How long till milk goes?

[hayfilfy]

Hi Ladies,

I have not feed Hayden (twin 1) since he was 11 weeks old (now 16 weeks) and was wondering how long it usually takes to dry up the milk?

This morning I fed him as he has not been very well after the injections and the milk was so full on and I suppose I am just gullable in thinking it would dramatically reduce?

How long after you stopped feeding did it take for the milk to 'dry out/up'?

I was to say the least suprised that it was still there in full force :o

Thanks in Advance ~ A confused, now bottle feeding mummy!

[mimi]

Hi Hayley

They say it can take up to 3-4 months after fully weaning a bub for the milk production to stop - it just gets reabsorbed by the body ... but this is if you have gradually weaned. If you have suddenly weaned, then you may be at risk of mastitis - if the breasts are making loads of milk and are not relieved of 'pressure'. Is there any reason why you couldn't continue feeding bub every now and then, to gradually ease out of BF, if this is the case? - just to ensure you don't run into trouble... and of course, bub will still be getting some good from the occassional breastfeed. Alternatively, just making sure that when breasts are full, express a little to ease the pressure, but don't 'drain' them completely.
:)

[kamckellar]

i havent fed my twins for 18 months now and still leak in the shower or when i hear a baby cry.no-one not even my dr could tell me when id dry up.tho i was offered medication which i declined on.

[Baby Girl]

I was lucky (debateable) when I weaned both my girls.

DD1 was on morning and night feeds and formula through the day for about a week until she went totally onto formula. Basically as soon as I dropped a feed one day the next day my body would slow down the milk production and I wouldn't be "full" until next time a feed was due. When I totally stopped the night feeds (mornings stopped 2 days earlier) I leaked all over my bed for one night but then by night 2 I was dry.

DD2 was weaned in one day but she had been topped up after feeds with formula since 3 weeks. I leaked for the first day whenever I gave her a bottle but once again by day 2 I was dry.

I even tried to hand express in the shower the day after both of them were fully weaned and got nothing what-so-ever from either boob.

So, it varies from person to person, I guess.....

[Milly]

Hi Hayley

They say it can take up to 3-4 months after fully weaning a bub for the milk production to stop - it just gets reabsorbed by the body ... but this is if you have gradually weaned. If you have suddenly weaned, then you may be at risk of mastitis - if the breasts are making loads of milk and are not relieved of 'pressure'. Is there any reason why you couldn't continue feeding bub every now and then, to gradually ease out of BF, if this is the case? - just to ensure you don't run into trouble... and of course, bub will still be getting some good from the occassional breastfeed. Alternatively, just making sure that when breasts are full, express a little to ease the pressure, but don't 'drain' them completely.
:)

Yep, I was just about to type along the lines of what Mimi said! :) That is what I have read too. Gradual weaning is the key. If you go cold turkey you risk some painful problems as a result. Also, they used to have tablets years ago, but this is no longer recommended as the side effects were believed to be quite harmful and milk supply fluctuated anyway, so there were too many risks. So, I suggest avoiding these. Doctors are not likely to prescribe these anymore anyway. Just start gradually dropping feeds.

[hayfilfy]

Hi Ladies and thanks for the replies ~ Have been leaking heaps when Hayden Cries more as I have fed him longer. I am not going to take anything for it. I have fed him when he had been between feeds or after their immunisations but I need to really either stop or keep going IYKWIM.

Thanks again! Soldering on here.... ;)

[pickles]

Although I was no longer full , I could still express a little milk from both my breasts after my daughter weaned ( 9 months ) until I fell pregnant with my second 7 months later.