Help! Maybe TMI - does anyone still have milk after stopping BF 9 months ago?

[Razzberry]

Hi, as the title suggests - Is it normal to still have milk 9 months after stopping BF?
I BF for 6.5 months, so stopped over 9 months ago now. I still have milk when I squeeze (both of them, but one of them more) It never comes out without me squeezing , though sometimes I find the dried milk bits - but never come off on my shirt or anything.

Is this normal? My Doc tested my prolactin levels a few months ago and said they were in the normal range and to come back in a few months if I still had the milk.

Just a bit concerned - I had oversupply when I was feeding and then took drugs (dostinex) to dry me up as weaning was not working and I kept getting mastitis - needless to say the drugs didn't dry me up and I got the worst case of mastitis Ive ever had - maybe their is still milk in blocked ducks? oh I just don't know!!!

[nickle730]

A girlfriend told me the other day that she could still produce milk if she gave her nipples a squeeze. Then she showed me - yep, she's got milk. Her son is 6! I don't think it's a problem, certainly hasn't caused my friend any issues.

[Razzberry]

Oh thats good to hear - I'm a bit of a hypochondriac so I'm freaking myself out over it all!!

[Mildez]

I still had milk 4years after weaning DD before I had DD2. And after DD2 I got mastitis almost a year after she was weaned. I did have a chronic mastitis problem when I was breastfeeding but still strange to get mastitis so long after weaning.

[Razzberry]

Hmmm, the mastitis thing is interesting as I feel a lump that feels like a blocked duc and when I push down hard enough on that milk comes out too - Should I pump to get rid of the blockage (if thats what it is?) or would that make more milk? I am so afraid of mastitis I am not sure I even want to BF next time I have a baby as am traumatised from the times I got it before!

[Kmn]

Be gentle - bashing a duct can make it inflamed and much more likely to block!

You know what a blocked duct feels like - if it gets sore then go and get some ultrasound treatment from the physiotherapist, which usually reduces the inflammation and clears the blockage.

However - lumps in boobs are not to be disregarded, and just maybe might be something nastier than an inflamed duct. If it's still there in a few days then please talk to your GP.

[<3 Mumofthreetobe <3]

It hasn't been as long for me... I stopped expressing for DD 5mths ago but still if I squeeze have 'milk' come out. Lately my left boob has been a little achy and sometimes sends a pain right up into my armpit. Just a few days ago it felt like I needed to express or something - it felt heavy, full and burning. I'm getting this checked out Monday.

These things they don't tell you about!

[~Stoked~]

I could still squeeze milk out NINE YEARS after weaning DD! I never did ask the doctor about it!

[MantaRay]

This is reasonably common and not a problem. You are probably not helping by squeezing your nipples - that is stimulating them and will slow down the process of the milk stopping altogether. I would suggest that you stop squeezing them.

[~Stoked~]

This is reasonably common and not a problem. You are probably not helping by squeezing your nipples - that is stimulating them and will slow down the process of the milk stopping altogether. I would suggest that you stop squeezing them.

I wouldn't squeeze mine often at all. Every now and again I would wonder if I still had any milk so would give them a squeeze, but it may have been 6-12 months since I had last done it. I have no idea why mine never dried up completely!

[Razzberry]

Thanks for the replies gals - I don't squeeze too often just every few weeks to see if I still have it!

[BekZ]

Yep I do