Lactation anyone?

[lilyblossom]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to the site and very excited to be a part of a community with people who are also pregnant and due around the same time I am (2/16).

I have a million questions all the time but the latest thing is that I have already started lactating. It started really early, probably around week 15 when I first started feeling the baby kick (and I mean KICK, this girl doesn't know how to flutter, LOL!).

I'm leaking colostrum and a clear fluid from my nipples. It's not typically a lot but I have woken up a few times with some puddles in the bed and one day I even shot out fluid across the shower! My OB/GYN says it's fine but to avoid nipple stimulation. The only thing that bugs me is that my naturopath says the same hormone that causes lactation can also trigger labor. She thinks my hormones may be a little high.

Has anyone else started to lactate? What do your doctors say about it if you are?

[flapjack]

My first pregnancy I noticed colostrum almost as soon as I got the bfp (16 weeks or so) and was leaking copiously by 23 weeks or thereabouts. It's settled down in subsequent pregnancies. Yes, nipple stimulation is one method of triggering labour in mums who are ripe and ready and there is a link between oxytocin (the hormone which triggers a let-down reflex in nursing moms) and uterine contractions- a synthetic form of this hormone, pitocin, is used to accelerate or augment labour.

[smokeylo]

Yes, I'm 20 weeks and have started dripping occasionally. My midwife says it's normal and not a big deal, just kinda messy. Some women start leaking early, some don't have anything until after the baby is born.

[birthmommom]

I have started leaking too. It is really noticable at night when i am not wearing my bra. I wake up with dry spots on my shirt. it is more annoying than anything i think.

[Steady101]

It's completely normal. Leaking was what made me test to begin with. I leak here and there. Sometimes just a little to make the nipple crusty and other times to make a wet spot.

[TrishWSU]

Yep, totally normal. With DD it started about 20 weeks and it was a lot! This time it's much less, mainly only if I squeeze to see if there, lol. I wonder if it's because it's my second pregnancy or because this is a boy?

I wouldn't worry about the leaking being related to early labor. Unless you are at risk of pre-term labor already, you could stimulate your nipples off and not have a twinge of a contraction. It's kind of like sex-yes it can start labor, but not unless your body is already ready to go and just needs a little push.

[ScarletBegonias]

i'm jealous! i thought for sure i wouldn't lose my supply, and if i did it would be very temporary. no such luck though!