How to Dry Up Breast Milk Safely and Comfortably

There are many reasons you might want your milk to dry up: weaning a child who is ready, returning to work, a health condition, or a loss that means your milk has nowhere to go. Whatever your situation, your body can stop making milk safely. The aim is to get there with as little pain as possible and to watch for the few problems that need a doctor.

If you’re here after the loss of a pregnancy or a baby, we’re so sorry. There’s a section further down written for you, with gentle guidance and places to find support.

How milk production winds down

Your body makes milk in response to milk being removed. When milk stays in the breast, your body gradually gets the signal to make less. That’s why the core of drying up breast milk is simple: remove less milk, slowly, over time.

Doing it gradually is kinder to your body. Stopping all at once can lead to hard, painful, overfull breasts and raises the risk of blocked ducts and mastitis.

Gradual reduction: the gentlest method

• If you’re breastfeeding, drop one feed every few days, starting with the one that matters least to your child. Our guide on how to stop breastfeeding has a week-by-week plan.
• If you’re pumping, drop one session at a time, and shorten the remaining sessions by a few minutes. See how to stop pumping for a sample schedule.
• Between steps, express by hand or pump only enough to relieve pressure. Stop when you feel comfortable, not when your breasts feel empty.

If milk hasn’t fully come in yet, or you only nursed for a short time, things often settle faster. With a large, well-established supply, expect it to take longer.

Comfort measures that help

What to do	Why it helps
Cold compresses or wrapped ice packs, 15–20 minutes at a time	Eases swelling and soreness
A supportive, well-fitting bra, day and night if that’s comfortable	Supports heavy breasts without squeezing them
Pain relief such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen at the standard adult dose on the label	Reduces pain and inflammation
Breast pads	Absorb leaks, which can happen with emotions or warmth
Avoiding heat on the breasts	Heat can encourage leaking

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking pain relief if you have other health conditions, take other medicines or are unsure which is right for you. If your breasts become very hard and swollen, our guide to engorged breasts has more ideas.

What the evidence says about popular remedies

You’ll see lots of tips online for drying up milk quickly. Here’s what the research shows.

Cabbage leaves

Chilled cabbage leaves placed inside the bra are a popular way to ease engorgement. According to LactMed, the National Institutes of Health’s database on medicines and lactation, some small studies found cabbage leaves eased pain and swelling, but a review found no good evidence they work better than no treatment, since engorgement often improves by itself. There’s no good evidence that cabbage dries up milk. If cool leaves feel soothing, they’re unlikely to hurt, but think of them as a comfort measure, much like a cold pack.

Sage and peppermint

Sage tea and peppermint (including strong menthol products) are traditionally used to reduce milk supply. LactMed reports that no scientific studies have tested sage’s effect on milk supply, and there are no safety data for nursing mothers. For peppermint, the evidence that it lowers supply comes mainly from laboratory studies, not from studies in breastfeeding women. If you’re thinking about using either in larger-than-food amounts, check with your doctor or an IBCLC first, especially if you’re still feeding your baby some breast milk.

Pseudoephedrine: only with a doctor’s advice

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant found in some cold medicines. LactMed notes that in a small study of eight breastfeeding women, a single dose lowered milk production by about a quarter over the next 24 hours, and repeated use seems to interfere with lactation. Some doctors suggest it when drying up milk.

It isn’t right for everyone. It can raise blood pressure and heart rate and interact with other medicines. Don’t use it for this purpose without talking to your doctor or pharmacist, and choose a product that contains only pseudoephedrine, not combination formulas. Our guide to cold medicine while breastfeeding explains why decongestants matter for supply.

Prescription medicine

In some situations, especially after a loss, a doctor may offer a prescription medicine such as cabergoline to stop milk production. It can have side effects, isn’t suitable for everyone and may not stop milk completely, so it’s a decision to make with your healthcare provider.

When you need to stop suddenly, including after a loss

Sometimes stopping gradually isn’t possible. You may be starting a medicine that isn’t compatible with breastfeeding, or your baby may have died, or you’ve experienced a late pregnancy loss and your milk has come in anyway. That can be one of the hardest parts of grief, and whatever you feel is valid.

Some gentle points that may help:

• Your milk may come in two to five days after birth, including after a later pregnancy loss. Knowing this ahead of time can soften the shock.
• You have choices. Some parents want their milk to stop as soon as possible. Others find comfort in expressing for a while, keeping a little milk as a keepsake or donating it to a milk bank. There’s no right or wrong choice.
• Comfort measures still help: cold packs, a supportive bra, regular pain relief and expressing small amounts only when you need relief.
• Ask about medicine. Your doctor or midwife can talk with you about whether a medicine like cabergoline is an option.
• You don’t have to do this alone. Ask the hospital whether there’s a bereavement midwife, nurse or social worker. In the US, Postpartum Support International offers support after pregnancy and infant loss, including online groups, through its loss and grief resources and its HelpLine at 1-800-944-4773. If you ever feel unsafe, call or text 988.

For more on the emotional side of ending breastfeeding, and where to turn for support, see our weaning guide.

Signs of mastitis: when to call a doctor

Contact your doctor or midwife promptly if you have:

• A fever, chills or flu-like aches
• A hot, swollen, painful area on your breast, which may look red (redness can be harder to see on darker skin)
• A hard lump that’s getting bigger or isn’t easing after a day or two
• Feeling generally unwell

These can be signs of mastitis, which can usually be treated quickly when it’s caught early. Also reach out if your pain is severe, if you’re worried about your mood or if you’d like help making a plan.