Stopping your milk supply (lactation suppression)

If you need to stop breastfeeding suddenly, there are gentle ways to manage your milk supply and care for your wellbeing. Every mum’s situation is different, and support is available to help you through this time. 

This article shares practical suggestions to help you stay comfortable and supported, whatever your reason for stopping.

If you haven’t started breastfeeding, your milk supply may drop quickly, but some discomfort is normal. Here are some simple suggestions:

• Wear a firm bra day and night for comfort.

• Express a little milk if your breasts feel too full.  

• Handle your breasts gently as they can bruise easily. 

• Use breast pads to soak up leaking milk and change them when wet. 

• Cool compresses on your breasts or in your bra can help relieve pain and swelling.  

• Mild painkillers may help relieve pain and inflammation. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

• Drink when you're thirsty. Cutting fluids won't reduce supply. 

• Find a comfortable sleeping position, using pillows for support. 

If you’ve been breastfeeding for a while, it may take longer for your milk supply to drop. The less milk you remove, the less your body will make. Gradually reducing breastfeeding or expressing is usually more comfortable and helps avoid breast inflammation. 

If you need to stop breastfeeding quickly, your breasts may become very full and sore. Here’s how you can manage this:

• Express milk only when your breasts feel uncomfortable or overfull.
• At first, express at the times you would normally breastfeed your baby.
• As your breasts start to feel less full, express less milk each time and reduce how often you express.
• If your breasts become sore or very full again, express just enough to feel comfortable, then try to cut back again.
• Towards the end, you might only need to express once every few days. When you feel comfortable, you can stop expressing altogether.

The more gradually you stop breastfeeding, the easier it is for your body to adjust and the less discomfort you’re likely to experience.

When you stop breastfeeding, your body goes through some natural hormonal shifts. Two key hormones, prolactin (which helps make milk) and oxytocin (which supports bonding and relaxation), begin to drop as breastfeeding ends. These changes are a normal part of the process, but they can sometimes lead to emotional ups and downs.

Some mums notice mood swings, tearfulness, or just not feeling like themselves for a little while. These feelings are common and usually settle within a few weeks, but they can be more intense with rapid weaning. If you’re finding things tough, your child health nurse or a trusted GP can offer support.