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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Is It Normal For My Breasts To Start Leaking Again 18months After My Last Baby Stopped Feeding

is it normal for my breasts to start leaking again 18months after my last baby stopped feeding i have recently started lactating again more than 18 months after i stopped breast feeding my now almost 2 year old. I am a 26 year old mother of 5 kids and had my tubes tied after the last one. What could be the cause of the sudden lactation and is it normal?
Mon, 7 Feb 2011
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  User's Response
hii
I am Dr Soumen Patra and answering your problem.
"Galactorrhea" is the technical term for spontaneous secretion of milk from the breasts when a woman is not nursing. Any time EXCESSIVE milk production continues beyond 3-6 months after weaning, the woman should have a physical exam by a doctor.

It's not unusual at all for mothers to be able to express drops of milky or clear fluid for months or even years after they stop nursing. This only becomes a concern if the breasts produce a large amount of milk for long periods of time. If the breasts stay engorged or lots of milk leaks out months after weaning, or is accompanied by pain and swelling, then there may be a problem.

No need to go for battery of tests unless the amount of milk produced is significant and unusual.
Galactorrhea is not a disease, but it can be a symptom of an underlying health problem that causes elevated prolactin levels. It is possible for pituitary, uterine, and ovarian tumors to cause inappropriate milk production. These conditions may be serious and should be carefully evaluated. Other medical conditions that can cause galactorrhea include hyperthyroidism, chronic renal failure, psychosis and anxiety, certain medications, fibrocystic breast, herpes zoster, or severe stress.

Sometimes drugs can be used to suppress milk production, but that's only a temporary fix. Total treatment involves treating the underlying cause.

The type of leaking you are describing sounds completely normal to me.

Some women just seem to leak more than others, both before, during, and after nursing. Unless you develop medical symptoms such as those described above, then I wouldn't worry about the occasional leaking. It probably does have something to do with cyclical changes related to your menstrual cycle, and doesn't mean that anything is wrong at all.

All the best.
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Is It Normal For My Breasts To Start Leaking Again 18months After My Last Baby Stopped Feeding

hii I am Dr Soumen Patra and answering your problem. Galactorrhea is the technical term for spontaneous secretion of milk from the breasts when a woman is not nursing. Any time EXCESSIVE milk production continues beyond 3-6 months after weaning, the woman should have a physical exam by a doctor. It s not unusual at all for mothers to be able to express drops of milky or clear fluid for months or even years after they stop nursing. This only becomes a concern if the breasts produce a large amount of milk for long periods of time. If the breasts stay engorged or lots of milk leaks out months after weaning, or is accompanied by pain and swelling, then there may be a problem. No need to go for battery of tests unless the amount of milk produced is significant and unusual. Galactorrhea is not a disease, but it can be a symptom of an underlying health problem that causes elevated prolactin levels. It is possible for pituitary, uterine, and ovarian tumors to cause inappropriate milk production. These conditions may be serious and should be carefully evaluated. Other medical conditions that can cause galactorrhea include hyperthyroidism, chronic renal failure, psychosis and anxiety, certain medications, fibrocystic breast, herpes zoster, or severe stress. Sometimes drugs can be used to suppress milk production, but that s only a temporary fix. Total treatment involves treating the underlying cause. The type of leaking you are describing sounds completely normal to me. Some women just seem to leak more than others, both before, during, and after nursing. Unless you develop medical symptoms such as those described above, then I wouldn t worry about the occasional leaking. It probably does have something to do with cyclical changes related to your menstrual cycle, and doesn t mean that anything is wrong at all. All the best.