Fastest way to produce breast milk without being pregnant

Q: Can you get breast milk without being pregnant?

Sometimes a womans breasts make milk even though she is not pregnant or breastfeeding. This condition is called galactorrhea (say: guh-lack-tuh-ree-ah). The milk may come from one or both breasts. It may leak on its own or only when the breasts are touched.

Q: How long does it take to induce lactation without being pregnant?

How long does it take to induce lactation? If youre interested, you should talk to your doctor and start the process well before the arrival of the baby. Milk production can take weeks to begin—an average of 4 weeks—after you start pumping.

Many hopeful adoptive mothers wonder, “Can a woman produce milk without being pregnant?” If you’re adopting a newborn, breastfeeding may seem out of reach to you. But don’t feel discouraged. Remarkably, with proper information, guidance, and lots of support, you can breastfeed your adopted baby.

Table of Contents Show

How can a woman produce milk without being pregnant?
How do you get started?
Foods That Increase Milk Supply
Adoptive Breastfeeding: The Ultimate Guide
The Benefits of Adoptive Breastfeeding
Can you get breast milk without being pregnant?
How long does it take to induce lactation without being pregnant?

In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding an adopted baby. It is even possible to breastfeed if you have never been pregnant or have reached menopause. Although breastfeeding an adopted baby is different from breastfeeding a baby after being pregnant, it can be achieved through induced lactation.

Breastfeeding your adopted baby takes time and effort, but can be very beneficial. Starting a milk supply takes time so you may need to give your baby supplemental milk for a period of time. However, you can make enough milk for your baby. Providing all of the milk your baby needs may not happen right away, but eventually you’ll get there.

How can a woman produce milk without being pregnant?

As an adoptive mother, it’s possible for you to produce milk without giving birth. Basically, you trick your body into producing milk using hormones, a supplemental nursing system (SNS), or regular breast stimulation with a breast pump. These methods will activate a natural reflex that releases a protein that causes your body to produce milk.

Of course, it’s not an overnight process. It takes determination and lots of patience on your part. Plus, every woman’s body is different. Some adoptive mothers have a full milk supply, while others may not have enough to sustain their baby. Don’t give up, because over time, you will produce some milk.

With dedication and preparation, breastfeeding without pregnancy (induced lactation) may be possible. Keep in mind that any amount of breastfeeding is good for your baby because it will build a bond between you and your baby.

How do you get started?

Your first step to getting started breastfeeding is to find a lactation professional to help you. Consider contacting a Breastfeeding Counselor or International Board Certified Lactation Consultant to work with you. These trained consultants have spent years helping women breastfeed. Your consultant can answer all your questions, give you information, and provide guidance throughout the breastfeeding process. Typically, there are three techniques for adoptive moms to start breastfeeding their babies:

Hormones
Stimulating your breast
Supplemental nursing system (SNS)

Hormones
Normally, lactation is generated by a complex interaction between three hormones during the final months of pregnancy— estrogen, progesterone, and human placental lactogen. The levels of estrogen and progesterone fall at delivery, allowing the hormone prolactin to start milk production.

Induced lactation revolves around the successful replication of this process. If you have months to prepare for breastfeeding, your doctor may prescribe hormone therapy to mimic the effects of pregnancy. Hormone therapy may last for months. Then, a couple of months before you expect to begin breastfeeding, you can stop hormone therapy and start pumping your breasts using a hospital-grade electric breast pump.

If you have just a short time to prepare for your adopted baby, hormone therapy may not be an option. Check with your health care provider, as he or she may be able to recommend other medications to help induce lactation.

Stimulating your breast
Several months before your baby joins your family, you can begin to stimulate your breasts. This technique involves gently massaging your breasts by hand or with a breast pump for ten to fifteen minutes several times every day.

Many women use an electric breast pump to get the best breast stimulation. You should do breast stimulation when you first get up, several times during the day, and right before going to bed. Typically, drops of milk will start to appear after a month or so of doing this technique, and your milk supply will gradually begin to build up.

A supplemental nursing system
If you don’t have time to prepare for your baby’s arrival, you may need to try another method. The Supplemental Nursing System is a device where donor milk or baby formula is fed through a thin feeding tube taped to your nipple. This gives the baby the sensation of nursing and stimulates your breast to build up your milk.

Foods That Increase Milk Supply

Eating certain foods or herbs called galactagogues which helps increase your milk supply. These include:

Whole grains
Dark, leafy greens
Chickpeas
Hummus (made from chickpeas)
Lentils
Nuts and seeds, especially almonds
Ginger
Papaya
Brewer’s yeast
Alcohol-free beers
Nettle
Blessed thistle
Sesame seeds
Tehina (made from sesame seeds)
Ginger

Adoptive Breastfeeding: The Ultimate Guide

One helpful resource that answers the question, “Can a woman produce milk without being pregnant?” is Adoptive Breastfeeding: The Ultimate Guide. Many adoptive moms have found this a helpful tool for learning how to breastfeed their baby. This guide includes information about the benefits of breastfeeding and how to get started nursing your baby.

This guide was created by Mardie Caldwell, the Founder of Lifetime Adoption and a Certified Open Adoption Practitioner. As an adoptive mom herself, she successfully nursed her adoptive son. Because of her experience, she believes that all moms can breastfeed a baby, whether they carry a pregnancy or not.

The Benefits of Adoptive Breastfeeding

The physical connection that breastfeeding creates will benefit both mother and child. Breastfeeding allows you and your baby to have skin-to-skin contact. This contact is vital to your baby’s development and forming an attachment between you and your adopted baby. Some of the benefits of skin-to-skin contact for your baby include regulated heart rate, better organization of reflexes, and stable temperature.

Research has shown that breastfeeding provides positive psychological benefits for mothers as well. One study examined mothers’ moods when they breastfed and then when they bottle-fed their babies. Researchers found a connection between breastfeeding and a positive mood immediately after breastfeeding. They suggested that the higher levels of oxytocin released by breastfeeding may have contributed to the mothers’ positive attitude. In addition, the hormones released during breastfeeding can help with the bonding process.

Breastfeeding isn’t just for biological mothers. With proper preparation or hormones, plus lots of patience and professional support, you can successfully nurse your adopted baby and enjoy the closeness you share with your baby!

Written by Heather Featherston

As Vice President of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.

Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.

As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.

Can you get breast milk without being pregnant?

Sometimes a woman's breasts make milk even though she is not pregnant or breastfeeding. This condition is called galactorrhea (say: guh-lack-tuh-ree-ah). The milk may come from one or both breasts. It may leak on its own or only when the breasts are touched.

How long does it take to induce lactation without being pregnant?

How long does it take to induce lactation? If you're interested, you should talk to your doctor and start the process well before the arrival of the baby. Milk production can take weeks to begin—an average of 4 weeks—after you start pumping.