I know we've all experienced this in one way or another with our losses. In fact the article here on how to stop lactation is how I found Glow in a google search.

My question is: Has anyone had lingering amounts of milk / colostrum months after their loss? I can express a few drops from each breast still and it's been 6 months already. I worry that it may be impacting my ability to conceive again (I know, silly, since people get pg bfing all the time but I'm not always rationale anymore).

Backstory:
Because I had a breast reduction it was recommended by my lactation consultant that I manually express to relieve engorgement so that the developing tissues were saved for the next time. It took about 4 weeks of 2x daily expression for my milk to mostly dry up but I can still express a few drops of milk and what I presume to be colostrum (thick, sticky, yellow-y-milk-y).

Thanks ladies,
S
xoxo

I'm actually not sure if I can express anything now (after my loss), I haven't really tried, but after the birth of my son I was able to express milk for about 2 years. I was a little freaked but my doc said it was normal and it didn't keep me from getting pregnant. So I would tend to say that's okay and it shouldn't affect anything, but who the hell knows really? Have you asked any of the docs about it? xoxo

I continued to produce small quantities of milk for about 6-9 months post loss. I actually think it just takes a long time for our bodies to ramp down again. I nursed my living daughter until she was a little over 2 years old, and once she weaned, it was the same (had small amounts of milk still going for a little under a year later).

BF only prevents conception *if* you are BF frequently enough to prevent ovulation. Assuming you dont have other potential fertility issues, then as long as you are ovulating, the fact that you're still producing milk should not prevent or make it more difficult to get pregnant.

good luck to you

I can still get roughly the same, depending on my cycle. It isn't abnormal for me, I've had milk for a good while after prolonged feeding of my others but I've wondered the same. Although, I have got pregnant while feeding still but not till I was well back into ordinary life with a 16 month old.

I had a prolactin blood test done last week and am waiting for the results - if anything interesting comes up, I;ll let you know :) I know it is treatable, although I was advised not to take the cabergoline tablet I've been hoarding.

Thanks ladies. I have a referral to a fertility specialist this fall since my NP felt my concerns were out of her league. :-) It just helps to know that this isn't unusual.

Merry - please do keep me posted.

sarah,

i know i'm late to this thread, but i have a friend, another babyloss mama, she is 5-6 years out from a late miscarriage and she still gets milk coming in a bit around the anniversary every year. i wouldn't worry too much about the milk thing, i think it takes a long time for our bodies to become unconfused by this experience.