To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. 2018. How often can you use it: You can use peppermint oil up to three times a week. And it can cause a variety of different problems. Read our, When and Why to Start Drying Up Breastmilk, How to Rebuild or Increase Your Breast Milk Supply, 16 Ways to Naturally Increase Your Breast Milk Supply, Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk for Your Baby. Do not administer peppermint oil to infants and children. I have to drink at least 1l of peppermint tea to not get engorged. I have, and it is helping with them, as long as I avoid sleeping on my side, too. However, there are no studies that examine sages specific effect on excess milk production. You should start with a small amount of sage and see how your body reacts. Im considering trying a cup of mint tea before bed, but Im concerned about affecting my milk supply overall. The LactMed database indicates that a mother who eats lemon balm dried leaves is unlikely to cause harm by passing the herb through breast milk. However, drinking a cup of peppermint tea will not cause milk reduction. Wash leaves of green cabbage and chill in the refrigerator. They can be used together with antibiotics. Use herbs. Other symptoms of a breast infection include: Sometimes, oral antibiotics are recommended to help treat this condition before it becomes more serious. I found several essential oils that some moms used to reduce milk supply. After you have made the decision to dry up your breast milk, you'll make a plan for which approach you will take. Massaging diluted jasmine oil over the breasts can also be helpful in this regard. There is no set timeline for the lactation suppression process. Relieve Muscle Pain. A mom may start pumping to build up a stash of milk in the freezer. If you are thinking about trying to reduce your milk supply it is important to determine if that is what the issue is. Common side effects of peppermint oil include diarrhea, heartburn, mouth ulcers, burning mouth syndrome, allergic reactions, flushing, and headache. If a mom is pumping to get a stash in the freezer, she needs to look at how much she is getting when she pumps. $24 to $32 for one-month supply. Spray the essential oil in different areas of your home that mice can access. However, some moms will do everything right and never have enough milk. Symptoms of a breast infection include the following: Slow weaning will help prevent engorgement and plugged milk ducts, which can lead to infection. A systematic review. Drink 1 cup, 2 - 6 times per day. This method isnt well studied. It's important to be aware that while herbs are often well-tolerated by adults, they can be potentially dangerous for babies. Consume herbs and teas. It is very effective. Gradual weaning is generally the safest plan, when possible. If you have plans to become pregnant again soon, it might not be the best method for you. My symptoms of a bacterial die off in the small intestine like dehydration, frequent urination subsided about after 3-4 days but I kept taking it for about 2-3 weeks by slowly lowering the dose. These two oils appear to be the most effective and safest of the essential oils. Blocked ducts are a common issue for women who are breastfeeding or weaning. Essential oils have not been tested for their safety around children. As with many things, it is always good to discuss your situation with a lactation consultant. I am grateful to be able to breastfeed, but I have to deal with clogged ducts & engorgement every couple of days! This may be why it is a common remedy for engorgement. Do not use sage essential oil - it should not be taken internally. Toothache. Methods for ceasing breast milk production include decreasing or avoiding nursing or taking certain medications. With my first it took 2 months to get the oversupply under control. The . When your milk first comes in, supply usually overshoots your babys needs initially. Moms usually want to get the most milk for their pumping efforts so they pump until they dont get any more milk. You pump large amounts of milk, even if you have just fed. In one study, a 60-milligram dose of pseudoephedrine decreased milk supply by 24%. Without clear evidence that drinking more increases (or decreases) supply, its best to stay hydrated regardless. applying a cold compress or ice pack to relieve pain and swelling. Generally, the longer you have been nursing, the longer it will take to dry up your milk. If you are in the throes of an acid reflux attack, don't ingest peppermint, as it may further relax the LES. Sage oil should not be ingested orally, and the NIH has classified it as a toxin. Try it: Shop for sage tea (including ones intended for use during weaning), chasteberry tea, and parsley. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the WebMD, Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Bird Flu Deaths Prompt U.S. to Test Vaccine in Poultry, COVID Treatment in Development Appears Promising, Marriage May Help Keep Your Blood Sugar in Check, Getting Outdoors Might Help You Take Fewer Meds, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, Pregnant With Allergies? If there is a lot of milk left in the breasts the message is to dial production down a bit. However, if you are experiencing pain or other concerning symptoms, it is time to call your doctor or lactation specialist. It can relieve itchy skin. The most milk I have ever seen a mom produce (with my own eyes) was 24 oz. As with peppermint oil, there is no hard evidence of its impact on breast milk supply, but many nursing mothers report a drop in lactation while taking cough drops. Lavender as an oil helps you to remain calm and reduce the level of stress. You can also contact a certified lactation consultant. Apply it to areas affected by arthritis, tendonitis, and other forms of joint pain for cooling pain relief. To utilize herbs for lactation suppression: Drink sage tea made with 1 to 3 grams of dried sage . Reduce the amount of time you spend breastfeeding or don't do it at all. These are medications that need to be avoided while you are breastfeeding because they are known to decrease breast milk supply. Side Effects. Espey E, Ogburn T, Leeman L, Singh R, Ostrom K, Schrader R. Effect of progestin compared with combined oral contraceptive pills on lactation: a randomized controlled trial. Peppermint oil to dry up milk supply. Create a massage oil by combining 10mL of a carrier oil such as jojoba or almond oil and two drops of peppermint. 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. This is so you can prevent exposing your child to the oil. Always consult your doctor before attempting to dry up your breast milk supply.. Breastfeeding Medicine: Treatment of Maternal Hypergalactia., Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Cabbage., Journal of Chiropractic Medicine: Ultrasound as a treatment of mammary blocked duct among 25 postpartum lactating women: a retrospective case series., South African Medical Journal: Suppression of lactation with high doses of pyridoxine., StatPearls: Physiology, Breast Milk., The Journal of Perinatal Education:Factors Related to Breastfeeding Discontinuation Between Hospital Discharge and 2 Weeks Postpartum.. And also, I was so glad to find this post, I feel like there is so little information on the subject!! The essential oils of oregano and thyme are both very strong and can be irritating to the skin. I need to maintain a freezer stash for daycare. Store the mixture in a roller so it is easy to apply on your skin. Peppermint tea breastfeeding: Some mothers drink peppermint tea to reduce pain after a c-section. (2014). Some people may stop producing over just a few days. So, how do you use essential oils to decrease your milk supply? Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) contains menthol, menthone, menthyl acetate as major ingredients. It's important to talk to your health care provider before trying any herbal supplement or remedy. Peppermint oil can help reduce oiliness. I cannot emphasize enough that before you try to decrease your milk supply, make sure that oversupply is your problem. Spearmint. Breast milk can take days, weeks, or months to dry up., It is recommended that you gradually wean your breastfed baby. Rosemary. . Information for consumers on using dietary supplements. Anxiety and stress tend to decrease the amount of milk supply in your breast. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. This drug isnt approved for this use by the FDA, but may be prescribed off-label. There are many different reasons for wanting to dry up your breast milkand just as many "right" times to do it. 10 Tricks to Make it Easier to Stop Milk Production. I might do it even if her baby is breastfeeding well. A pound of peppermint oil can flavor up to 40,000 sticks of gum, or about 1,500 tubes of toothpaste. Still finding myself painfully engorged every morning, and it would be nice to find a solution to that other than pumping in the middle of the night, but things are manageable at the moment. He is 4 weeks old. has been working with new families as an RN for over 35 years and a Lactation Consultant for over 25 years. However, a warm bath can help relieve discomfort while also not overstimulating breast milk production. You can use a tincture of sage instead: 30-60 drops of tincture, 3-6 times a day. When does he get the bottle? Sage can be found at health food stores in tincture, pill, or tea form, Peppermint is often consumed as a tea. ). As such, it also increases the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. If you don't fancy a home full of peppermint plants, then you might prefer using peppermint oil instead. Place leaves under the bra and over each breast.. (2014). Extended use or taking large amounts of sage leaf or oil may result in restlessness, vomiting, vertigo, rapid heart rate, tremors, seizures, and kidney damage. While it was once recommended to put cabbage leaves in your bra to provide relief, some research has found no difference in comfort between those who used cabbage leaves compared to other cold compresses. These professionals are trained in all things breastfeeding and can suggest different methods or help troubleshoot any issues youre having. Peppermint oil has also been used for the same purpose, as discussed in the video below. Peppermint tea is a very weak form of peppermint and only large amounts (quarts, not glasses, per day) would be expected to decrease breast milk supply. No Flow is a tea designed specifically to decrease milk supply. (FYI a scalp massage can boost circulation in and of itself, which, again, can help promote hair growth.) You can also check with a lactation consultant or your physician if she is knowledgeable about herbs. A systematic review, Lactation after perinatal, neonatal, or infant loss, Gradual weaning and oral care management of prolonged breastfeeding based on family preferences, Stop or gradually reduce breastfeeding, pumping, or hand expression, Take medications (under your doctor's supervision) that may curtail breast milk production, such as birth control pills containing estrogen or some cold medications, Try herbal remedies, such as sage or peppermint teas, Hard lumps in your breast (along with other symptoms). (2003). The next step is to dilute the essential oil to a potency of 1%. However, how long this takes is different for each person. There are many times when it is not quite as simple as that. Joint conditions. Hernandez P, Kisamore AN. Lim AR, Song JA, Hur MH, Lee MK, Lee MS. Cabbage compression early breast care on breast engorgement in primiparous women after cesarean birth: A controlled clinical trial. Peppermint also helps to treat menstrual cramps. It works better when applied topically as opposed to when it is eaten. tb1234. Pseudoephedrine: Effects on milk production in women and estimation of infant exposure via breastmilk. Peppermint oil may also be found in peppermint mocha coffee drinks that are popular around the holidays. There is conflicting information about whether birth control pills can decrease your milk supply. She was trying to get relief from a migraine and used the oil on her head. To use cabbage: Take apart and wash the leaves of a green cabbage. The process works the same in reverse. Inhale the oil if you don't want to apply it to your skin. La Leche International. Relieve Arthritis Pain. Apply Cabbage Leaves. There may be many reasons why you choose to discontinue breastfeeding. Sudafed is used off-label to dry up breast milk and may cause irritability in breastfed infants. Also, pump at a different times of day. 77043. However, the more milk you express, the longer itll take to dry up. 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