Produce Milk Without Being Pregnant – Medically Reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH – By Jenna Fletcher – Updated July 24, 2023
It is possible for women and men to produce milk from one or both nipples, similar to breastfeeding, without being pregnant or breastfeeding.
Produce Milk Without Being Pregnant

This form of breastfeeding is called galactorrhea. Galactorrhoea has nothing to do with the milk a woman produces while breastfeeding.
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In this article, learn about the possible causes of breastfeeding without pregnancy or breastfeeding, and when to visit a doctor.
The hormone prolactin causes lactation during pregnancy and breastfeeding. People with galactorrhea may produce too much prolactin.
The pituitary gland, which is a small gland at the base of the brain, produces and regulates prolactin and several other hormones.
Problems with the pituitary gland, such as non-cancerous tumors or other pituitary disorders, can sometimes cause a non-pregnant woman to breastfeed.
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Describes a young woman with type 1 diabetes whose nipples produce milky fluid under gentle pressure when she is close to her unswaddled baby.
Her symptoms disappeared when she was no longer with the child. Doctors have ruled out all possible biological causes of breastfeeding. In this case, researchers believe that breastfeeding is due to an emotional response to the baby.
Sometimes doctors cannot determine the cause of galactorrhea. In these cases, the disease is called idiopathic galactorrhea.

People with idiopathic galactorrhea may have breasts that are very sensitive to prolactin, meaning that normal levels of the hormone can cause milk to flow.
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During the exam, the doctor will take a medical history and check for any medications the person is taking.
In some cases, people can manage symptoms with lifestyle changes, such as minimizing nipple stimulation, avoiding tight clothing, and wearing padded inserts inside bras to absorb any fluid.
People should not change medications without talking to their doctor. The doctor will be able to recommend substitutions and monitor possible side effects.
Lactation during pregnancy or breastfeeding is called galactorrhea. It has several related causes and symptoms.
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Not all causes of galactorrhea are serious, but diagnosis can sometimes be difficult. Anyone with symptoms of galactorrhea should talk to their doctor.
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies only on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutes, and medical journals and associations. We do not use third party referrals. We link to primary sources (including studies, scientific references and statistics) in each article and also list them in the resources section below our articles. You can learn more about how we make sure our content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial policy. Induction of lactation requires adequate stimulation and emptying of the breast. Stimulation can be done in 3 ways: with a breast pump, with a nursing baby or with manual expression.
If you want to breastfeed, talk to your doctor so you can start the process as soon as possible before the baby arrives.

The lactation induction process can take some time, so it is best to start at least a few months in advance.
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The earlier you start pumping, the better. Milk can last anywhere from a few weeks to months, so start as soon as possible.
Sometimes they may prescribe hormone therapy, such as extra estrogen or progesterone, which can mimic the effects of pregnancy to help you breastfeed faster.
Most people have the potential to breastfeed under the right circumstances. Even postmenopausal women can induce lactation, although it is more difficult than fertile women.
Listen to anything that reminds you of your upcoming child. This can help release hormones! Spending time in the nursery, looking at ultrasound images… connecting with what you have about your future child.
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BONUS: If you know someone who has a baby, try to give them hugs and hugs as much as possible! All this will help lactation.
Some women start hand expression a few weeks before pumping to get into the act. It is gentler on the breast and good for starters.
Start gradually, because induction of lactation can be difficult on the nipples. Start by pumping for 5 minutes, 3 times a day and work up to 15-30 minutes every 2-3 hours.
Babies nurse at least 8 to 12 times a day, so it’s important to pump at least 8 times a day regularly. Pump as much as you can, even if you don’t think anything is coming out. The more you pump, the more milk you will produce.
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PRO TIP: Use lube as needed to help with discomfort. We definitely recommend this pump spray which is suitable for use on nipples and pumps during lactation.
Don’t panic if you haven’t produced milk for a while. It takes time to start breastfeeding, and your milk supply will increase with regular pumping and breastfeeding.
Consistency is the magic ingredient for lactation induction. It may seem like you don’t see results for a long time, but keep at it and your body will eventually respond.
The supplementary nursing system (SNS) is a method of breastfeeding when the baby arrives. SNS is when a special feeding tube is inserted into the breast while the baby is receiving formula or donor milk. This helps to stimulate the breast when the baby is nursing.
Relactation: How To Get Your Milk Supply Back After Stopping — Coddle
They can help increase your milk supply and deal with problems along the way. Find an IBCLC near you
You may want to introduce some galactagogues into your diet when inducing lactation. Galactagogues are foods and herbs that have anecdotal evidence to aid lactation. This may work for some people, but it is not guaranteed to work.
Some are fennel, barley, flaxseed, brewer’s yeast and oats. To incorporate the trio into your diet, make some easy (and tasty!) homemade breastfeeding cookies below. (just add butter and eggs and voila!)
🌛 1. This nursing bra is the best for breastfeeding at night. Very comfortable and made of the softest material. You’ll want to wear them to sleep forever, even after you’re done breastfeeding.
How To Induce Lactation (without Pregnancy) — Milkology®
💪 2. Increase supply and postpartum tone. Milk Dust is a protein powder made just for breastfeeding mothers. Nourishes and tones your postpartum body (and also contains milk-stimulating ingredients!) Get 10% off formula with code at checkout
🤱 3. If your nipples are sore, this is an absolute lifesaver. They’re super cheap, last a few days (perfect if you’re trying to get a good haircut), and are super fun. Do you adopt a child? Did you know you can breastfeed your adopted child? You may be wondering how to induce lactation without pregnancy. Here’s how you can use a Spectra breast pump to induce lactation without pregnancy. Use a breast pump to induce lactation without pregnancy
You can use the Spectra breast pump to induce lactation without pregnancy. The way it works is the action of using a breast pump to stimulate the breast, just like a baby sucking. We recommend using a hospital-grade pump such as the Spectra S1 or S2 due to the variety of adjustable settings and motor power. If you use a breast pump to induce lactation, you want the pump to closely mimic your baby’s sucking patterns. With a breast pump, you should plan to play around with the settings to find what’s most comfortable for you, and even change settings several times during each pumping session.
How often should I pump for lactation? We spoke with Teresa from Lilly of the Valley Doula about her experience helping moms breastfeed without pregnancy, and she recommends that if you use a breast pump, you should schedule it every 2 hours or more often. It is important to maintain a high frequency, especially in the first few weeks when your milk supply stops. The pumping schedule is very important. It takes a lot of time and can be frustrating because your output is only a few ml at first. But you should see this few ml as an absolute victory. It means your breasts are making milk! I said at least 2 hours at most, optimal and hope that there is no time limit, the program is one and a half hours. – Teresa, Doula
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It takes a few weeks to start producing milk. And any milk, even a small amount, should be celebrated. It means that your body has learned to produce breast milk and you have had successful lactation without pregnancy!
Breastfeeding and nipple stimulation to induce lactation You can induce lactation without pregnancy by breastfeeding yourself. Like pumping, breastfeeding stimulates the breasts to increase milk production. You can try it as soon as the baby comes home or maybe you have a friend with a baby. We spoke with Teresa from Lilly of the Valley Doula about her experience helping mothers to breastfeed without pregnancy, and she recommends using the Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) with
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