Introduction:
Suppressing lactation using medicine or other non-pharmaceutical ways is referred to as lactation suppression. If breastfeeding is stopped abruptly or never started, the breasts may hurt when engorged with milk. This could happen if a woman never commences breastfeeding or rapidly weans herself off it. Allowing milk production to stop naturally is the quickest and safest strategy to stop lactation. It is no longer advised to use Bromocriptine or estrogen to suppress lactation because of potential negative effects. It is also advised not to express milk, stimulate the breasts, or breastfeed to let the milk supply naturally decline.
What Is Lactation Suppression?
After giving birth, women often are unable to breastfeed. The mother may be too unwell, the infant may pass away or be adopted, or the decision may be made for the baby's or mother's welfare. Breastfeeding is not recommended for HIV-positive (human immunodeficiency virus) mothers, especially those not taking antiretroviral medications throughout pregnancy, to lower the risk of infection to their children.
Some mothers choose not to breastfeed for societal or personal reasons. Lactation gradually ends on its own when a baby is not sucking. Women may also endure pain, discomfort, and breast engorgement. Clinicians may prescribe medication to stop lactation and lessen these side effects.
What Is the Reason for Lactation Suppression?
Some women may want to cease producing breast milk after giving birth, for instance, if the mother decides to bottle-feed the child from birth or if the child passes away or is given up for adoption at delivery. In addition, nursing mothers may need to abruptly quit nursing, for example, if they are taking a medicine that is incompatible with nursing or has surgery. Abrupt weaning may cause acute engorgement, excruciating breast pain, and potentially mastitis. Women who utilize a brassiere or binder, cold packs, and painkillers and are not breastfeeding may experience significant breast discomfort in one-third of cases. Many women who use the currently advised methods of symptom management may have engorgement or pain for most of the first postpartum week.
What Are the Indications for Lactation Suppression?
Healthcare professionals have long emphasized the value of breastfeeding for both mothers and infants, and various tactics have been used to promote it internationally. Despite the well-known benefits of breastfeeding, such as newborn protection against diarrheal morbidity and mortality, there are times when the mother's or the baby's health necessitates lactation suppression.
When nursing is no longer necessary, as in cases of perinatal death and baby adoption, or when the mother is too unwell to breastfeed, lactation must be suppressed, as in cases of severe obstetric morbidity. In addition to medical reasons, some mothers may seek lactation suppression when there are alternatives to breastfeeding.
How Can Mothers Who Are Not Nursing Control Their Lactation?
Preventing Lactation:
The breasts may feel heavy and painful when the milk comes in, typically 48 to 72 hours after delivery. It is advised to avoid stimulating the breasts if there is no intention to breastfeed. Doing so could lead the body to release hormones that encourage continuous breast milk production.
How Can Lactation Suppression Be Done Naturally?
The following can be done to suppress lactation naturally and to reduce breast engorgement and pain:
-
Don a bra with support.
-
Utilize over-the-counter analgesics.
-
Put ice packs on the breasts.
-
Binding the breasts or wearing a tight brassiere.
-
Apply belladonna cream to the breasts and nipples.
-
Using an infrared lamp.
-
Restrict fluid intake and nutrition.
-
Using jasmine flowers topically.
How Can Lactation Be Suppressed Using Medicines?
Bromocriptine - When the sensation of sucking is gone, lactation is naturally suppressed. The most efficient lactational suppressor now are estrogen and the prolactin-lowering drug Bromocriptine, used as medications. However, it has been noted that using them increases the risk of thromboembolism (obstruction due to emboli in the blood vessel), stroke (heart attack), and myocardial infarction (decreased blood flow in the heart muscle causing a heart attack).
Birth Control Pills - Birth control pills with simple progestin do not always affect milk supply. On the other side, estrogen-containing contraceptives may be effective at reducing lactation. These consequences remain noticeable even when a reliable milk supply has been established. These suppressive effects will not affect everyone, but many people will. Women in postpartum need to discuss with the doctor the ideal time to take an estrogen-containing medication.
What Are the Side Effects of Medications to Suppress Lactation?
There is a chance of breast engorgement when breastfeeding is abruptly stopped, as well as a chance of infection or blocked milk ducts. There might be a need to express some milk to stop feeling engorged. However, it will take longer to dry as it expresses more milk.
Major adverse events include the following:
-
Thromboembolism.
-
Myocardial infarction.
-
Maternal death.
Minor adverse events include the following:
-
Nausea.
-
Vomiting.
-
Dizziness.
How Long Does the Suppression of Lactation Last?
Inhibiting lactation is frequently referred to as drying up the milk. The milk production will determine how long it takes, but most women can taper off their milk supply over two to three weeks. Some women's supply of breast milk runs out after a short time. Even months later, some people will continue releasing a few milk drops. Although this can vary depending on the baby's age and the amount of milk produced, most women who have breastfed or pumped and start to wean will see a decrease in their milk supply in two to three weeks. Lactation may also be suppressed without the use of drugs. The milk production will progressively decline if the breasts are well supported and do not express milk more than is necessary for comfort. Wearing a strong bra during the day and at night also helps to support the breasts.
Conclusion:
The colostrum present in the second trimester has high amounts of hormones that prevent the total production of breast milk throughout pregnancy. When the baby and placenta are delivered, these hormone levels drop quickly, and the body will begin to produce milk. Failure to suppress lactation causes breast ache, engorgement, and milk production, as well as within seven days postpartum and at or within 14 days postpartum.
