Question About Milk Production

Hi L.,

My daughter is 4 years old now and I stopped breastfeeding when she was 11 mo. but I still have milk in my breasts. I don't know if it will ever fully go away, but I leak occasionally. it's not a lot, but it's still there.

Im a lactation consultant in private practice. Are you pumping or otherwise removing milk from your breasts? If you are, your breasts will continue to make milk. Is there part of you that would still like to breastfeed occasionally? Your brain is a VERY important part of milk production. You can continue to nurse occasionally if you and your baby want to.

Feel free to contact me,

R. Beebe, M.Ed., IBCLC
www.second9months.com

P.S. I just read some of the other advice given. Cabbage leaves will NOT make your milk go away. They help reduce swelling only.

I had this problem. The doctor told me that as long as their is some stimulation of the breasts the milk will continue to produce. This includes the shower running over your breasts when you take a shower and any stimulation during sex.

Hi L.,

I have the same advice as Beth. Eat or drink sage in some form. It works quickly.

My son weaned himself last August and I still make milk. Not enough to actually pump, but enough to make a mess if there's a really upset baby in my vicinity. My friends tell me it never actually completely stops.

That's a good question. Unfortunately I can't help you! I weined my daughter two years ago, but my milk never totally went away and now I'm nursing a new baby, so I've been lactating since 2005 for two different children with a two year gap in between. My doctor said it would dry up when I stopped using it. It drastically decreased, but never totally went away. I'm curious to see some of the suggestions you get. Good luck!

Try taking some sage (like the herb). It will finish the job of drying your milk up. I got some concentrated liquid sage in a tincture bottle online at www.herblore.com and it worked in 48 hours when I needed to stop producing milk.

My daughter turned 2 in May and I stopped breastfeeding when she was seven months old and it still happens to me. I thought there was something wrong but the doc did bloodwork and said all is normal. I still have to wear nursing pads if I'm stressed out or she cries alot. Just keep a couple in your purse or diaper bag and always carry an extra shirt. :o)

It is totally normal-- especially when you have feelings of being unable to spend all the time that you wish with your boy. Weening is such a big process convincing all parties that, yes, we are done. You have to convince your child and yourself and sometimes your own body.

I have a dear friend that starts lactating when she spends a large amount of time helping a friend-- either with their new babies or even intense life altering situations. Her feelings of wanting to help make her produce milk. The first time that happened she thought she had breast cancer-- no, turns out it was just full milk ducts.

I would not worry about it. I would spend that time giving kisses to your boys even if they are mental air smoochies!!!

PS I breastfed both my kids. In between the two my milk never dried up as well. I just weened my 3 1/2 year old and the milk seems to still be on tap. I am done with having babies so I have hopes that the cafe will close in a few months.

You don't mention if you have talked with your doctor about this. It seems to me that this would be unusual unless you have other hormonal changes and I would have spoken to my doctor some time ago. I did a little digging and found a website that you can ask this very question of a professional. A similar question yielded this answer:
*Question
I quit breastfeeding my son almost 7 months ago and since I've completed weaning I haven't had any milk be expressed from my breasts then today for the first time in 7 months I was in the shower when I noticed some milk leaking from both breasts. I tried to express some more and was successful (not a large amount maybe a couple drops)but since my breasts are sore (probably from me squeezing them to express some milk). Is this normal? How long could this last? I had an IUD inserted 5 months ago and it contains horomones could these be causing it? If not what are some reasons behind it?

Answer
Dear Amber,

First, congratulations for giving your son the best start in life by breastfeeding him!

Regarding your current situation, it is possible that the hormones from the IUD might be causing the relactation you are experiencing. Since you have the IUD in place, you are probably not pregnant, which otherwise might be an explanation. In any case, as in any instance when something out of the ordinary is happening, you should call your gynecologist to check it out, to rule out any possible problem.

Good luck!

Sally

Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Breastfeeding-1764/lactating-c...

I hope you are successful in finding the answer to this question. I did not have a problem with producing after weaning, so cannot help you from personal experience. Good luck.

I had this same problem after weaning my daughter. It is 5 years later and I still occasionally leak milk, although it got way better 2 years ago. My advice to you is to let your doctor know. They will probably do a Prolactin test, to rule out anything else. But, Although leaking milk this long after may not be overly common, I think it is normal.
Let me know if you have any other questions about my experience, I would be happy to share. :)
R.

Have you considered resuming breastfeeding? Since you still have milk, it could be a wonderful way for you to spend really special time with him and enhance your connection with him, especially since you work fulltime. Plus all the wonderful nutritional and immune system benefits, which would continue to help him as long as you nurse, as well as help give him a strong healthy immune system for life!

Do some research on this one but I was told putting cabbage leaves against your breasts helps to stop production. Good luck!

I "leaked" for a year after weaning my 2nd child. (I weaned my 1st while pregnant with my 2nd, so I leaked then also). I weaned my 3rd while in the hospital. I was on anti-nausea medication so I couldn't feed her (she was almost 2, so we were ready anyway). I was also on Benadryl for allergy reactions. Wow! That dried me up quickly and completely!

So, I recommend Benadryl for a couple of days. There was really nothing left.

Good luck!

Me too!!!!! If you get any great answers let me know. I'm about ready to call my OB/GYN and see if there is a pill available to stop production. I have a son that is 4 years old and I nursed him until he was 1. My milk never fully went away and then I got pregnant with my daughter when he was about 2. My milk went away for about the first 2 months of my 2nd pregnancy and then came back! My daughter is now 20 months and I weaned her in November! The other day I was sitting at my desk (at home - I work from home), looked down and I had leaked!!!!! It's crazy! I may not have an answer for you, but at least you know that you are not alone! I'm sorry you don't get to spend more time with your son because of a full time job. My guess is that your full time job pretty much pays for daycare and gas! I had thought about going back to work, but it wouldn't be worth it by the time you factor in the cost of gas and daycare! That's why I became my own boss and started to work from home! Last month I brought home $830 and only left my house 3 times! I would love to chat more about it with you. Feel free to contact me at ____@____.com or ###-###-####. It kills me to see someone missing out on time with their children! Good Luck! Talk to you soon!

Hi I am 41 and have a 3 year old who still nurses at nights. I still have milk. So I guess it depends.