Breast bandaging is one of the ways to stop lactation, which is used by women who want to transfer their child to artificial feeding. But this method is rather unsafe. If you do not know how to bandage your chest and what conditions to take into account and follow the rules, you can seriously harm your he alth.
Incorrectly performed procedure causes more than just pain. Destructive changes in the tissues of the pectoral muscle, as well as inflammatory and congestive phenomena in the mammary gland itself, can begin, and this is fraught with the occurrence of mastitis or lactostasis. So should I bandage my chest?
Gradual transition to artificial feeding
Urgent weaning of a child from the breast is necessary when a woman has inflammatory diseases of the mammary glands (the same mastitis, for example), herpes sores on the nipple, neoplasms, etc. But then the doctor prescribes a way to stop lactation. Modern medical drugs are able to interrupt the production of milk after taking just one tablet.
If there are no emergency indications, it is better not to use this method - the abrupt abolition of breastfeeding will negatively affect the child's psyche and his he alth in general. Gradual weaning is natural and safe.
WHO recommends starting nutritional change by age 2, reducing the number of breastfeeds by one each day (daytime first, then nighttime). By this age, the sucking reflex fades away in the baby, and the weaning process itself takes place naturally. No additional measures are required, only the remaining milk must be carefully expressed. Mothers who already produced little of it can transfer an already one-year-old child to another diet. It won't hurt him at all.
And if you still need to bandage the chest? Preparing
Whatever the reason why a woman chooses such an unsafe method (for example, to pay off a large output or because of poor quality milk), she must know how to properly bandage her breasts. It is advisable to start changing the child's diet to artificial mixtures a month before the first procedure.
On the day of dressing, you need to limit fluid intake so that it does not stimulate the secretion of milk. Pickles should be abandoned: they retain water in the body. To reduce the likelihood of discomfort and pain, it is best to wear a bra without wires and made from natural materials between dressings.
For the procedure itself, you will need elastic bandages. They canreplace with any piece of long and dense matter. A sheet or towel will do. Additionally, you need to buy camphor oil at the pharmacy.
How to bandage your chest properly
Before the procedure, you need to express milk or feed it to the baby. The chest should be empty. This will create the necessary conditions for a full outflow of blood and reduce the risk of congestion. But feeding the baby after each dressing is not worth it. Nipple stimulation will trigger milk production.
The entire chest is wrapped with an elastic bandage soaked in camphor oil. It should fit snugly against the skin, exerting light pressure, but without leaving marks from the bandage or bruising. It is unlikely that you will be able to cope on your own, so it is better to ask a loved one for help, having previously explained to him how to bandage his chest. Bandages should cover the entire surface of the body from the armpits to the lower ribs. For convenience, the knot is left on the back.
The first dressing is removed after 6 hours. But if there is a lot of milk and the breast began to put a lot of pressure on it, you can remove it earlier. After feeding the child, you should impose it again. And so on until the secretion of milk is significantly reduced. It usually takes 1-2 weeks.
Additional ways to reduce lactation
We looked at how to bandage your breasts to reduce milk production. This method can be effectively supplemented. Compresses are made with camphor alcohol. They improve blood circulation and help prevent the development of mastitis. But camphor should not come into contact with the nipples, so inmaterial needs to be cut. The compress solution itself is heated in a water bath and allowed to cool in warm water.
Another effective method is playing sports. The removal of fluid from the body along with sweat will contribute to the rapid cessation of lactation. Water procedures will also help. The temperature in the bath should not exceed 37 °C. For greater effectiveness, you can add eucalyptus or peppermint oil to the water, only 5-7 drops.
If you experience pain or any unusual and disturbing tissue changes during (or after) bandaging, consider whether you need to bandage your chest further. Be sure to seek medical advice.
A little about medicines
As already noted, pharmacy remedies for stopping lactation give a very quick result, which does not always have a positive effect on the he alth of the mother and child. The action of such drugs is due to the effect on the hormones oxytocin and prolactin, which are responsible for the production of milk.
The doctor, depending on the general condition of the patient, prescribes Dostinex, Bromocriptine, Parlodel or others. All of them have a number of contraindications and side effects (dizziness, convulsions, nausea, etc.). But if you choose between methods such as bandaging the chest or taking hormonal pills, the doctor will still recommend the latter. After the timely cancellation of their intake, all side effects disappear.
Folk remedies
Reduces lactation sage. It contains phytoestrogens that inhibit the action of prolactin. It does not cause such serious complications as breast ligation or taking hormonal pills. Yes, and it is convenient to use it: the pharmacy sells ready-made tea, which you just need to pour boiling water over and drink in the recommended doses. You can replace sage with white cinquefoil or jasmine.
Also, cabbage leaves, previously crushed with a rolling pin, are applied to the chest. Remove them only after all the juices are absorbed into the body. After consulting with your doctor, you can drink a weekly course of diuretic folk remedies (parsley, cranberries, horsetail).
Conclusion
Can I bandage my chest? By far the best option is to gradually wean the baby from the breast. For medical reasons, when a quick cessation of lactation is required, medications will have to be used. And it is better to replace breast dressing with safer folk remedies, compresses, baths, etc. If you use it, then only according to all the rules, carefully monitoring your general he alth and any changes in your chest.
