Can Anybody Do

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-30-2005
Can Anybody Do
21
Sun, 01-15-2006 - 8:27pm
Does anyone know how to have or get breast milk without becoming pregnant? My husband and I loved the experience when we had our children. Now they are older teens, and we would like to know if we could have the same experience again. Any ideas out there? Anything will be helpful.
Thanks bunches! mom_keleigh
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Avatar for katmandoo2001
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 01-17-2006 - 11:18pm
Will do.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-13-2005
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 10:07am

Check it out on the internet. I pulled up lactation without birth and got several sights. They tell how to do it, med's that help, herbs that help, etc. First and far most, do not take any med's etc. without consulting your doctor. I think there is a Lactation Consultant here at Ivillage you might could ask about this.

Don't forget to come back and let us know how it went for you if you decide all the work is worth it and do it.

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Avatar for katmandoo2001
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 10:15am

I had also googled the subject and came up with evidence to support my argument....that without hormonal or some sort of medical intervention, lactation isn't possible without giving birth. I suspect my dr. will only confirm my suspicions but we'll see.

If a woman wants to nurse, for whatever reason though, she should be able to do so. It is her body.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-28-2005
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 3:34pm
Sorry Kat - but I assure you that it IS fully possible to lactate without hormones. However, it is not easy and it is not guaranteed. For some, with regular nursing, it will happen. For others, it will never happen.
But biologically, it is possible.
Avatar for katmandoo2001
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 3:49pm
Well, I prefer to ask a professional, and will have an opportunity on Friday when I see my gyno. I will respond back when I hear his opinion and knowledge on the matter. This may well be the strangest question I've asked yet though.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-30-2005
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 8:20pm
Thanks for asking. My next annual won't be until May. Let me know what you find out. Hugs!
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Avatar for katmandoo2001
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 01-20-2006 - 12:15pm

Well, I had my exam and spoke with my gyno this morning. I wrote down what he said in regard to this subject however, he was pressed for time so obviously, his answer wasn't as extensive as it might have been.

He was very surprised by the question, I must say. LOL!

He said that "the hormonal foundation must be in place to stimulate the milk ducts to begin producing milk and to sustain milk production."

In response to those who say that regular and persistant nursing is enough to bring on lactation, his response was that "nursing, even regular, sustained nursing alone, will not cause hormones levels to rise enough to bring on lactation."

When I said that some have known women who have brought on lactation by those very means....he said " not likely without some hormonal supplementation via plant (like soy products), animal or human estrogen to stimulate and sustain milk production."

His final comment...."I've been in practice for over 28 years, taken care of women throughout all stages of their reproductive lives and I have never examined a woman, either in my practice, as a resident or in medical school, who was actively lactating who had not given birth within the last year."

And his final parting comment to me...."and not everything you read on the internet is true."

Of course, this is one gynecologist's personal opinion based on his experience and practice. But since I trust him with my own health and medical care, I'll take his word on this matter, as well. I would suggest that you talk with your own gyno in May if it's that important to you.

So I guess the bottom line is that we'll all have to decide for ourselves whether it's possible or not. But hey, I guess you and your DH can still have fun finding out for yourselves, right? LOL!




Edited 1/20/2006 12:22 pm ET by katmandoo2001
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-30-2005
Fri, 01-20-2006 - 5:14pm
Thanks for asking your Dr. I bet he was surprised by the question. When I go in May, I'll see what mine says. Oh, well...made for an interesting discussion didn't it?
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Avatar for gigi_1000
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 01-21-2006 - 2:36pm
I agree with Kat. If nursing regularly will starta woman lactating, then my wife would have been lactating for the last 50+ years. I must say that I still remember how "sweet" it tasted when I sampled while she was lactating after the births of our children.
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Registered: 07-22-2004
Sun, 01-22-2006 - 12:34pm

>>In response to those who say that regular and persistant nursing is enough to bring on lactation, his response was that "nursing, even regular, sustained nursing alone, will not cause hormones levels to rise enough to bring on lactation."

When I said that some have known women who have brought on lactation by those very means....he said " not likely without some hormonal supplementation via plant (like soy products), animal or human estrogen to stimulate and sustain milk production."<<

According to what I've read fromt this thread, Kat's doctor said "not likely" as opposed to "it's impossible" by comparison. That is pretty much how Mrs. Para & I interpreted the other posters all along as well. As we all know, there are plenty of times when the medical community doesn't "completely" agree on any given topic, although "most" may regularly agree on something anyway. That said, this website:

http://www.lact-aid.com/faqad001.htm

was just one of quite a few that had some very interesting info on this subject that did suggest that drugs or even natural supplements of any kind were "necessary" for lactation without pregnancy.

For those who are interested, I'm not sure just how updated this website is, but it correlated with several others just the same. The others unfortunately had detailed 'images' which may violate TOS, so you'll need to email me for the links if you really needed them; otherwise, a web search should do the trick as well, remembering that there are still differing views on many medical subjects of course.

Main difference between this link and the others was that this one suggested "no" safe drug readily available for inducing lactation, whereas the other links said the opposite. Regardless though, they agreed that it was possible to lactate those drugs or supplements anyway...KEEPING IN MIND that other webpages out there still claimed it was impossible altogether...serving as remind that not all agree.

Since there different views, then we either believe what others claim in their own experiences, or we don't believe them...kinda boils down to that in most cases anyway.

On the link provided above, the most informative sections on that site were the "Is it possible?" section and the "Methods to Induce Lactation" section.

I agree that it isn't likely, but I that it isn't impossible either. That said, I couldn't really find any "disagreement" at all in this discussion, lol. Great discussion, everybody! Nice one, mom_keleigh! :)

 

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