I know this sounds strange but I really need some advice. I was doing laundry yesterday and just lounging around in shorts and a T-shirt (no bra) and all of a sudden I felt a wetness in my shirt. I realized I was lactating. Not a lot...just a little bit. I have two kids and am familiar enough with pregnancy but is it possible to lactate if I'm not pregnant? If I am I would only be a few weeks along. I bought a home test and it was negative but I can't think of any other reason for what is happening. This is defintely not planned but I won't be devestated if I am. I just don't know what to think. If any one is a nurse or something or has experienced this I would love to hear from you. Thank you.
Well, I went to the clinic and did a urine test. It was negative and the nurse said it should be accurate. She said not to be too concerned with the discharge unless it's an unusual color or if it lasts more than a week or two. She said if I miss my period to have another test but she's pretty confident that I'm not pregnant.
Thanks to everybody for their advice.
I wouldn't know if you're pregnant because I've never heard of such a thing, but I do know that any time you experience unusual discharge from your breasts, you need to consult your doctor on the very distant chance that it could be a cancerous condition. At the least its nothing, or you are pregnant, but if it is something more serious it's best to catch it early. Good luck.
Even though you've seen your nurse...Please make sure that you document any time this happens again. Things like: when did it occur, what time of day, how long did it last, how much came out, what color, any odor, any pain associated with it, breast enlargement or warm to touch. I had a similar experience about a year ago and my OB said it could be signs of cancer or infection. He sent me in for a mammogram and they didn't find anything, but he said to be on the safe side document everything and call immediately if it turned bloody. Make sure that you are doing regular self breast exams and yearly ones with your OB/Gyn, so that if there is a problem it can be caught early. Good luck.
K.,
while I was nursing about a year ago, a friend of my sister's began lactacting. She has teenage children, so this came to her a such a suprise. She took home pregnancy test after test and they all came back negative. She finally went to the doctor and found out that lactating is a very rare side effect to the medication she was on. I can't remember which one it was, but I seem to think it was an anti-depressent. Just an idea...
There is six years between my middle son and my youngest. During that time I noticed that I did it a few times as well. Now that my youngest is 15 months I notice that I do it more often and usually when I am not wearing a bra.
A friend of mine had this happen and it ended up being related to a thyroid issue. I think one of her other symptoms was having her period like every two or three weeks.
Good luck!
Nicole
Call the doc, for sure. But Since my first child, I have always been able to express a small amount of colostrum. It just never dried up all the way. You're doc can give you more info. but hopefully, you'll find it's just a fluke.
~L.
I wouldn't think you are pregnant. I don't think your colostrum comes in until later in a pregnancy. I know of some people whose milk never dried up after having a baby. I would really call your MD in case of something more serious.
I quit nursing my daughter over 6 months ago and I still leak at random times. I have a friend that did this for years. from what i understand it is completely natural. the worse times that i get it is durning menstration. and when i am not wearing a bra. good luck
This can be a side effect from anti-depressants and other medications (or herbs).
some medications can cause women to lactate. If you are taking any medication I suggest you check with your physician they may recommend that you change it.
I breastfed my daughter until she was 3 months old, and then switched her over to formula because she was lactose intolerant. I lactated off and on until she was 3 years old. I was told that I was lactating because of hormonal changes due to a quick weight loss. If you are not pregnant, and this hasn't happened before, you should consult your physician. Sometimes you can get an infection in the mammary gland and it will leak a fluid that appears to be milk, and is not necessarily painful. A round of antibiotics will usually take care of the infection, but in this day and age of breast cancer awareness, I say go in and get checked out. It's better to be safe than sorry.
I would have to ask if you are on any medications, because sometimes they affect your hormones and can make you lactate. I would call the doctor and ask them about it.
Since my mid 20's I have expressed a small amount of milk from my breasts. That was before I ever had kids. I talked with the doctor about it once and they told me it was not a concern, that just hormonal and that some women do it around ovulation time.
I would go get it checked out though, just to be safe!! Besides then you would know if you are expecting too!
According to WebMd it could be one of (but not limited to) these things: irritation, cancer, lactation or infection. You should make an appointment with your doctor. Better to be safe than sorry.
I have had this happen to me recently as well! My daughter is almost 2 and I quit breastfeeding about a year ago and had not had any problems, until a few months ago when milk started coming out. I thought I may be pregnant, but it has been going on for a couple months now and I am not pregnant. I contacted a nurse and they did advise that usually you cannot lactate if you are not pregnant, but that there may be another underlying problem, such as a tumor or something of the sort, which definitely worried me. The lactating, however, has stopped, but if I would happen to squeeze my breast, I can still get some milk to come out--it is the oddest thing. Maybe you should get checked out?
I have been lactating since the first month of my pregnancy. I would go see your Dr. but it is possible.
I am told for some women a discharge every now and again is normal. To find out if its normal, or something to worry about, I would go have a breats exam and preggo test.
Dont be alarmed, but breast leakege for no particular reason can also be a sign of cancer. Best Advise... go to the doctor soon.
Your friend, and cancer survivor, S.
