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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Am I abnormal? still getting some leaking nearly two years after stopping bf.

20 replies

motherunearthed · 18/02/2009 23:24

I stopped bf DS 22 months ago now, and i am still getting a little discharge from my left breast. I have seen my GP about it on several occassions and she just keeps saying it will stop, althought it is coming on for two years, and i get the feeling she is just fobbing me off!! I did speak to a midwife who runs the breast feeding clinic and she also said it should stop, but to make a note of any triggers. I seem to get a some discomfort in my breast when DS is upset and then later get the leaking. When i was bf i did seem to have an abundance of milk, and would get a let down even when i heard someone elses baby crying. I also sometimes expressed milk with an electric pump - maybe i over stimulated them? I am starting to worry, although it is does seem to be milk and i don't have any lumps etc. All my friends/relatives who have experience of bf have not known leaking to still occur so long after. Any suggestions out there?

OP posts:
gigglewitch · 18/02/2009 23:28

I've certainly had milky stuff still lurking 18mo on - but only when it was squeezed iykwim
Are you saying that it is coming out on its own?

Original poster
motherunearthed · 18/02/2009 23:32

It comes out on its own!! first my breast becomes slightly painful and then i get a wet patch - sorry if this seems a little gross!

OP posts:
Timeisablindguide · 18/02/2009 23:34

I still have a lump from when I had a block during BF my ds1 5 yrs ago! I've had it checked and it's apparently just "gunk" (charming description, of excess milk in the duct, from the specialist!)
If you're at all uncertain as to whether your gp and midwife are maybe not quite right then get a second opinion with a different gp but likely it's just your breasts still settling down. With my ds1 it took me a good 2 yrs for my body to get back to "normal" again.

beakysmum · 18/02/2009 23:50

Like Gigglewitch, I still have a little 14m on (when squeezed... sorry gross). I am a bit concerned too. Its only from the side that always had loads of milk.

possibly random question; did you / do you have PND or any other hormone related problem? I have a sneaky suspision its all related????

Timeisablindguide · 18/02/2009 23:53

How weird - I did have PND after ds1.....have you read something about a possible link with that? I suppose hormones are responsible for both issues....my lump was also on the side I had the most milk on and although I know most women have one side larger than the other, it is a marked difference for me since first baby - and he's 5!

beakysmum · 18/02/2009 23:59

Yes, I did read about a link.... I think it was Katharine Daltons book called something like "Depression after Childbirth". Fab book, the only one I've read where I've thought on every page, "Oh, that's me!!!"

Especially the bit about leaking milk really stuck in my mind. She almost implied that she would link severity of depression with strenght of other factors such as leaking (I think).

Timeisablindguide · 19/02/2009 00:02

Interesting...I'll have to do some reading myself, you've got me curious!

gigglewitch · 19/02/2009 01:21

Also had pnd. The theory is a fascinating one!

Original poster
motherunearthed · 19/02/2009 16:16

Thanks, i am feeling much better knowing that other people have been in the same boat! Yes i too had PND!! How interesting - it makes so much sense to me now. I did not have a close bond with DS for the first months of his life, which makes me sad and feels a bit unnatural considereing he was exclusively BF. I will definately get that book, my GP - a man at the time - was very insensitive, i didn't really get any outside support - my family were great! A close friend has been having some problems with PND and she has separated from her DP and DS, think it has stirred up all those old feelings and maybe that's why the leaking has been getting worse? Anyway thanks for the posts - wish i had posted this earlier instead of being so embarassed.

OP posts:
poppy34 · 19/02/2009 18:27

thisis interesting - timeisblindguide I still have a blocked duct that keeps refilling with gunk (do we go to the same specialist ) and needs lancing. And although not diagnosed with PND I did have massive problems feeding and coping in first month or two...

poppy34 · 19/02/2009 18:30

oh god - timeisaguide..just read another post by you and looks like i'm doing well compared to you

donnie · 19/02/2009 18:32

I had this - it is a condition called Galactorrhoea ( I think - check spelling though!)which is more common in women who produced a lot of milk, which I did. I leaked for at least 2 yrs after I had dd1. I also had mild PND after her birth. I was offered medication but I went away to think about it and eventually it cleared up on its own, and strangely enough I never got it after dd2 was born even though i bf her for a few weeks. HTH - galactorrhoea isn't seen as a problematic illness, just a 'condition' iirr.

donnie · 19/02/2009 18:34

I should add that the medication I was offered was hormone based which put me off.

beakysmum · 19/02/2009 19:15

Very interesting! So are there any of us out there who leak long after BF stops who did NOT have PND?

Also, Donnie, what was the medication that was suggested to you? Thanks

Timeisablindguide · 19/02/2009 21:29

poppy34 - yikes, I'm trying to think what post of mine you read now!!
I've not had my lump lanced. I had a fine needle aspiration as it was looking a bit dodgy for a while but in fact is harmless....not seen anyone about it for a while now and as it didn't stop me BF my ds2 I didn't think too much of it..maybe I should investigate further the options..

MakemineaGandT · 19/02/2009 21:32

well, I had this and I didn;t have PND. My leaking only stopped when I got pregnant again (just before DS1 turned 2). Then it stopped straight away - must be a hormonal thing. Interestingly it didn't happen second time around - i.e. no leaking at all once I'd stopped BF

girlandboy · 19/02/2009 21:39

I had this too and I didn't have PND. It took 3 years each time to dry up after finishing breast feeding for both of my children.

poppy34 · 19/02/2009 22:00

timewas on another thread re mastitis I think (and I've had it aspirated.. my crass word for lancing -cos its basically a milk filled bubble that keeps refilling). but this thread attracted my notice as clearly I'm still producing milk in some minimal form but at least you could feed ds2 ok (and G&T info makes me think having no 2 quite quickly may be the cure).

Just its not exactly alluring to have a golf ball sized lump on one breast.

buktus · 19/02/2009 22:08

I stopped feeding two years ago, never had pnd though and mine leak, they get full and achy and leak on their own at certain times of the month, i have pcos which plays havic with my hormones.

Timeisablindguide · 19/02/2009 22:32

Ah, poppy34, that was the thread then! I'd forgotten about posting on that! Yes, having mastitis well over a year after stopping BFing (in fact I have a feeling it was just before I became pregnant with ds2 so it was closer to 2 years after BFing dd1 stopped) wasn't fun and was most odd! Even the gp thought so BUT I've not had it since and it didn't stop me feeing ds2 although that side of me is a lot larger than the other side now! Ho Hum!
Buktus - interesting that you also experience the leaking so long after feeding, like the OP. It's clearly more common than people realise.

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