Lactation suppression: Can medication help?

What are the options for lactation suppression immediately after birth?

- No name given / Virginia

Answer

If breast-feeding isn't possible or practical, the safest way to suppress lactation is to let milk production dry up naturally. In the meantime, avoid stimulating the breasts or expressing milk. Over-the-counter pain relievers, ice packs and a supportive bra can help relieve breast engorgement and pain — which may peak three to five days after delivery.

Medications for lactation suppression pose serious safety concerns. For example, high doses of estrogen given by injection can stop milk production — but the estrogen poses a risk of life-threatening blood clots in the mother. And bromocriptine, a drug once used for lactation suppression, is no longer recommended for this purpose because it can cause dangerously low blood pressure and stroke.

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