It's not unusual for milky discharge to continue for up to two to three years after discontinuing breastfeeding. That said, some people (regardless of their sex assigned at birth or whether they've breastfed before) can experience milk production or milky discharge called galactorrhea.
It's not unusual to be able to express drops of milk months or even years after weaning, although producing significant amounts long afterwards could suggest a hormonal imbalance and is worth checking with your doctor.
80), “Small amounts of milk or serous fluid are commonly expressed for weeks, months, or years from women who have previously been pregnant or lactating.” The amount is most often very small, however, and spontaneous flow (leaking) generally stops within 2-3 weeks.
Galactorrhea sometimes indicates an underlying health condition, but is most often caused by too much prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that triggers milk production. It's made by your pituitary gland, a gland at the base of your brain.
Lactating while not pregnant or breastfeeding is called galactorrhea. It has a variety of causes and associated symptoms. Not all causes of galactorrhea are serious, but diagnosis can occasionally be challenging. Anyone experiencing symptoms of galactorrhea should speak to a doctor.
During relactation, you train your body to produce milk after not lactating for a period of time. It's possible to relactate if you haven't produced breast milk in weeks, months or even years. And while some may think relactation is a modern concept, the practice has been around for hundreds of years.
Nipple discharge is the release of fluid from the nipple. It is a very common breast symptom and in most cases is part of the normal function of the breast rather than being caused by a problem. Nipple discharge alone (without a lump or other nipple change) is a very uncommon symptom of breast cancer.
Try a medication, such as bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel) or cabergoline, to lower your prolactin level and minimize or stop milky nipple discharge.
Relactation refers to the process of reestablishing milk production in a parent who never initiated breastfeeding after being pregnant or who has stopped breastfeeding either by choice or because baby is no longer nursing.
The main symptom of galactorrhea is a milky white discharge from one or both nipples. Sometimes, the discharge is yellow or greenish in color.
If mom wants to continue breastfeeding or pumping up to two years, she can maintain her milk supply – in most cases – by how often she breastfeeds or pumps. Breastfeeding an older child isn't the same as breastfeeding a newborn.
If you've been breastfeeding, it will take a month or more for your milk to dry up, depending on how quickly you wean your baby. In this instance, the most comfortable way to dry up your milk, according to Shay, is to gradually cut down on feeding or pumping sessions.
There is no set timeline for the lactation suppression process. Instead, how quickly your milk dries up depends on several factors, including the age of your baby and your average milk supply. Breast milk can take days, weeks, or months to dry up. It is recommended that you gradually wean your breastfed baby.
Is relactation safe? Relactation is perfectly safe, but you'll want to enlist the help of your baby's doctor and/or a lactation consultant to make sure your baby is always receiving enough nourishment as you transition from formula to breast milk.
Induced lactation has been described as the process of breastmilk production in a mammal (woman) without recent pregnancy and/or birth and may involve the use of herbs, supplements, medications, mechanical stimulation, and/or the infant to facilitate breastmilk production.
See a GP if:
it happens regularly and is not just a one-off. it only comes from 1 breast. it's bloodstained or smelly. you're not breastfeeding and it leaks out without any pressure on your breast.
Galactorrhea is milky breast discharge that happens in women who aren't pregnant or breastfeeding. Galactorrhea is milky breast discharge that happens in women who aren't pregnant or breastfeeding. It affects as many as 1 out of every 4 or 5 women.
Objective: Infertility is one of the most common causes of women refer to gynecology clinics. Galactorrhea is defined as one of the causes of infertility caused by luteal phase defect and anovulatory cycles.
A white spot on the nipple usually occurs in breastfeeding women, but can occur at other times. It is also referred to as a blocked nipple pore, a bleb or a milk blister. It is usually about the size of a pinhead or a little larger. The skin surrounding the white spot may be red and inflamed.
Treatment and prevention
Montgomery tubercles are harmless, and no treatment is necessary when these change or increase in number. These spots should not be squeezed or popped as this can introduce infection.
Intraductal papillomas are benign (non-cancerous), wart-like tumors that grow within the milk ducts of the breast. They are made up of gland tissue along with fibrous tissue and blood vessels (called fibrovascular tissue).
Overview. Galactorrhea (guh-lack-toe-REE-uh) is a milky nipple discharge unrelated to the normal milk production of breast-feeding. Galactorrhea itself isn't a disease, but it could be a sign of an underlying problem. It usually occurs in women, even those who have never had children or after menopause.
Even after breastfeeding has stopped, there may be milk in the breasts for several months to years. You may notice drops of milk on occasion or may be able to express drops by hand.