Lactation, or the secretion of breast milk, is common in pregnant women or the ones who have recently given birth. The mammary glands are signaled by hormones to produce milk for the baby. But women who have never conceived a child can also lactate. Dig deep into this article to understand what causes nonpregnancy lactation.
Non-Pregnancy Lactation
The medical term for nonpregnancy lactation is known as galactorrhea. One of the most prominent symptoms of galactorrhea is the excessive production of milk from one or both breasts. The condition is prevalent in women but can also appear in newborn babies and men.
Some other symptoms of galactorrhea are as follows:
- Random leakings from the nipples
- Irregular or missed menstrual cycles
- Reduced or a complete lack of sex drives
- Breast tissue enlargement
- Acne
- Nausea
- Vision problems
- Headaches
- Abnormal hair growth
Causes of Non-Pregnancy Lactations
Non-pregnancy lactation can occur due to a variety of reasons, from hormonal imbalances to medicinal side effects. The production of breast milk without pregnancy reasons is as follows:
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Medical Conditions
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Some medical conditions like thyroid issues and liver or kidney diseases can lead to galactorrhea. Tumors or other issues with the hypothalamus can also make a person lactate. Sometimes it occurs due to an injury or trauma to the breast tissue.
Chronic stress can trick the mammary glands into producing milk. In newborn babies, the high level of estrogen leads to lactation. Click here to learn the core ideas of having a balanced meal.
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Medications
Some medicines top the list of what causes nonpregnancy lactation in women. For instance, birth control and hormone medicines often trigger the production of breast milk.
Some other pills that can lead to the production of breast milk include antidepressants, heartburn medicines, blood pressure medicines, and antipsychotics. Certain painkillers can also trigger nonpregnancy lactation in the body.
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Drugs
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If you are using drugs at the time, you might experience symptoms of galactorrhea. Drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and opiates can trigger lactation without pregnancy. Inform your medical practitioner about the drugs you are using and how often you are using them for proper diagnosis.
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Breast Stimulation
Some women wonder whether you can force lactation without pregnancy. Regular breast stimulation can lead to the production of breast milk. Breast stimulation can occur due to certain sexual activities as well as frequent self-evaluations of your breasts.
Clothing that rubs against the nipples can also lead to breast stimulation. Women who adopt babies can produce milk with breast stimulation methods. It helps with increasing the prolactin levels in the body with pumping.
Tips to Induce Lactation Without Pregnancy
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The answer to “can you stimulate lactation without pregnancy” is yes. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for infants till the age of six months. Mothers who wish to adopt babies can resort to artificial methods for stimulating breast milk.
When you have given birth, you need to trick your body into producing milk. But since every woman has a different body, they won’t be able to produce the same amount of breastmilk artificially. Some adoptive mothers struggle with generating breastmilk and might not produce enough to sustain their infant.
But even a small amount of breastmilk is valuable for infants. Moreover, the milk supply can increase with regular pumping and nursing, even if it’s inadequate at first. Some tips to stimulate nonpregnancy lactation are as follows:
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Consult a Lactation Professional
If you want to stimulate breast milk production, working with a lactation expert is wise. In some cases, they prescribe hormone pills to create a hormonal level in the body that’s similar to the pregnancy period. The medicines are stopped after a while to trick the body into thinking that the baby has been born and should start producing milk.
At times, lactation experts also recommend galactagogues. These lactation enhancements can induce milk production. Working with a lactation expert will ensure that you have a personalized plan to stimulate breast milk production.
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Stimulation and Expression
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Start stimulating milk production at least two months before the baby is ready to join your family. You can introduce a scheduled stimulus and expression to your breasts and induce natural lactation. Start by gently massaging your breasts with your hands for a few minutes.
After that, you can use a breast pump for around ten minutes or more. Practice this process before sleeping, after waking up, and a few other times during the day. It will ensure that your body starts reacting to the implied demand for breast milk.
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Use Specialty Feeding Devices
Sometimes couples don’t get enough time to prepare themselves for an adoption. The baby might come to the family before the mother gets enough time to stimulate her milk supply. In that case, specialty feeding devices come to the rescue.
The feeding devices enable you to supplement nursing directly at the breasts. The devices are usually taped to the nipple through which infants can be fed donor breast milk or formula. It makes infants believe that they are suckling on the nipple.
The suckling sensation can trigger the body to produce milk. Using specialty devices for a few months can help you build an adequate supply of breast milk. If you are struggling with activating lactation, you should use the feeding devices and induce the nursing experience.
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Track Your Progression
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Once you succeed at inducing lactation, you should start tracking the pumping sessions. You also need to track how frequently your baby is willing to feed on your breasts. In 24 hours, you can breastfeed your baby from eight to twelve times.
If your infant is properly breastfeeding, you don’t need to offer them any supplements to meet their nutritional requirements. There should be adequate time between each breastfeeding session to ensure that your baby has the milk they need. If your infant settles down after breastfeeding, it’s a good sign.
Parting Words
If galactorrhea occurs without intentional stimulation, you can visit a doctor. Usually, galactorrhea goes away without needing treatment or when the underlying cause is dealt with. However, you need to ensure that you are lactating and that it’s not any other form of discharge indicating cancer.
