You don't produce breast milk if you don't try to nurse?

treble_clef · October 2011

I'm so sorry for such a silly question.

I always thought I would breastfeed for some reason, so I never had a chance to find out what happens to my breasts if I don't try to nurse... I had soooo much breast milk that I don't know how much I had to throw away. If I didn't try to breastfeed to begin with, did I produce no milk at all? Just curious...

I couldn't go to the classes because I had preterm labor with my son, and the lactation consultants were of course all for breastfeeding. So a bit ignorant here...

Thanks!

dixee.deluxe · October 2011

There's a very slim chance that you won't produce milk at all, even if you don't express that milk.

And from what I understand, drying up your milk can be painful.

LilyPotter218 · October 2011

My sister did not attempt to BF and her milk came in full force. She had to wear a sports bra and ace bandage to keep it from coming out on its own. Taking showers she could not let the warm water hit her or it would also happen. She said the pain was pretty awful but only lasted a day or so.

JhawkCE · October 2011

You will produce colostrum just like if you did nurse and you will go through a period where your breasts are hard and engorged. You kind of have to wait it out. There is also medication that can help dry you out. How long it lasts depends on your body.

2dogmom · October 2011

I chose not to breastfeed and had to dry up my milk. My breasts were HUGE and sooo painful after giving birth. I had to wear a tight sports bra for a couple of weeks to help keep them from filling up too much. I definately produced milk, leaked a bit, but never expressed the milk and eventually dried up my milk supply. I don't know what others experienced, that's just me.

repedrick · October 2011

Most people will still produce milk for a few days. It's your body's natural cycle (I can't remember but there's a chemical that your body releases that signals it to start producing). If you don't express it (the demand it's there) then it will naturally quit producing. This can last for a few days to a few weeks depending on each individual until you dry up. Some people say it's painful to have the supply there and not express it but if you go ahead and express it to relieve the pain, your body will think it was used and just continue to produce so you just have to deal with it until you dry up.

Ivana_Stolichnaya · October 2011

Your milk will most likely still come in because it's reacting to the fact that you just gave birth, your body doesn't know that you don't want to breast feed. My Dr. recommends cabbage leaves being stuffed into your bra.

Here's a page on it.

https://www.breastfeedingonline.com/cabbage.shtml

Punken13 · October 2011

I leaked for a few days after both my boys but thankfully I was never engorged or in any pain at all.....I am hoping for the same this time!

NiniJ55 · October 2011

Not a silly question at all.

The initial production of milk is natural/ hormonal and automatic. Your body will automatically produce milk. After that initial hormonal response it's all about supply and demand. You must express the milk and tell your body how much you need in order to keep producing. If you don't express the milk, somehow, then you will eventually dry up.

Many woman who don't breastfeed complain about engorgement for this reason.

treble_clef · October 2011

Oh, I see. Thank you, ladies!!

MuckDiva · October 2011

I FFed with DD. I wore a sports bra starting the day after she was born. My milk came in a few days after DD was born (one boob one day and then the next day in the other boob). It didn't hurt at al. Just had to wait it out.

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You don't produce breast milk if you don't try to nurse?

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