Why is it that a woman will produce breast milk if she is around a baby a lot?

Question

And if that's the only way, couldn't she "fake it" to produce milk whenever she wants? I mean, how does her body know there is a baby near her, without telling herself that?

Answer 1

I spent a week with my brand new nephew and I came home from their house lactating.

Supposedly it's impossible, right?

Not for me.  I had never *once* been pregnant and I went to my doctor.  She checked and told me that it was real breastmilk (not colostrum... it was breastmilk) and she said that it was probably psychological but she checked my hormone levels anyway and all my levels came back normal.

Sometimes women can get a tumor on their pituitary gland which can cause galactorrhea (spontaneous lactation) and sometimes it's psychological.

I lactated until I finally got pregnant with my twins, and I stopped lactating about 2 months into my pregnancy.

So yes, sometimes women CAN lactate without ever having been pregnant, and there are a few causes for it.

Answer 2

The mind is powerful and there may be pheromones involved as well.

Most women can't fake the stress caused by hearing a baby cry.  However many adoptive moms and adult women with adult partners who wish to breastfeed induce lactation without ever being pregnant.

Answer 3

She would have to be pregnant, a new mom or had an abortion in the last few months.  I use to think it was all hormones but on the Big Brother Reality Show (I know, I know) a women on there had an abortion years ago but could still squirt milk out of her b*****s. She actually did this on t.v.  If you go to Youtube and search "Natalie big brother lactate" you can watch the video (it is disturbing).

Answer 4

it's all about hormones.

Answer 5

men can also stimulate breast milk. Experiments have been done and if a man allows a baby to nurse, he will eventually produce milk. Its all hormonal and stimulation

Answer 6

Maybe because she is either pregnant or breastfeeding and that means she will be around a baby

Answer 7

well its not that a woman produces milk if she's around a baby, she leaks more around a baby, and pretty much every time he cries she does. hormones, its embedded who knows lol

Answer 8

a new mom can do that or a pregnant woman. no 1 else! don't worry we can't fake that.

Answer 9

Its not just her proximity to a baby that produces milk.  She has to have the proper hormones present to produce milk.  (oxytocin, prolactin)  Also the more the baby breastfeeds the more milk she will produce.  So if a newborn baby needs to feed 12 times a day she can produce enough milk for her baby.  As the baby gets older and needs less milk her body will compensate for that and slow down on the production of milk.

Mothers who have never given birth can induce lactation by taking hormones and using a breastpump to stimulate her supply.  Men have the same milk ducts as women.  If they were taking hormones and using a breastpump they could also produce milk.