Leaking Breasts

Updated on January 24, 2008
A.O. asks from Holland, MI
26 answers

a couple days ago my breasts started feeling how they used to feel when I used to nurse - that weird tingly feeling, and itchy - I looked and saw that I was leaking some. I haven't nursed for 6 months. I was wondering if it's possible to ever still leak once & awhile after having nursed. I'm also wondering if it could mean that I'm pregnant. My husband & I had sex last week, unprotected but during my period. What's the likely hood of conceiving during menstruation? I'm also concerned it could be something else.
Any ideas?

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L.H.

answers from Green Bay on

I have had this problem in the past. It was like a majoryly delayed reaction let down. I get the sensation still every once and a while, but now without the leak.

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A.G.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I leaked for almost a year after I stopped breast feeding. I wouldn't think that you would leak if you were pregnant. Sometimes it just takes awhile for your milk to dry up. I personally wouldn't worry about it!

1 mom found this helpful
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E.S.

answers from Grand Rapids on

This is realllllly normal. Breasts can leak up to several years after nursing. Many things can trigger it... sex, a strong ovulation, even a shower with high water pressure on your breasts.

I had leaking even before I was pregnant (or trying) I went to my doc kinda freaked out and they gave me this really long list of things that can trigger milk production.

Don't worry about it. If it is normal in color- whitish to slightly yellow (like colostrum) then don't worry. If it becomes a different color or has an odor to it, then seek your doctor.

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J.M.

answers from St. Cloud on

I agree with what other people have said, that leaking is likely, but it is also possible to get pregnant while having your period. Having said that, the chances are slim, but it is POSSIBLE. I know first hand how possible that it is, my daughter is 9. Just a warning.

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L.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

It could be a number of things. I have a friend who this happened to and it turned out to be an issue with her thyroid and production of hormones that trigger your breasts to lactate. Check with your OBGYN.

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M.M.

answers from Lansing on

A.,

I kinda of had that same problem this time last yr. But It had been a little longer from the time that I had quite nursing. I just blew it off as my job. I do daycare and started to take care of a few infants that were nursed babies so they like to snuggle up to you or I figured it was the crying. When I went to see my obgyn. He was concerned and wanted to run a blood test and said that it could be sign of a medical problem and wanted to check it out. In my case it ended up being nothing like I originally thought it was but it can't hurt to check it out...

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T.W.

answers from Lansing on

I nuresed my second child for 11 months and leaked a bit for almost a year later! Also, you can get pregnant on your period, but the likelyhood of you having symptoms a week later are slim. Most likely it is just because you nursed, and this could happen for some time--I'm not sure why, I'd be interested in hearing from others.

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S.C.

answers from Omaha on

I know remember my mom telling me that she leaked for a year after she nursed me, I am the oldest of two. I didn't experience this with my first and I am nursing my second still.

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C.C.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I leaked for a year after nursing with my first also, so it can happen. As far as getting pregnant while on your period it can happen though it all depends on when you ovulate and you wouldn't be likely to have symptoms just a week later.

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S.C.

answers from Sioux Falls on

Is the leaking happening after you touch your nipples or is it just happening on its own? i quit breastfeeding a year ago and am still leaking but only if my breasts are stimulated. I did research it and it is common for your breasts to still produce milk in very small amounts. if it is a funky color (green!) i would get it checked out! if it is kinda oily and yellow/cream colored i would think this was normal. But, if you are worried you should DEFINITELY get it checked by a doc! it is not worth the worry to leave for to long. Also, i still leaked some after my first child 9 years ago for about 6 - 8 months, this time it was longer. so it is normal, just depends on how much.
Good luck and God Bless A., and please, if you are worried go to the doctor!!!!

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K.H.

answers from Grand Rapids on

After I had my son, my breast leaked for almost a year after and I never breast fed, but because my boyfrind and I stayed actively sexual, my breasts were still being stiulted to produce milk. Don't know if this helps.

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M.W.

answers from Pocatello on

I had *some* milk the entire time from stopping nursing my first to getting pregnant with my second, then it went away. I never leaked but I could squeaze it out manually. Yeah i think it's possible to leak after stopping nursing. But for me it was always just colostrum in color, not white.

And about getting PG with on the flow, my sister did. That was the only time she had unprotected sex, and so they have their third child.

Take a test to be sure. It could just be something weird your body is doing. I had a friend who started to leak - after having her first baby - every time she was ovulating. So who knows! Do you feel pregnant? I'd take a test, I always have a few in my house.

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R.W.

answers from Jackson on

Periods always triggered milk production for me. I don't know why either LOL.

as for getting pregnant while on your period...it is HIGHLY unlikely. During a period you are activily shedding the uterine lining which is what a fertilized egg embeds into. I assume since you would know your body you would know for sure it was a period and not mid-cycle spotting (during which it's possible to get pregnant because it's not a period but can be a sign of ovulation)

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C.S.

answers from Bismarck on

Even if you're not nursing anymore you can still produce some if they're still getting stimulated. The Doc told me to tell my husband to chill out for a while(away from the boobs) so they can adjust again. Now you can conceive during your cycle. Even though we attempted to conceive a day prior to my cycle starting, according to all my ultrasounds she was conceived on the second day of that cycle. So either way a Doc would be able to give you the specific reason and it's good to get checked out. Hope you find this useful.

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K.L.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hi, My breasts leaked long after I stopped nursing. It happens, don't worry about it. I definately don't think you can become pregnant while your menstrating. Have a great day!

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A.C.

answers from St. Cloud on

After I had my first daughter I leaked for years. My OB said that some women can still have a little milk years and years after having a baby. Is the discharge discolored? Are you having other symtoms not normal with your breasts? If you please call your doc. And not likely to get pregnant when you have your period but anything is possible. Good Luck!

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C.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

I never leaked after my children but could still get some out if I squezzed 5 YEARS after my first son. It's also been 2 years since I nursed my second and I can still get some out if I try. I would not worry unless it has a foul odor or a greenish color. I'm studying to be an OB Nurse, so about getting pg during your period. It is possible but very unlikely, if you were to have gotten pg last week you its very early to have symptoms due to the fact that the egg typcally takes a good week to implant. It also takes a few weeks for the HCG Hormone to build up enough that you would start to feel pg symptoms. Good luck

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R.J.

answers from St. Cloud on

Hi A.,

I have had the same thing happen to me after nursing. But also it is possible to get pregnant during menstruation. I am living proof of that and also being on the pill which we have all heard before. Don't know if that helps but good luck!

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C.E.

answers from Provo on

my sister in law lactated while pregnant, but i'm not sure how early in the pregnancy. my mother in law once thought she was pregnant because she started lactating (white, not colostrum), which had happened with her before during pregnancies (and she was having other pregnancy-like symptoms) but it turned out to be a cyst and the beginning of menopause.

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R.F.

answers from Bismarck on

Always talk to your doctor! Leaking breasts can be normal, even several months after weaning your baby, but it can also be a sign of other things. Best to check it out and then you can have peace of mind. Also, it would be very unlikely that you are pregnant. Good luck!

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M.S.

answers from Des Moines on

OK, here's the thing. You are actually more likely to get pregnant while menstruating than normal. So, it's possible you are pregnant. but, I don't believe your breasts would leak that soon in. It is possible for breasts to leak for quite a while after nursing. I haven't nursed for 10 1/2 months, and mine still occasionally leak. I'm not pregnant, and haven't been. I hope this helps out.

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K.T.

answers from Pocatello on

Holy Cow. I have the same problem. My baby girl is 15 months old, too. Haven't nursed her since she quit cold turkey at 5 months old. I went in a couple of months ago for my yearly and asked the doctor about this. She tested my blood and put me on a hormone pill, (can't remember which one), it was to help stop the breasts from producing milk. I wasn't producing a lot, just enough to leak and become bothersome. Talk to you doctor about checking your hormone levels. That might work. Mine is definitely better.

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S.Y.

answers from Saginaw on

I nursed three babies and weaned the youngest one 21 years ago. It's been a while but I remember! Nursing is the best part of babies! My breasts leaked for a long time in between kids and after the last one. It was years before they would stop tingling when I heard a baby cry. My thought is that the hormones that cause milk production are still there. I used to discuss this with my older sisters who all nursed too. It's completely normal.

I think it's very unlikely you're leaking because you are pregnant. It's too soon. Though one isn't supposed to get pregnant during their period (I never did), but I know it can happen if for some reason you ovulated while your period was happening. Always best to be safe rather than susrprised. :)

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B.R.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I've had issues with that in the past as well. I experienced that same feeling and the leaking about 1YEAR after weaning my son. Does the discharge look similar to breast milk or does it look concerning? If it keeps up, don't hesitate to ask your Dr. about it. They would rather see you and have it be nothing than not see you and have it be something.

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J.K.

answers from Saginaw on

Hey i think it is normal. I leaked for a little bit after i quit nursing. Then i thought that after a little while that i had dried up but I quit nursing when my son was 1 and he is gonna be 2 in a few weeks and i still have some in there, not a lot i don't think but still a little bit. i have read that you can still have some years after being done nursing. So i think you are fine. You may want to check on the pregnant thing if you did have unprotected sex just in case but it is pry just the case of still having some in there. hope this helps. jen

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S.S.

answers from Davenport on

Not sure on the pregnancy issue, but I would feel the same sensations after I was done nursing. It was not uncommon for me to feel this for up to 2 years after and still have some leaking. After #4 I questioned if it would ever stop, he is 5 and it has not happened for a long time.

Good luck!

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