When you stop breastfeeding, you don't want to completely empty your breasts, but instead express milk to relieve discomfort. Here's a guide on how to do it:
Gradual Milk Expression Schedule
This method focuses on gradually reducing milk production to minimize discomfort and engorgement.
Initial Phase (Days 1-2)
- Frequency: Express each breast every 4 hours.
- Duration: Limit expression to 5 minutes per breast.
- Goal: Do not aim to empty your breasts completely. Express just enough milk to feel comfortable.
Subsequent Phase (Following Days)
- Frequency: Express every 5 hours.
- Duration: Reduce expression time to 3-4 minutes per breast.
- Goal: Continue to express only to alleviate discomfort, gradually decreasing the amount of milk removed.
Following this schedule helps your body naturally decrease milk production, avoiding the discomfort of engorgement and potential complications.
