Conference moira::parenting

    I don't think she has anything to worry about.  I nursed my son for 6
    weeks and only stopped because the doctor told me my milk wasn't coming
    in and my son wasn't getting any nourishment.  I "dried up" in less
    than a day.  About a year later, I noticed the same thing.  I asked the
    doctor about it and she said that some women lactate for as much as 3
    years (although unusual) after breast feeding has stopped.
    
    Lori B.

    
    	With my second pregnancy, I had to wear nursing pads from the first
    few weeks on due to milk lactation. (I nursed my first for 6 months and
    then got pregnant 3 months later).
    
    				Wendy

I pumped (never nursed because they were so premature) for the first 12
weeks or so before I gave it up, and only finally stopped leaking milk
about 5 or 6 months ago, so that's about 2 years for me to dry up 
completely.  Sounds to me like she's just having some leakage and isn't
completely dry yet.

This note is being entered for a member of our community who wishes to 
remain anonymous.  Her pseudonym for this string will be "Regrets".

    Carol duBois, PARENTING co-moderator

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From the information put forth in the previous notes it sounds like nursing 
can be resumed after some time has passed.  I gave up nursing about 5 weeks 
ago, and have since regretted the decision.  Has anyone heard of resuming 
nursing after a prolonged break?  Is it physically possible to satisfy the 
nutritional needs of a baby once they are accustomed to bottle-feeds?  

Any experience from the noters?

Evan was 4 1/2 years old when Justin was born.  As many of you know, I gave
birth to Evan but did not give birth to Justin.  I breastfed Evan until he was
approximately 6 months old.  I *never* leaked, even when Evan was eating
nothing but breastmilk (not even in the middle of an important work meeting!)
;-)  

When Shellie was pregnant with Justin, occasionally I would feel pain in my
breasts, like I was letting down.  When Justin was born and went into the
same neo-natal intensive care unit that Evan had been in, we went in to 
see him there.  As soon as I walked in and heard the "whoosh! slurp! whoosh!"
rhythmic sounds that I had heard from Evan's stay, I immediately let down.
I was in so much pain, and I was em*bar*assed!  :-}  Still I didn't leak,
but I am certain that I was producing milk.  I kept telling my body that 
I was *not* going to be the one who was breastfeeding, and to "stop that!".
:-)

We've talked about both of us breastfeeding if we have another child.

As for nutritional needs, I can't imagine it would be a problem after only
5 weeks.  I doubt they've done any studies on it, though.

     Carol 

    I think that's terribly neat Carol!
    What I wanted to say though from what I gather from the other
    noters here and some of my own reading, it doesn't seem to be 
    something you can control - i.e. some women continue to lactate
    after weaning, and some DON'T. I don't think that one can decide 
    that one wants to continue after a period of time, and automatically
    have the milk. The day after I stopped breast feeding, the signs
    of milk were all but gone already. 
    
    Monica

    
    I have heard that you can resume nursing as long as you hadn't gotten
    a period yet.  Don't know if it can be started up via hormones...you
    should talk to a dr.

There was a section on adopting, and it seemed to indicate that an 
adoptive mother could induce lactation.  It sounded like it took a large
committment to spending lots of time on a breast pump, and I believe it
said that an adoptive mother would probably need to supplement with formula.
I remember being amazed when I read it because I thought a woman needed
all those pregnancy hormones to get lactation started.

Also consider talking to your doctor or consulting a local La Leche League if
one is available.  

Good luck!

- Deb

    There are cases of men lactating--apparently lots of nipple stimulation
    is a secondary trigger (hormones are the primary trigger).
    
    The case I read about happened during WWII, when a man had a baby and no
    food for it--so he let it suckle.  I only came across a reference, so I
    don't know the ultimate result (e.g. whether the baby lived).
    
    		-John Bishop

It also appears much easier to start lactating if you have already nursed
before, then if you have never been pregnant and never nursed. 

     Carol

    Yes you may be able to  relactate, even if your periods have started 
    again.  It will take work on your part and cooperation on the babies 
    part.  I think LaLeche has a pamphlet out on this, and if not,
    your local chapter may have someone who will know completely how to go
    about it.  
    
    A freind of mine managed to get lactation started after a 13 year break
    for her adopted daughter by using a breast pump before she was born and
    then using a differnt nurser that supplemented while the Amber sucked
    at the breast.  She never got a lot of milk, but it did work and Sharod
    has had a partial hysterectomy.   
    
    Here is my story on let-down after weaning.  Carrie had been weaned
    from July of 1988.  That November a good friend had a baby.  Wehen I
    went over to see her and the little one cried I filled right back up. 
    When I got home it was all I could do to not put her on my lap and give
    her a breast again; and this was the kid that I thought would never
    give up the breast.  (2 3/4 years old)  I've also gotten a let down
    after coaching someone through labor as soon as the little one cries.  
    
    Meg