Probably a stupid question

[Procyon]

I know, I am semi-retarded if I couldn't find this out through research. But can women only give milk if they are pregnant/recently given birth? It's coming into play in a story I'm working on...

 

[Guest]

with a little work....

Actually, while it is easiest to produce milk after giving birth, anyone can produce milk if there is enough nipple stimulation.

One option when adopting a baby is to have the baby "nurse" while drinking milk from a tube. Eventually, the adoptive mom's milk will come in and the mom and child will have full bonding through nursing. Some adoptive mom's get pro-lactin from their doctors to help the process along, but it isn't absolutely necessary.

My husband reported that for almost a year after I weaned my last child he would "get a little something" when sucking on my breasts... In some ways, I wish he hadn't told me....

Hope that helps.

 

[peachykeen]

I think I saw a thread on this not long ago on the How To board, with some links to other sources of info on the topic. Try running a search here on the word 'lactate' or 'lactating.'

 

[TaffyJ]

I think the correct term for it is relactating, because the attempt is usually much more likely to succeed if the woman has had a baby before, even if it was ten years ago.

This is a bit of reality you may choose to ignore in your story writing: The hormone prolactin is helpful when trying to relactate, but it has a supressing effect on the woman's sex drive. Chances are, any woman taking prolactin wouldn't be very interested in sex. But 99% of readers out there won't know or care about that.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

My ex g/f was taking some sort of hormone and it caused her to lactate a little (very little) I'm not sure what it was called though.

 

[DdysAngelFace]

You may want to do a search on "Wet-Nurse". There are medical anomolies that happen, some women that have had their ovaries removed can still actively produce milk. There are also "herbal stimulants" that will help with milk production.

 

[TheEarl]

If you can be bothered to suck for long enough (no jokes please), even men can lactate. Everyone's got a little something in them, it's just a question of sucking long enough to get it out.

Yes I am well aware of how many double-entendres could be made there. Please don't for everyone's sanity.

The Earl

 

[gauchecritic]

As I understand it, and I realise they are a different species, but a milk cow won't be a milk cow until after pregnancy.

Does it help? I doubt it.

Gauche

 

[Guest]

Another FYI........

My ex-wife never really quit lactating after the birth of our twin boys. For years she continued to produce milk...mainly cause I never really left her alone. (grinning).

So there IS that.............

I remain,