A new mother states her preference to formula feed her newborn. What will the nurse planning discharge instructions tell her to help suppress lactation and promote comfort?

When a mother chooses not to breastfeed, lactation suppression relies on reducing breast stimulation while providing mechanical support to minimize discomfort. Wearing a well-fitting, supportive bra continuously for several days applies gentle, consistent compression, which helps limit vascular engorgement and signals the body to decrease prolactin-driven milk production. This is the recommended non-pharmacological approach for suppressing lactation. Expressing small amounts of milk from the breasts, even to relieve discomfort, stimulates further milk production by maintaining the supply-demand cycle, which is counterproductive when the goal is suppression. Standing in a warm shower and letting water spray over the breasts stimulates let-down and encourages milk flow, worsening engorgement over time. Similarly, massaging the breasts when they ache increases stimulation and milk release, prolonging the engorgement period rather than resolving it. The key teaching principle is that any stimulation — manual expression, heat, or massage — perpetuates milk supply, while removing stimulation and providing firm breast support allows milk production to cease naturally, usually within a few days. Cold compresses (not listed here) can also be used alongside a supportive bra to manage discomfort without stimulating milk flow.