Does Motherwort stop breastfeeding?

Motherwort is a relatively common medicinal material. Motherwort does not have the effect of stopping milk production because its own medicinal effect is to regulate menstruation and promote blood circulation. If you want to stop milk production during breastfeeding, you cannot eat motherwort. There are many ways to stop weaning, and the best way is to stop weaning naturally. Of course, if natural weaning is not effective, you can also use medication and other methods to promote the effect. Let’s take a look at this aspect.

Does Motherwort stop breastfeeding?

Motherwort has the effects of promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, clearing away heat and detoxifying. Used for irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, retained lochia, edema, oliguria, sores and swelling. Motherwort is not a contraindicated drug during lactation and will not cause milk dryness.

Methods of weaning

How do new mothers stop producing breast milk? Weaning is a gradual process and few mothers can successfully stop producing breast milk in a short period of time. The methods of weaning mainly include natural weaning and artificial weaning. Natural weaning is the best method, which mainly involves reducing the number and duration of breastfeeding to stop the breasts from producing milk. Artificial weaning includes dietary adjustment and taking weaning medicine. Mothers whose breasts are engorged during weaning can also wean with the help of a lactation consultant. Generally speaking, artificial weaning is relatively quick, but natural weaning is a safer method.

1. Natural weaning:

If the mother has been breastfeeding her baby for 10 months to 1 year and has been able to wean her baby normally, generally speaking, natural weaning is the best option, and the success rate is relatively high, which is good for both the mother and the baby.

(1) Gradually reduce the number of breastfeeding times: If mothers do not have too much milk, they can choose to reduce the number of breastfeeding times little by little. By reducing the number of breastfeeding times, the amount of milk secretion can be reduced a little, and the milk will go back.

(2) Lengthen the interval between feedings: Gradually lengthen the interval between each feeding to allow the baby to slowly adapt and the breasts to slowly adapt, thereby slowly reducing the secretion of milk, which is very helpful for weaning.

(3) Shorten the time of a single feeding: Do not feed your baby for too long each time, and shorten it gradually. This will reduce the baby's sucking stimulation and naturally reduce milk secretion.

(4) Reduce high-protein intake: Mothers should pay attention to eating less soup and milk-inducing foods, and must be careful not to eat fish, lamb and other foods rich in protein. Drink less soup and water, and eat light food to reduce milk secretion.

(5) Wear tighter clothes: When weaning your baby, mothers can discard loose clothes and wear tighter clothes and underwear. The squeezing of clothes can reduce milk secretion and help with milk weaning.

2. Artificial weaning:

Although artificial weaning is not the best method, if the mother needs to wean her baby because she has not breastfed for 10 months due to various diseases or special reasons, and if natural weaning methods do not work, the mother can consider artificial weaning.

(1) Oral or external use of Chinese herbal medicines to stop milk secretion: such as 120g of roasted malt, boiled in water, and taken warm in 3 doses; or 1 bowl of soy milk, add a little white sugar; or first suck out the milk, use 50-60g of saltpeter, put it in a gauze bag, and apply it to the breasts. After deliquescing, it needs to be replaced in time, 3-4 times a day.

(2) Oral or intramuscular injection of estrogen drugs: such as oral administration of ethinyl estradiol, 5 mg each time, 3 times a day, for 3-5 days; or intramuscular injection of estradiol benzoate, 2 mg each time, 2 times a day, for 3-5 days.

(3) Find a lactation consultant: When milk is coming in, find a lactation consultant. When milk is coming out, you can also find a professional lactation consultant to perform professional massage to help with milk withdrawal.

Although mothers with excessive milk secretion can choose to take medication or injections to achieve the effect of weaning, it is recommended not to take injections or medications unless it is absolutely necessary. Because the drugs may damage the mammary glands, causing them to atrophy, and affecting milk production when giving birth to another baby.