How to dry up breastmilk? - Women's Health Message Board

AngelaA · 08-17-2003, 01:25 PM

Just got lab tests back from breast fluid test that show I am leaking out colostrum despite that I have never been pregnant. I've had breast discharge from left breast for 8 years and I am sick and tired of it!

I've had all the tests...mammos, ultrasound, needle aspiration and breast core biopsy. Diagnosis was fibrocystic breast disease & a fibroadenoma. After my 6 month check up, to see if the breast lump had enlarged I demanded the dr find out what the discharge was. Prolactin tested as normal. They finally did a fluid test and said it was non-cancerous and actually has chemical makeup of colustrum. How can I stop making the colustrum? I read the medication previously given to women to dry up milk when they didn't want to nurse is no longer prescribed due to severe side effects. How do nursing women get it to stop? Help please!

dea4 · 08-17-2003, 03:28 PM

Actually when breastfeeding a nursing mothers milk will eventually dry up on its own, some women can only breast feed for about 6 months or so before they dry up, some go for years, mine usually dried up after 1-1/2 to 2 years.

I'm not sure what to do if you have never been pregnant and are having this problem, I know there is a natural product that is suppose to dry up breast milk, you may need to check with a health food store or contact a naturopath to get info on it. OR search the web, it may be available online, just look for products to dry up breast milk.

[This message has been edited by dea4 (edited 08-17-2003).]

Dianek · 08-17-2003, 07:20 PM

I nursed both my babies and when I stopped, it was gradually. The less baby nurses, the less milk is produced and eventually it just stops.

It seemed to last longer the first time though, and my doctor told me to tell my husband to "leave me alone" if you know what I'm talking about, which wasn't the problem. It did stop in time though.

So don't squeeze your breasts either just to see if it's still coming out. Why you are producing colostrum and not pregnant is a mystery to me. As long as it's not cancer, I wouldn't worry too much about it unless it's so bad that you need nursing pads.

AngelaA · 08-17-2003, 09:33 PM

I know what you are getting that and others have implied that too. My breasts haven't been messed with in 3 yrs. Well except for the dr expressing 1 ounce for the lab test. It is a nuisance that my breasts are constantly oozing. Also it has caused problems in my previous relationship because I demanded my breast not be messed with as it makes it worse. The only natural remedy I have read about is placing a bruised cabbage leaf over the breast for 30 minutes. I've tried it for past couple days and thus far hasn't stopped it.

Dianek · 08-18-2003, 11:02 AM

Gosh, I just don't know what to tell you then. Sounds like you may have some sort of a hormone imbalance going on, but I'm not a doctor so the best you can do is follow your doctor's advice I guess.