How Long After Cessation of Breastfeeding Should You Still Be Lactating?

What most women don't realize is this: Once a lactating woman, always a lactating woman. Some women dry up so they cannot express anything, but if given a breast pump and a few weeks they would express some milk. Your case, like many women, you may never "completely" dry up.

Fascinating fact about the human womans body! I think it is great! Then again, I have been pregnant or nursing for the past 7 years!

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Hi R..
I don't know the medical response to your question, but I do know that my littl oen is 3 and I haven't breastfed since she was 8 months, yet I still produce milk. I have never worried about it since I know many women to whom it also happens. Hope this puts your mind at ease!

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I had my first child 8 years ago and it never COMPLETELY dried up, there was always a little something there - not a lot - but any kind of pressure could cause a few drops to come out. I had my second child this past June and stopped breastfeeding a month ago and there's still quite a bit there, so I expect that it may not dry up for a LOOONG time to come. I think what you describe is completely normal. My doctor said it could take 2-3 years or not dry up at all as in my situation.

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R.,

My mother went to have her mammogram when her youngest was 13 years old (she has 3 children all of whom she nursed for a year) and when the machine squeezed her boobs, some milk came out. The nurse asked if she just stopped nursing and my mother's like, "Yeah, 12 years ago.." and the nurse was a bit surprised, but said it can be normal. So I wouldn't worry about it too much. Some women dry up quickly, some never do it seems!

I quit nursing my daughter right after her 1st birthday this past June and I cannot express one drop, and I'm the daughter of my mother who could express milk 12 years after nursing! So just know everyone is different and every situation is normal.

If you're still worried about cancer, have it checked out, but I researched and couldn't find anything supporting that as a symptom. If your milk expression is bothering you, there are steps you can take to dry it up, but I wouldn't bother unless it was a problem. Let mother nature take it's course and you'll be fine!

L.

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This happened to me as well. It takes a LONG time for some women to completely dry up their milk supply. Believe it or not, my child is 5, and if I am around a crying baby I can still get a drop. I stopped nursing 4 years ago. I asked my obgyn, and she said its normal, and most women don't notice, but stopping lactation takes a long time for some women. I would not worry or fret over cancer. I am sure you are fine...Just give it time. Avoid hot showers and such...

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Hi R.,
I too stopped nursing our third child the beginning of Feb '08 and can still today express drops of milk. I'd say that on average a nursing mom would no longer need nursing pads after about two weeks of the cessation of nursing. However, to completely dry up can take months in my own experience. Each mom is different but I don't think there is cause for concern. I nursed for nearly two years and our bodies are preparing to produce milk throughout the pregnancy so it doesn't go away overnight. If speaking to your physician will put you at ease, by all means make the call. But as I've had a similar experience, it sounds pretty normal to me.

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Hello
I breast fed all my children. From oldest at 29 to my youngest at 12. I had the same problem with my oldet who is 29 yrs. now and I went to the DR. and he told me to not have my husband handle my breast. It worked! He was stimulating me to keep producing milk. Hope this helps.
D.
www.donnascandlebiz.com

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Can't speak from experience, but I've been told by several herbalists that sage tea will dry up your milk supply. That's the culinary sage, not the white sage used for smudging. Parsley will have the same effect.

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My daughter is 2 and a half and I can still express breast milk. I haven't breast fed since she was about 11 months. I think every one is different. Nothing right or wrong.

Good luck

J.

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Not really sure--After I stopped nursing #1, I pretty much stopped lactating within a few weeks. After #2, I still haven't and that was just over a year ago at this point. I asked my GP at my appointment and she thought that it was normal but to check with my OB if I was concerned. My appointment with my OB is in November and I plan on asking then. I have also never had an issue with acne before, and then in this past pregnancy I would get several on my face throughout--I still get them. I'm assuming that it is all hormonal. Your OB can give you something to dry you up. I'm thinking that is what will happen to me.

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If you had never nursed, or if your milk had completely dried up and now you were getting 'discharge' from your breast it would be concerning. That you haven't yet dried up is probably not something to worry about. How soon is your next yearly exam? If it's within a few months, personally I'd just wait for that appointment to ask your doctor about it. If you're not due for longer, then for your piece of mind make an appointment soon. I've extended nursed 2 of my four children (currently nursing #4) and I've found my milk last longer & longer after each child. I also found after my daughter weened & my milk was almost dried up, being around a newborn baby suddenly lead to me producing more again.

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I don't ever think I dried up between my last two. I am currently breastfeeding again, but there was a good lapse of over a year in between where if I tried, I'd still see milk! I just assumed it was normal.

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Hi R..
It is normal to produce breastmilk after you stop breastfeeding. Your body continues to be able to produce milk. But, like you said, it is in small amounts. If the milk were flowing or leaking I would be concerned. If you had any other symptoms, I would be concerned. At your next doctors appointment, I would mention it to your doctor anyway.....you could call them and just let them know. But, I think many women experience this to some degree after they are done breastfeeding. I know that I experienced it when I went for a mammogram. I have heard of this happening to other moms. Hope this helps...

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I have heard of people relactating long after children. It is not always a negative sign. To be safe I would ask your doctor.

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It can take up to a full year, sometimes longer, for your milk to completely dry up. My son (my first) self-weaned at 9 mos as well and I remember it taking a year for there to be no sign of milk. My daugther who self-weaned at 8 mos is now 14 mos. and I still have milk (just a little). I wouldn't worry about it but talk to your doctor if you notice a lump. Good luck.

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I would not be concerned. I had four children from April 25, 1961 to May 21, 1965 and my milk did not dry up for six or seven years.
Then I had three more, from Nov. 15, 1972 to Jan 27, 1977 ( we could not stand not having a baby in the house LOL) and my milk did not dry up for eight years.
I can remember for years after I stopped nursin altogether that I could express drops of milk.
Now, here is a story for you. A friend of mine, who nursed her three children adopted one of her grandchildren as an infant..the poor mom was not capable of caring for a child...and she put that boy to breast, her milk started flowing again and she nursed him for 18 months. Of course the last five or six months was only at bedtime.
We were told that once a woman has lactated she is always able to lactate. Isnt that interesting?
Well hon..all these things have their own individual time tables and I would not be particularly concerned. Especially about the cancer thingy..most nursing mothers are not nearly as prone to contract cancer as non-nursing mothers..or so I have been told many times. Personally I think the only thing its a sign of is that you are healthy and have healthy milk machines going on there.
That being said, you may still want to call doc for a bit of reassurance. I think it is perfectly normal.
God bless
Grandmother Lowell

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R.,

I could express milk from my breasts for years after weaning. I don't think it is unusual to be able to express 7 months after weaning. Your friend is right though; discharge from your nipple can be a sign of breast cancer. If you have any concerns consult your OB/GYN.

J. L>