peppermint
chasteberry
parsley
jasmine

Little is known about the effect of these herbs on infants, but some can be dangerous to a baby. Because herbal substances can cause negative side effects for you or your baby, you should talk with your healthcare professional or lactation consultant before using these methods.

Cabbage to dry up breast milk

Cabbage leaves may suppress lactation if you use them for long periods of time, though more studies are needed.

To use cabbage:

Take apart and wash the leaves of a green cabbage.
Put the leaves in a container and put the container in the refrigerator to chill.
Place one leaf over each breast before putting on a bra.
Change leaves once they have wilted or about every two hours.

The leaves may help to reduce swelling as your milk supply decreases. They also help relieve symptoms of engorgement in early breastfeeding.

Birth control to dry up breast milk

Progestin-only birth control doesn’t necessarily affect supply. Birth control pills that contain the hormone estrogen, on the other hand, may work well for suppressing lactation.

These effects are even notable after milk supply is well-established.

Not everyone will experience these suppressive effects, but many will. Talk with your healthcare professional about the recommended timing for starting a pill containing estrogen when you’re postpartum.

Birth control isn’t approved for this use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it may be prescribed in certain situations. This is known as off-label drug use.

Off-label drug use
Off-label drug use means a drug that’s approved by the FDA for one purpose is used for a different purpose that hasn’t yet been approved. However, a doctor can still use the drug for that purpose. This is because the FDA regulates the testing and approval of drugs, but not how doctors use drugs to treat their patients. So, your doctor can prescribe a drug however they think is best for your care.

Sudafed to dry up breast milk

The cold medication pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) may help reduce milk production. Researchers found that participants who took the pseudoephedrine had a significant reduction in breastmilk production compared to the participants who took a placebo (a pill that looks like medication but contains no medication).

In addition, taking the maximum daily dose of this medication didn’t adversely affect babies who continued breastfeeding while lactation was being suppressed. The maximum dose is 60 milligrams (mg), four times each day (a maximum of 240 mg in any 24-hour period).

The study is quite old, and more research is needed.

Talk with your healthcare professional before you take any OTC medication while nursing. Sudafed is used off-label to dry up breast milk and may cause irritability in nursing infants.

Vitamin B to dry up breast milk

If you haven’t nursed your infant yet, high doses of vitamins B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin) may work to suppress lactation.

One older study from the 1970s suggested that high doses B6, B1, and B12 suppressed lactation for 96% of the participants, with no unpleasant side effects. However, more recent studies, including ones from a 2017 literature review, suggest conflicting information regarding the effectiveness of this option.

According to the 2017 review, study participants received a B6 dosage of 450 to 600 mg over 5 to 7 days. Two of the studies included found that vitamin B6 was effective in suppressing lactation, but the other five studies did not.

There is little known about the negative effects of taking too much vitamin B1 or B12 or how long it’s safe to take elevated doses.

However, at doses of more than 200 mg per day, vitamin B6 can cause a loss of feeling in the arms and legs. In some cases, with prolonged use, this effect can become permanent.

Always speak with your healthcare professional or lactation consultant before starting a new vitamin supplement.

Other medications to dry up breast milk

Cabergoline can be used for milk suppression. It works by stopping the body’s production of prolactin.

The FDA has not approved this use for this drug, but it may be prescribed off-label. Your doctor can explain the benefits and risks.

Some people see their milk dry up after just one dose of medication. Others may need additional doses.

Not much is known about the safety of cabergoline for nursing infants whose lactating parents took cabergoline. You should talk with your healthcare professional or lactation consultant before taking it.

Some milk-suppressing medications you may have heard of — such as bromocriptine — are no longer recommended for this use because of long-term side effects.

Women also used to get a shot of high dose estrogen to stop milk production. This practice has stopped due to blood clotting risks.

Frequently asked questions about drying up breast milk

Are there methods to avoid when trying to dry up your milk supply?

Yes. Binding or tightly wrapping your breasts is one method people have tried to stop breastmilk production. However, an older 2003 study compared breast binding to wearing a support bra. They found women in the study who bound their breasts had more pain and milk leakage overall compared to the women who wore support bras.

Another method to avoid is limiting your fluid intake. It’s recommended that nursing parents consume at least 16 cups of water per day, either by drinking it or from the foods they eat. However, some research suggests increasing fluid intake may not actually increase your milk supply. More research is needed.

How long does it take for breast milk to stop after you wean your baby?

Some people may stop producing milk over just a few days. For others, it may take several weeks for their milk to dry up completely. It’s also possible to experience let-down sensations or leaking for months after suppressing lactation. If your breast milk comes back in without any reason, talk with your medical team.

Are there risks to stopping breastfeeding too quickly?

Abruptly stopping breastfeeding does come with the risk of engorgement and the potential for blocked milk ducts or infection.

You may need to express some milk to relieve the feeling of engorgement. However, the more milk you express, the longer it’ll take to dry up.

When to seek medical help

Lactation suppression can be uncomfortable at times, but if you experience pain and other worrisome symptoms, call your doctor, midwife, or lactation consultant.

Sometimes, a plugged duct will lead to breast tenderness. Gently massage the area while expressing or breastfeeding.

Contact a medical professional if you can’t unblock a milk duct within 12 hours or if you have a fever. A fever is a symptom of a breast infection such as mastitis.

Other symptoms of a breast infection include:

warmth or discoloration
general malaise
breast swelling

Sometimes, oral antibiotics are recommended to help treat this condition before it becomes more serious.

You can also contact a certified lactation consultant. These professionals are trained in all things breastfeeding and can suggest different methods or help troubleshoot any issues you’re having.

Takeaway

Drying up your milk supply is a highly individual decision and is sometimes necessary for a variety of reasons.

If you’re weaning due to a medical condition (or other reasons), but still want to provide breast milk for a baby, there are milk banks across the United States and Canada. You can find one through the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).

The breast milk is tested and pasteurized to ensure its safety for consumption. These organizations also accept donations from parents who have lost a child or otherwise wish to donate their milk.

Parenthood
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06 Months 1 Year

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Alijazaf K, et al. (2003). Pseudoephedrine: Effects on milk production in women and estimation of infant exposure via breastmilk.https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2003.01822.x
B vitamins and folic acid. (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/
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Gordon B. (2023). Nursing your baby — what you eat and drink matters.https://www.eatright.org/health/pregnancy/breastfeeding-and-formula/nursing-your-baby-what-you-eat-and-drink-matters
Ndikom CM, et al. (2014). Extra fluids for breastfeeding mothers for increasing milk production.https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008758.pub2/full
Pseudoephedrine. (2020).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK501085/
Sage. (2023).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501816/
Swift K, et al. (2003). Breast binding: Is it all that it’s wrapped up to be?https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12774875/

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Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH — Written by Ashley Marcin — Updated on November 12, 2024

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