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Continued Milk Production After Weaning
It is normal for a lot of women to continue to produce *small* amounts of milk weeks, months, and even years after weaning. ANY stimulation to the breast; ie. "checking" to see if milk can still be expressed, stimulation during sexual intercourse, etc. can cause production to continue. Absorbent breast pads or perhaps the Blis System should make this temporary leaking more manageable. If milk is still present, especially if it is in large amounts, 6 months after weaning, it's a good idea to have an evaluation by a physician, because although this is a normal condition for most women, continued production can also be a symptom of something else, too.

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"Galactorrhea" is the technical term for spontaneous secretion of milk from the breasts when a woman is not nursing. Any time milk EXCESSIVE milk production continues beyond 3-6 months after weaning, the woman should have a physical exam by a doctor.

It's not unusual at all for mothers to be able to express drops of milky or clear fluid for months or even years after they stop nursing. This only becomes a concern if the breasts produce a large amount of milk for long periods of time. If the breasts stay engorged or lots of milk leaks out months after weaning, or is accompanied by pain and swelling, then there may be a problem.

I can't imagine a doctor running a battery of tests unless the amount of milk produced is significant and unusual. Galactorrhea is not a disease, but it can be a symptom of an underlying health problem that causes elevated prolactin levels. It is possible for pituitary, uterine, and ovarian tumors to cause inappropriate milk production. These conditions may be serious and should be carefully evaluated. Other medical conditions that can cause galactorrhea include hyperthyroidism chronic renal failure, psychosis and anxiety, certain medications, fibrocystic breast, herpes zoster, or severe stress.

Sometimes drugs can be used to supress milk production, but that's only a temporary fix. Total treatment involves treating the underlying cause.

The type of leaking you are describing sounds completely normal to me. I haven't nursed my son for six years, and can still express drops of clear milky fluid after a shower (but only on one side.) I have a friend who is a nurse who still leaks milk during lovemaking 15 years after weaning her third child, and after going through tons of tests, her doctors could find absolutely nothing to worry about.

Some women just seem to leak more than others, both before, during, and after nursing. Unless you develop medical symptoms such as those described above, then I wouldn't worry about the occasional leaking. It probably does have something to do with cyclical changes related to your menstual cycle, and doesn't mean that anything is wrong at all.

All the best, and happy holidays!
-- Anne, IBCLC