After stillbirth, pregnancy loss, infant loss or miscarriage, many women are shocked to find that their milk will begin to come in within a few days after delivery. Naturally, this can be a traumatizing experience for a woman who is grieving her baby.
If you are finding this page after experiencing pregnancy or infant loss, we are so very sorry. We hope the information you find here helps you navigate lactation after loss.
In addition to the information below, we also offer a free brochure for lactation after loss that can be ordered by health professionals, organizations, families and more.
After your baby has died – particularly after a later-term loss (>20 weeks) – it is important to know that your milk will likely come in a few days after delivery. Your breasts will be swollen and tender, but there are several options available to help you manage the engorgement and minimize the physical pain, including techniques for suppressing lactation or donating your milk.
There are no right or wrong choices when it comes to your breast milk – whatever you decide, support is available to you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
In some cases, medication in the first 48 hours after delivery may be used to help reduce the amount of milk you will produce. If your provider does not recommend that option or you still experience some milk production, the following strategies may help to lessen the discomfort of engorgement and encourage your body to stop producing milk as quickly as possible:
If your engorgement is unbearable, you may release some pressure by hand-expressing or pumping a small amount of milk. However, please be advised that the less often you do this, the faster your body will stop making milk and the engorgement will resolve. The more you drain your breast, the more your body is stimulated to produce more milk, prolonging your discomfort.
Most women report their breasts returning to normal in about 2 weeks.
Contact your health provider right away if your breast(s) are warm and red, you have a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, and/or you have body aches, as any of these symptoms may be signs of infection.
Alternatively, some mothers find it a healing experience to pump and donate their breast milk to another baby in need. In addition, pumping offers the advantage of being able to stop lactation gradually over time, minimizing engorgement.
For more information about milk donation options in your area, please contact your local Star Legacy chapter, hospital NICU, Milk Bank, or La Leche League chapter.
Even when pumping, please be aware of any signs of potential infection, including warm/red breast(s), fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, and/or body aches. If you experience any of the above, contact your health provider right away.
Star Legacy Foundation is a Milk Bank Depot for the Minnesota Milk Bank.
Some families find it healing by expressing milk and turning it into beautiful keepsakes such as jewelry or memorial pieces. Some companies offer kits to make these keepsakes yourself while others will make them for you
