Ann queries,

> Along the lines of Sudafed, I have had moms take Benadryl to dry up their
> >supply, I tell them no stimulation, well fitted sports bra, ice packs,
> >cabbage leaves and Benadryl (if not allergic).
>
> Why are instructions always to tell a mom no stimulation?  If a mother is
> weaning and occasionally expresses some milk to release the pressure, the
> weaning will continue and for most woman, this only takes a day or two.  I
> agree with the cold or cabbage but why should any woman be in discomfort to
> speed the weaning by a day?
>
I don't think anyone would say don't express to comfort when you need to.
The problem I run into is two fold -- one is where people are telling moms
not to use cabbage more than xx number of times/minutes per day because they
are going to dry up their milk (won't happen if we are STIMULATING milk
appropriately!!!), and (2) "don't pump at all because it will produce more
milk."  As Nikki Lee once noted, common sense is in short supply in the U.S.
(Sorry, Nikki, I'm paraphrasing here).  First of all, use cabbage as much as
you want to decrease engorgement -- as long as the mom keeps STIMULATING her
supply by full pumpings and/or breastfeedings, she won't decrease supply.
Secondly, if she is TRYING to wean, then the occasional pumping to comfort
won't hurt, and will certainly help keep her from discomfort, mastitis,
plugged ducts and other minor annoyances.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, RLC
Wheaton, Illinois
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com

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