Interesting Problems with My Body

Updated on December 16, 2007
L.M. asks from Hays, KS
18 answers

I am trying to get pregnant with my second child. I breastfed my daughter. Last night I was looking at my breasts to see if I saw any changes and noticed that I was leaking alittle bit of milk. I stopped breastfeeding 2 years ago. Does anyone know what this could mean?

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So What Happened?

Found out the other day that I am definitely pregnant. I am 4 weeks along. I went to the doctor last Thursday and my pregnancy hormone was right where it should be. So I just hope this pregnancy lasts to deliver.. Thanks for all of your responses.

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J.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Nothing special necessarily... you may not have compressed well after you stopped breastfeeding or sometimes the stimulation alone can cause you to produce... don't worry.

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S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I leaked off and on for at least 10 years after my 3rd child and 2-3 years beyond my last daughter. I don't know.?

Suzi

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J.C.

answers from Kansas City on

I feel like I could have written that post 2 years ago. That exact thing happend to me right before I found out I was pregnant with my second child. Good luck.

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M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

You might be pregnant. Or, you could just be ovulating. It all depends on how long ago you stopped breastfeeding.

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J.C.

answers from Kansas City on

I'm also trying to conceive a 2nd child and stopped nursing 14 mos ago. This past month, on day 3 of my cycle, my doctor sent me to have blood drawn for analysis. They were looking at thyroid, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and levels of prolactin(milk production) to make sure they were normal levels for that point in my cycle.

From www.wdxcyber.com: "When doctors investigate for anovulation, they occasionally find an increase in the breast milk producing hormone prolactin. The milky breast nipple discharge is a symptom, not a cause of anything. Often it is the result of an elevated prolactin or milk hormone. Normally that hormone is only elevated in pregnancy. The rest of the time, the brain secretes a prolactin-inhibiting factor."

Hope that helps.

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J.C.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I have a nine year old and a four year old, born almost 6 yrs apart, and I was still able to get colostrum 5 yrs after my first was born. I think with some of us, whatever makes milk for us doesn't "turn off" when we are through breastfeeding. I asked my doctor about it about 8 months after I had finished breastfeeding and I could still get milk, he just said stop trying, and laughed so I don't think it is anything to worry about.

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R.B.

answers from Kansas City on

This has been so interesting to read! My son is 16 mos. old and I stopped BF him just after he turned 4 mos. I STILL can get milk out....not a steady flow but a few drops. I recently moved and got a new OBGYN. I asked her about it and she pretty much blew me off, said it was fine, but didn't really talk to me about it. Needless to say, I'll be finding another Dr. But, I just wanted to say that you're not the only one. I'm not pg, not trying to get pg, not hormonal, not on any meds and I still have this "problem." From the sounds of the other posters, this is a normal thing. Whew.... :)

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C.R.

answers from Kansas City on

If you had stopped breastfeeding recently, hormone swings while your menstral cycle adjusts again can cause a little leakage around ovulation (I think? Might be afterwards - I forget). Since it's been two years though, I'd hop out to the store for a preggo test. Breasts do secrete oils and fatty buildup from the nipples now and then, and if one gets a little irritated it can be kind of like when you first started producing milk (some noticeable droplets now and then), but that usually only happens if you're prodding at them (like when you do a lump check or wear a way-too-tight bra). It looks more like colostrum to me than regular milk, but it probably depends on the person. If it wasn't much at all and you don't have lumps or soreness, I wouldn't worry too much. But, if you have any pain or heat along with it - definitely check with your doctor.

Good luck and happy baby-making!

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K.C.

answers from Kansas City on

I had the same problem for years. I think it was because I always around kids and when babies would cry my milk would come down. But it is worth getting checked out it could be a sign of something more serious

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C.H.

answers from St. Louis on

That happened to me after my son was 1 and a 1/2 years. It actually happened to me on a trip to Chicago. My doctor said that was normal and it was just hormones.

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T.K.

answers from Peoria on

I think you should by a test or go to the doctors and get checked. Just to be safe. It could be nothing. Every once in a while I will leak a little bit. But I still say if you're trying... buy a test...Good luck:)tara

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A.S.

answers from Columbia on

The same thing happened to me, but it turned out to be normal. I was trying to get pregnant with my second child when I told my doctor that this was happening to me. He said it can be caused from a high progesterone level and it could be the reason why we were having trouble conceiving. He did blood work and my levels were normal. Just thought I'd share in case you have trouble it might be something to ask your doctor about.

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J.O.

answers from Springfield on

Hey I have that same problem. I breastfed for only eight weeks. I had to stop because of a sucking issue and lack of milk. It is 16 mo. later and I still get milk. I went to my doctor and got no response. I guess it is no issue for them but it really is for us. I dont know about you but what really bothers me more than anything is that my breasts hurt when I am making milk. They hurt just as bad as they did when I started to nurse. Fortunately that only happens one week a month!:) I have just chalked this up to be just another crappy thing that us girls get to deal with.

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J.B.

answers from Kansas City on

This is pretty normal but I am pretty sure it happens most often when you are ovulating and if your trying to get pregnant, nows a good time to try

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S.G.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I breastfed my 3 year old for 14 months and currently bf my infant. In between pregnancies I leaked and told my doc about the situation. He said that it is possible for a woman that has breastfed to leak milk at any time during the 'lactating years' and that it does not mean there is a problem. As long as you are not in pain, have unusual lumps, the leaking doesn't look or smell funny I would not worry.

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J.V.

answers from Peoria on

There are things that can cause breast milk to leak and not be awful...hormones, medications, a thyroid disorder...pregnancy...but not usually at the beginning.

Just check with your doctor to be sure...don't worry unduly if you can't get in right away...

Hugs,
J.

Mother of three grown children and loved breastfeeding my three...I do remember having milk in my breasts way after stopping, but really can't remember how long after...my younges is 26 and I can't wait until she makes me a grandmother...I just have to be patient.

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S.S.

answers from Wichita on

Does trying to get pregnant mean you could be? That might be a possibility, I have heard of the happeneding to people in early pregnancy, or maybe are you on any pre natal vitamins? I have heard of that as well or anything that would be a change in hormones.

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T.N.

answers from Tulsa on

Check any side effects of ANY medication you may be on. I know from experience a little different than yours, but LEXAPRO a commonly prescribed anti-depressant can cause a good flow. I have had a hysterectomy about 5 years ago and a couple years back I was on this medication and was producing a lot of milk...which seemed to depress me more...so we quit the meds after slow low dose weaning from the drug and then the lactation slowly went away also. This was also depressing for me because I couldn't nurse my child when she was born as my milk wouldn't come in, and she couldn't suck correctly, but I could have nursed when she was 10!!!! Just a little information that may be of help!!

Later...
T.

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