Boobs won't stop producing milk!!

[blondedoctor]

Hi all,

It's been ages since I've been on BB but with this problem I can't think where else to turn to!! I had a tough time with DS early on, he wouldn't breastfeed so I bottle fed him my EBM. I did that for two months after which I decided I just couldn't express anymore so he's been on bottles ever since. My problem is that I am still producing a fair amount of milk! Its been TEN MONTHS since I stopped expressing and while I certainly am not producing enough to consider feeding my son its enough that if I squeezed my nipple at any time I'd hit a wall at 3 metres! Any clues on how I can stop this? I've spoken to a naturopath and he suggested a hormone imbalance (duh!)..........

Any help wouldn't be appreciated

[boomba]

Not sure hun but I hope you get some answers soon

[The[cookie]Doctor]

I have always still had a fair amount of milk and it's been 18 months since I stopped feeding.
For one - stop squeezing. Might not seem like much but it's enough to influence it.
For two - at about the three month mark post-feeding when I still had enough milk to feed a small nation, i was put on a short dose of something from my doctor - dostinex i think it was called. It dried it up enough, but not completely.

For what it's worth mine is finally back to a colostrum like substance. I think it is at the least it will be because i feel a lot of pain when i don't squeeze, so I occasionally need to.

[Alan]

I agree with Gragoncookie. Stop squeezing. Squeezing will cause your body to continue to make milk. Also ensure that your bra fits well. Nipple stimulation will also cause your body to produce milk

[blondedoctor]

Thanks for the responses . Considering I was put on medication to assist in milk production and I only stopped expressing when the volume was too low to be worth it, I'm sure you can appreciated the irony of this situation. I know about the role of stimulation/squeezing on milk production and as such I am only squeezing once a week or less.... I do this to check if the problem has gotten any better but maybe this is still too much? I was fitted for new bras a few months after I stopped expressing and they still fit perfectly. To give you an idea of how much milk there is, last night when I got up to do something in the kitchen I felt a drop of liquid on my toes. It was my breast leaking; and when I went back to bed I felt a wet patch on the sheets too......

I spoke to my doctor yesterday and he suggested that next time I need a blood test to also test for prolactin levels which may be indicative of an overactive pituitary gland.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Yes I can definitely see the irony.

I wouldn't 'worry' too much, it can take time. I know women of whom it has taken 2 years for their supply to dry up.
It is unfortunate and uncomfortable and I still get the leakies too - normally when I am spending a lot of cuddly time with my son - it's like a let down reflex still occurs somehow.

Good luck finding any further answers!!