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The First Drop!
Inducing
lactation is a true labor of
love. It takes a strict
adherence to a schedule of
breast expression. It takes a
deep
conviction to reach a goal. But
eventually there will be one day
that you will find success. This
image is the first drop of milk
that this lady was able to
express from her breasts after
doing the necessary process to
reach lactation. She was a very
happy lady.
If you are
thinking that it is something
that a woman your age could
never accomplish, this lady is
post-menopausal, and she has
reached a very important
plateau... she has expressed the
first of many drops of milk yet
to come.
When it
seems that it will never happen,
do not give up. If you believe
it will happen, and if you
follow a good schedule of breast
expression without fail or
deviation, you will likely find
success. There is no guarantee
that it will happen, but with
support and effort it very
likely will happen. |
Photo permission granted by model |
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When a woman is
pregnant, her breasts will develop beyond
Tanner Stage
Five (final adult breast development stage
without lactation), and
establish lactation, which is the process of
producing breast milk. The term "re-lactation"
refers to the process by which a woman (or a
man) causes their breasts to lactate (produce
milk) without the benefit of ever being pregnant
or having been pregnant within the previous few
years.
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Why Would Anyone Want To Re-Lactate?
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Re-lactation is undertaken by:
- An adoptive
mother (or father), for the purpose of
breastfeeding an infant without the benefit
of going through a pregnancy immediately
prior to commencing to breastfeed.
- Menstruating
women, for the purpose of stopping menses
(periods) which have become painful or
unusually troublesome.
It is not encouraged as a reliable
method of contraception.
- A couple, for
the purpose of developing a closer, more
intimate bond through an Adult
Nursing Relationship (ANR).
- Anyone, as a
means of producing breast milk for
medicinal use by others.
- Anyone, as a
means of producing breast milk for
personal medicinal use.
- Anyone, as a
means of relieving various pains.
- Any woman, to
satisfy a need to feel more feminine.
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How To Get Started
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Re-lactation can be
induced through the repetitious
expression of the breasts on a very
strictly followed schedule for a period
of time. |
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How Do I Monitor My
Progress Toward Establishing
Re-Lactation?
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Visual Signs of Re-Lactation |
Things that you need to
be aware of regarding
visible physical changes
to your breasts, caused
by your breasts
re-lactating. |
Physical
changes to your breasts that are
seen or felt are good indicators of
the progress that your breasts are making
toward meeting your goals of
re-lactation. You can see examples
of these changes inAs
indicators of progress toward your goal of
producing milk, you will likely see changes in:
-
the
color of your areolae (usually becoming
darker)
-
the
size of your areolae (usually increasing in
diameter)
-
the
size of your nipples (usually becoming wider)
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the
size of your breasts, possibly increasing as much as
one or two "cup-sizes"
-
the
appearance of more dominant blood vessels below the
surface of the skin on your
breasts
-
the
amount (and color) of fluids that are expressed from
your nipples
-
the
sensations of tingling or minor 'growing pains'
within your
breasts
Sometimes we
get concerned when we see our
areolae becoming larger or turning
darker pigmented when we are
preparing to lactate. Although
everyone will not necessarily have
larger areolae, under Anatomy
Galleries we have included
images of breasts that have
larger and darker areolae. Also,
our breasts may tend to take on a
different size or shape, which
actually
facilitates the process of suckling.
One anomaly is referred to as
"tubular breasts".
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What Do I Do If I'm Not
Home For My Mid-Day
Expression Session?
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How Do I Use A
TENS Unit To Stimulate Lactation? |
Some ideas about the use of
a TENs unit to assist during the process of
re-lactating. It is helpful for when you would
otherwise miss an
expression session
because your partner is
absent or you cannot
manually express or
pump. |
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Should I Do Something
Different About
Mammograms When I'm
Re-Lactating?
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What About Visiting My
OB/Gyn?
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What Are Some Of The
Other Benefits Of
Re-Lactating?
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Are There Some Aides
Available?
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Tools &
Gadgets |
Some
contributors have
generously contributed
some ideas and devices
that can be helpful to
you. We offer them to
you as shared
information only. You
can determine if the
information can be
helpful for you. |
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Do Some Ladies Actually
Have Success?
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Re-Lactation
Success Stories |
It always
helps to read about
others that have tried
to induce lactation
and actually had
success. It is not an
easy task. But few
couples feel brave
enough to tell others
about it. We welcome
those who succeeded to
write a little note that
we can share on here.
Others will be grateful
to you. |
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What Type Of Equipment
Do I Need To Purchase In
Order For Me To
Re-Lactate?
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If you
elect to re-lactate through the
process of your partner suckling
your breasts several times a
day, you really do not need to
purchase any equipment.
If you find
that your partner is not
available to you, you may be
able to use Manual Expression of
your breasts during those times.
No purchase is needed for that
as well.
If
your partner is not available or
you are otherwise occupied for a
large portion of the 24-hour
day, such as your working away
from home, you may find that the
use of a TENS unit will be
helpful. Even if you suckle or
manually express or pump, you
may find that the use of a TENS
unit in between the sessions may
be helpful. That would need to
be purchased, and you can read
more about the use of or the
need for a TENS unit by going
to the article above.
If you
decide that you want to utilize
a breast pump when your partner
is not available, there is a
decision to be made. There are
many breast pumps available, and
it is difficult to know which
one is the right one for you.
Sandra Gordon is with
ConsumerAffairs.com and she has
written a very complete
evaluation of breast pumps and
the companies that make them.
You can
read her report at
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/health/breast-pumps/#breastfeeding-and-nutrition
Just hit
your "BACK" button to return to
this location.
Remember
that you want good quality when
you purchase a breast pump,
because it has to do a good job
of manipulating your nerves that
are behind your nipples. That
generally requires the use of a
"Hospital Grade" breast pump.
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There is a
Hospital-Grade breast
pump that is getting good
reviews, called the PJ's
Comfort by Limerick. It is
drawing attention because the cups
actually squeeze in on the
breast, just behind the nipples,
where the nerves are located
that need stimulation to induce
lactation if you are using a
pump for that purpose. It works like a bovine
milking machine instead of like
a vacuum cleaner. It is pricey,
but ladies claim it is
very effective and very comfortable. Amazon currently has
a model that comes with the
carry case and goodies, for over
$550, or for a
lot less it comes as pictured
below, without the
extras, for about $380. Click on
the image on the right to go look at it. Once
there, you can look at it or any
other model, or even at any
other product that Amazon sells, and
you would buy directly through them, pay
them, and they deliver to you.
That includes any pump
recommended on the Consumer
Affairs article, if Amazon
carries that pump.
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