I heard this weird story about a mother who breast-fed her son until he was 6. It made me wonder...how long can humans lactate? I know most mothers stop breast feeding after like 6 months or something....but if you just kept breast-feeding or pumping your milk could you lactate forever?
2006-12-21 10:58:31 · 11 answers · asked by Sara 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
A mother will continue to lactate as long as she is pumping or nursing to remove the milk from her breasts.....remember, it's all about supply and demand. If there is demand, the body will keep up the supply.
The AAP recommends nursing for AT LEAST 12 months. Many other organizations recommend AT LEAST 2 years.
Anthropologist Kathryn Dettwyler's research shows the natural age of human weaning between 2.5 and 7 years of age.
2006-12-21 15:14:19 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, you can lactate for as long as you pump or breastfeed. Long ago they used to have what they called wet nurses. Their job was to nurse so that the mother did not have to. I stopped breastfeeding mine when they were about 2 months because I had to return to work, and it was just too hard. My youngest is 4 now, and even today when I babysit an infant and they start to cry, my nipples tingle, like there is going to be letdown. They also say that you can force your body to lactate simply by pumping them for an extended period of time, not that I really know why you would want to, unless maybe you were adopting a baby.
2006-12-21 19:04:43 · answer #2 · answered by dnsnowden 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I breast fed my son for about 4-5 months. A year and a half later my breasts were still leaking. Im not sure how normal it is to lactate for this long but I did it.
2006-12-21 19:01:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume you can. Have you ever heard of a Wet Nurse? I dont think they are very common today but a long time ago english royalty used to employ Wet Nurses, a woman who would breastfeed their baby.
I do believe if you have given birth, you can lactate as long as you stimulate your breasts (with a child or pump)
If you havent had a child you are able to get a prescription for a drug called Domperidone which will cause a woman, whom hasnt had a baby, to lactate. This drug is commonly given to women who adopt a newborn baby and wish to breastfeed their adopted child.
2006-12-21 19:13:27 · answer #4 · answered by twinsin06 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as you keep nursing, you will continue to lactate. However, if your child only nurses, or you only pump once a day, your milk will adapt and only produce for as often as needed.
2006-12-21 19:09:41 · answer #5 · answered by sfb_wolfpack_girl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's right!
I know a couple women (with multiple children) who've been lactating continuously for ten years.
(Not nursing one child for ten years... Just, as one weans, the next is born, and it never dries up.)
The American Pediatric Association recommends a minimum of one year of breastfeeding. The World Health Organization recommends a minimum of two. The world-wide average is 4 years.
2006-12-21 19:01:44 · answer #6 · answered by Katherine Blackthorne 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you keep breastfeeding, you can lactate indefinately. When you are pumping only, eventually the milk supply decreases and goes away.
2006-12-21 19:01:15 · answer #7 · answered by missyhardt 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
as long as your breast feeding or pumping you will lactate
2006-12-21 19:05:59 · answer #8 · answered by ~♥~ *CHEEKY* ~♥~ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, since milk is produced on a supply and demand basis, as long as it is demanded, it will be supplied :)
â¥Merry Christmasâ¥
2006-12-21 19:10:48 · answer #9 · answered by ♥Pamela♥ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
for a long time
2006-12-21 20:42:10 · answer #10 · answered by Scuba 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋