How to Induce Lactation - the Well May Not Be Dry!

In a world where breasts are used to sell anything from deodorant to sports cars, it is understandable that they don't get a fair shake when it comes to their most basic of purposes: breastfeeding. Yet, sadly, the potential of breasts goes mostly untapped. Women in other parts of the
 world have long been aware of the ability to start (or "induce") lactation without having given birth.

The United States is finally catching up! Americans are inducing lactation to nurse their adopted babies. Working women are taking long weekends to restart their milk production and get their babies back to the breast. Some women have even taken a break from nursing for chemotherapy treatments, and then induced lactation and reestablished a breastfeeding relationship with their child, sometimes with only one remaining breast.

What Brings It To Life?

The first step in inducing lactation is to understand the production of breast milk. During pregnancy, breasts are ordinarily prepared for lactation because of the influence of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin and other hormones that increase in a woman. The body naturally responds and the ducts within the breasts increase in size.

Upon completion of the pregnancy, the levels of progesterone and estrogen drop while prolactin increases. This results in lactation. That means: you start making breast milk!

However, without pregnancy and simply through nipple stimulation, prolactin begins to be secreted. This also prompts a signal to the brain from the breast to release oxytocin, which is the key to start the ejection of the milk (also known as the "let down reflex").

Stimu-WHAT-tion?

You may be wondering just exactly what I mean by "nipple stimulation." It's simple, really. You can begin nipple stimulation by allowing an actual baby to suckle at your breasts. However, many women choose to jump start the process with a dual-action breast pump. Many find the hospital grade pump is worth the money, when factoring in the amount of use that will be required.

Related information
  • "More suckling equals more milk. Less suckling equals less milk."
 
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mmmmm,kinky

Posted on 06/14/2009 at 7:06:53 PM

my email is lifebalance@gmx.com i'd like to try breastmilk i am in Chattanooga, TN

Posted on 05/29/2009 at 10:05:10 AM

Not pregnant, not intending to be pregnant but very useful information still... mmmm, kinky

Posted on 04/23/2009 at 7:04:38 AM

My wife and I have been trying for 1 week now...

Posted on 02/01/2009 at 1:02:23 PM

I want my wife to lactate without the breast pump and me sucking only.

Posted on 01/31/2009 at 2:01:19 AM

is it possible to do this w/out an actual baby suckling?

Posted on 12/25/2008 at 4:12:24 PM

Very informative, thank-you! Excellent article!

Posted on 03/02/2007 at 5:03:00 PM

Fantastic information! I was just going to write about this yesterday, but I think you have it covered. :)

Posted on 03/01/2007 at 12:03:00 PM

Awesome article!!!! I wish more women knew about this!

Posted on 03/01/2007 at 10:03:00 AM

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