Lactation suppression

Lactation suppression refers to the process of stopping the production of breast milk. This can be necessary for a variety of reasons, such as after the loss of a baby, when a mother chooses not to breastfeed, or when a woman is weaning her child from breastfeeding.

Causes

There are several reasons why a woman might need to suppress lactation. These include:

• Miscarriage or stillbirth
• Adoption
• Weaning
• Medical conditions that make breastfeeding unsafe
• Personal choice not to breastfeed

Methods

There are several methods that can be used to suppress lactation. These include:

• Medication: Certain medications can help to reduce milk production.
• Cabbage leaves: Some women find that applying cold cabbage leaves to their breasts can help to reduce milk production.
• Breast binding: This involves tightly wrapping the breasts to prevent milk from being produced. However, this method is not recommended as it can lead to mastitis or breast abscess.

Risks

There are several risks associated with lactation suppression. These include:

• Mastitis: This is an infection of the breast tissue that results in breast pain, swelling, warmth and redness. It can also cause flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills.
• Breast abscess: This is a painful collection of pus that forms in the breast. It is usually the result of a persistent bacterial infection in the breast.
• Engorgement: This is when the breasts become overly full of milk. It can be very painful and can lead to mastitis if not treated.

See also

• Breastfeeding
• Mastitis
• Breast abscess
• Engorgement

Lactation suppression Resources
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