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Ask An Expert: Why Do My Breasts Still Secrete Milk Several Months After Weaning My Baby?

Ask An Expert: Why Do My Breasts Still Secrete Milk Several Months After Weaning My Baby?

Our team of seasoned experts answer all your questions on pregnancy, delivery, children and women’s health, sexuality education and more.

Q: It’s been two years since I had my first baby, and I have been relatively healthy since then. What bothers me though, is the fact that milk comes out of my breasts when squeezed. Is this normal with women several months after weaning? At what point should I stop producing unwanted milk from my breasts?

Dr. Alex Kaoranu Molukwu (OB/GYN) says:

You failed to mention when you stopped lactation.

Galactorrhoea is the term used to describe a discharge of milk or milk-like secretion from the breast in the absence of childbirth or beyond 6 months after delivery in a non-persistent, scanty, abundant, free-flowing or expressible manner.

It may persist in the following ways; stimulation by clothing, suckling, self manipulation or stimulation during sexual activities. It is also associated with a wide range of drugs, particularly oral contraceptives. In general, the longer its duration without the development of other clinical signs, the less likely the possibility of an underlying organic disease. Psychosocial stress is also a potential cause. Its treatment should be directed to the underlying cause. Meanwhile, self manipulation of the breasts should be stopped.

Kindly see your doctor as there may be a medical condition, such as hormonal imbalance, responsible for the production of the ‘unwanted milk’ from your breasts.

Note that you should not bind your breasts to help your milk dry up because this is an outdated practice that can cause plugged ducts, breast infection or breast abscess.

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