Can someone explain this to me?

Question

I had my first child 3 yrs ago and only breast fed for for or five months.I continued to lactate because of different birth controls....finally stopped birth control and the milk slowed but didn't stop.Now I'm pregnant again(only 7weeks)and the milk has stopped flowing completely!..When I pressed on one of my breasts a small amount of clear fluid came out and nothing more..kinda like when I first started lactating......Is my body starting the lactating process over again?and if so..Where's the old milk that filled my bosom?

Answer 1

The clear fluid is colostrum. Yes, your body is changing to meet the needs of your unborn baby. The breasts start producing colostrum in the 1st trimester of pregnancy and you may leak, especially during intimate times with your husband. Colostrum is high-calorie, high-nutrition food for babies that also has tremendous immune benefits, so if you seem to be producing quite a bit, try to pump a little and freeze it. Even a tiny amount, like a teaspoon, could help your baby fight off an ear infection or cold in the future. No joke!

As for the "old milk," there's really no such thing. The breasts are always producing more milk. Even if there's milk remaining in the breasts after a baby finishes a meal, the baby will receive fresh, sterile milk the next time he nurses. Good luck!

Answer 2

I breastfed both of my sons and this happened to me as well. It's been nearly a year, and I still have clear liquid (only if I squeeze), so I really know how disturbing this can be. But once find that other women go through this too, it's not quite so bad...

Your milk comes in through a bunch of ducts throughout your breast, and hormones regulate this. The clear liquid comes in first, then the heavier milk (the stuff that actually looks like white milk). In fact, this whiter milk is also made of 2 parts, the foremilk (comes out first 10 minutes of feeding or so) and is mostly water content... then the hindmilk (after about 10 min of nursing this milk starts to flow) and this milk contains more fatty substance. That's why hospitals advise you to nurse for 20 min each breast if you possibly can - so both types of milk flow...

It sounds like your body never really stopped producing milk, it just slowed down production enough that the "white" milk isn't there anymore. Once you start nursing again, it should come in full like before. Other than talking to your OB/GYN, I would recommend you look up your local LaLeche League (group of women who breastfeed). This can be a great place to gather information and meet other women who may be experiencing the same things you are. Here's their website:

http://www.lalecheleague.org/

Answer 3

I do not know where the old milk is but that happend to me. I had no trouble with nursing or milk productio when the kids were born. I had 3 kids and nursed them all for about a year each ad had no problems. I would say...do not worry!!!

Answer 4

Your body absorbed the old milk, as it wasn't being signaled to make more. Now it has "reset" and is making colostrum. All babies need to start off with colostrum to get immunities and fats; it is liquid gold for your newborn!

Answer 5

ewww