Is it possible to lactate without pregnancy

This is covered in detail in the booklet Breastfeeding : expressing and storing breastmilk. You can watch videos of hand expressing. Combining hand expression with breast massage can help to get the milk to flow. Massage first, then express. Massage again, and then repeat the hand expressing and so on. To massage your breasts, work evenly around your entire breast, stroking gently downward toward your areola. Frequent breastfeeding is the most important aid to building a milk supply.

However, some mothers find that drugs and other therapies can be helpful. These should be discussed in detail with your medical adviser, as there is always the chance of adverse side effects. Breastfeeding supplementer. While you build your milk supply, you may wish to use a breastfeeding supplementer.

This is a device to provide extra milk to your baby while he breastfeeds. At the same time it stimulates your breast and removes what milk you have made. It consists of a container which holds the milk and fine tubing that carries the milk from the container to your nipple. When your baby suckles at the breast, milk is drawn through the tubing to their mouth.

As you think about relactating or inducing lactation, keep in mind that everyone is different. No two mothers are the same; no two children the same; no two situations the same. The road to breastfeeding is different for everyone. You will approach this in your own way with the resources you have and what suits you. It is important to keep in mind that breastfeeding is not just about the milk.

Some mothers never build up their milk supply to a point where they can stop using supplements. They choose to continue mixed feeding because they value the emotional bond they develop through breastfeeding.

Whether you have successful lactation or whether you decide not to pursue breastfeeding right now, you are very welcome to join your local ABA group for support as a mother. For further support or information you can contact an ABA counsellor. The ABA booklet Breastfeeding: relactation and induced lactation contains much more information on this topic. The information on this website does not replace the advice of your health care provider.

Breastfeeding: Relactation and Induced Lactation covers relactation for a birth child who has been weaned, breastfeeding an adopted child or a child born via surrogacy. Relactation and induced lactation Most people think about breastfeeding as something that only occurs after a woman has given birth. Reasons why you might want to bring in a milk supply: Weaning occurred earlier than you wanted it to.

Your baby is not doing well on formula. Some women find this engorgement painful or uncomfortable. Breastfeeding women can also cause plugged ducts, when a milk duct does not drain properly and becomes inflamed, causing a tender lump in the breast. Breast infection may also be an unwelcome result of breastfeeding, and is often characterized by soreness or a lump in the breast in addition to fever or flu-like symptoms. In addition, some medications seep into breast milk, so keep in mind that if you have any drugs or viruses in your system that you don't want to pass along, lactating for your partner's consumption may not be the best sexual activity.

If hormone therapy or breast stimulation treatments are not the route you'd like to go, you can check out a feeding aide that delivers formula or milk through a device that attaches to your breast. For an erotic alternative, you could also drizzle milk on your breasts and invite your partner to imbibe that way. If you are in an urgent situation, please visit our Emergency page to view a list of 24 hour support services and hotlines.

All About Alice! Go Ask Alice! In Your Box. Dear Alice, Is it possible for nonpregnant women or women who have never been pregnant to lactate? Dear Lisa, Thanks to an increasing understanding of the human body and its workings, it is possible for non-pregnant women to lactate.

Submit a new comment. Pumping remains important for whatever time you have. When you begin to breastfeed the baby, your health care provider might recommend continued pumping — including after feedings — to help establish your milk supply.

And even if you're able to successfully induce lactation, supplemental feedings with formula or pasteurized donor human milk might be needed — especially during the initial weeks of breastfeeding. To encourage continued nipple and breast stimulation, you might use a supplemental feeding aid that delivers donor breast milk or formula through a device that attaches to your breast.

Supplemental feedings can also be given with a bottle. To protect your milk supply, pump each time your baby receives a bottle-feeding. To learn more about induced lactation and how to increase your chances of establishing breastfeeding, contact a lactation consultant at a local hospital or clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

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