Government of Western Australia North Metropolitan Health Service Women and Newborn Health Service

Lactation suppression Suppression of may be required for many reasons: • the has chosen to formula feed, • the mother has a medical condition that precludes , • the mother requires medications that preclude breastfeeding, • the has a medical condition that precludes breastfeeding, or • the mother has experienced a stillbirth or neonatal death.

Breast milk suppression • Relieve discomfort and swelling by placing immediately following birth cold packs from the fridge, not the freezer on your breasts. • Prescribed drugs used to suppress lactation • Handle your breasts very gently as they can act by reducing , the hormone bruise easily. involved in making milk. • Whenever your breasts feel too full, express • For this reason these medications work best a little milk. Remember that the more you in the early stages of lactation when prolactin express, the more milk you will make. levels are high. They are much less effective if • Express only enough to make your used after weeks or months of breastfeeding. breasts comfortable. may be prescribed for • • Drink when you are thirsty. Cutting down fluids suppression of lactation. will not help reduce your milk supply. It is possible to suppress lactation • • For the first few days full breasts may make without medication. lying in bed uncomfortable. Try lying on your • If your breasts are firmly supported back or on one side with an extra pillow and you don’t express milk more than supporting your breasts. If you like to lie on needed for comfort, your milk supply will your front, place a pillow under your hips and gradually decrease. stomach to ease the pressure on your breasts. • Wearing a firm bra both day and night supports Place a soft towel across your breasts to soak your breasts and keeps you more comfortable. up any leaking milk. You may need a larger size for a while. • If your breasts are uncomfortable, you can • Use breast pads to soak up leaking milk. take simple pain relief, such as paracetamol or Disposable or reusable ones work equally well. ibuprofen. Discuss this with your doctor if you Change them as they become wet. have concern with these medications. Things to watch out for: • See your doctor if you have the flu-like symptoms or if you cannot clear a blockage. Engorgement (painful, overfull breasts) • If you have blocked ducts you will need • Engorgement often happens in the first few to express more milk than usual to clear days after a baby’s birth when extra blood and the blockage. other fluids, as well as milk, build up in the • If is not adequately treated, a breast breasts as milk production increases. abscess may develop. • Engorged breasts become very swollen, tender and hard. Treat blocked ducts and mastitis quickly to • If a firm bra, cold, expressing to comfort and avoid further problems simple analgesia do not ease your discomfort, • Apply cool pack or cloth to the affected area. it may help to express all the milk in the breasts, just once, with an electric breast • Then express your milk. pump. This can relieve the pressure and from • Express every few hours to keep the breast then on, you may be able to prevent it building as empty as you can; while expressing, gently up to that point again. stroke your breast, towards the nipple. When the mastitis has passed, you can go back to • Continue to wear a firm bra. reducing your milk supply. • Continue to express only for comfort. • Between expressing sessions, use cold packs from the fridge, not the freezer. A face washer Blocked ducts and mastitis cooled in cold water to reduce inflammation • When breasts are very full, there is a risk that and relieve pain is also useful. one or more of the ducts will become blocked. • Visit your GP if you have a fever, feel unwell • A lump forms and the breast begins to or if you cannot clear a blocked duct, as feel sore. appropriate antibiotic treatment for 10 – 14 days is necessary. An analgesic or anti- • Sometimes there is a red area on the skin and / or the breast may feel hot. inflammatory medication may also help. • If the blockage remains, milk can be forced out • Avoid suppression when of the duct and into the breast tissue, which mastitis is present. becomes inflamed. • Express until the mastitis resolves, then gradually decrease the number of expressions • You may have shivers and aches and feel like you are getting the ‘flu’. / days over a period of several days until the breasts only become full after 24 to 48 hours – • This is called mastitis and can come on then cease. very quickly. For further support and advice, please contact the Breastfeeding Centre of WA on (08) 6458 1844, or ring (08) 6458 2222 and ask for pager 3310. Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

WNHS ommunity Advisory ouncil your voice

Women and Newborn Health Service King Edward Memorial Hospital © North Metropolitan Health Service 2021 374 Bagot Road, Subiaco WA 6008 (08) 6458 2222 This document can be made available in alternative formats on request. kemh.health.wa.gov.au WNHS_961_0321