Random lactation?

[Kai]

I haven't breastfed since my son was 6 months old and I was dry for the longest time, but recently have been lactating again with very dark nipples (tmi, sorry). I know I'm not pregnant, and I'm curious as to why this is happening.

Does anyone have an inkling as to what could be causing this?

 

[Eve]

No idea but it's kind of neat lol

 

[Kai]

It's the weirdest thing in the world. I would start pumping to see if I could get my supply back, but I'm on medications that transfer through breastmilk.

 

[Eve]

Well that sucks! I mean you need your medication, lol but it would be neat to start pumping and get your supply back...

 

[Kai]

It would be. I loved breastfeeding so much and was one of those that never had any problems whatsoever. It was devastating to be forced to stop.

I'm still wondering why though- it's so random.

 

[Eve]

Forced to stop because of the medication? Oh what a shame hun... There isn't anything safer to take? I don't know what kind of medication you are on but a friend of mine was on anti-depressants of some sort and when she started to TTC her doctor switched her to a safe one

 

[Kai]

There really aren't any safe bipolar medications on the market. They all transfer through breastmilk and have unknown effects on babies. It basically came down to the choice of healthy mom or breastfeeding baby, and I had to choose to be healthy so I wasn't punishing my child by not being able to function. It was the hardest choice to make.

I've been told if I decide to have another child that I will have to go off the meds immediately since the ones I take have a higher chance of causing cleft palates and they are unsure of the effects in brain chemistry. It's a sad roll of the dice, but we're coping.

 

[Eve]

I'm sorry to hear that hun That would have been such a hard choice, but you made the right one I don't know your symptoms etc... but my son has been diagnosed with ODD and possible Bi-polar disorder and my life is chaotic most days... My son is on 1.5mg respiridone at the moment, which doesn't seem to help him at all, and we can't get an inpatient treatment/diagnosis until the age of 9... so 1 more year! My son is very violent when angry (towards me and my OH, not the baby) and yells, screams etc... I'm scared that we will have to place him in a care home before the age of 9 because if he attempts to get agressive towards the baby at all we will have to make changes. His father might try and have him live with him in that situation, which wouldn't be a good thing either... ugh, anyways I'm here blabbing on about my life story here lol

Again, I think you made the right choice as well I mean I would prefer happy healthy FF baby over not being on the proper medications for my health needs, but I wish you didn't have to do it this way

Do you mind me asking how you are doing with bi-polar disorder and parenting an infant? I fear we won't find something to work for Jake and this chaos will never end...

 

[Kai]

It's hard when kids are diagnosed with bipolar disorder because there are so few meds that are kid-safe. It's fine with me for you to get things off your chest because it is hard when you have bipolar in your home. Things feel so uncertain, I'm sure. I know that with me when I schedule my days that life feels less "big", if you know what I mean.

I'm currently on Lamictal and it's made my life so much easier. It was hard towards the end of breastfeeding because I felt crazy. Parenting while medicated for me is no different, I assume anyway, than a "normal" mom. Parenting while unmedicated can be much more difficult since it gets very overwhelming.

There is life after a bipolar diagnoses, it just takes awhile to figure everything out.

 

[Eve]

Thank you so much You made me feel so much better about things, and give me hope! It's nice to know things are going well for you now It's rough, and most of our days aren't good ones anymore...

How is the leaking?