Breast Feeding Potential

[JessicaClaire]

Hi all!

First time poster here. I'll give a bit of background so you know where I'm coming from. Also, I'm posting on my phone so please excuse errors.

Like most, my transition has been a bit bumpy at times. I started transitioning at age 29 but was on and off hormones for the last 4 years due to relationship trials. I have currently been on hormones consistently for a year and have A cup breasts that are still tender and developing. I have only taken estradiol and spironolactone for my transition.

My questions are these:

1. Is breastfeeding an option in the future?
2. How difficult is it for a transgender woman to produce milk and lactate?
3. At what point is the breast tissue developed enough for this process to begin?

I've done a ton of research into the Newman-Goldfarb protocols and have even discussed this with my doctor. She cited her only case of working with someone to do this. She said that this individual worked for 6 months pumping regularly, changed their hormones to better match those during pregnancy which increase the clot risk, and barely got any milk to show for it.

While the real example was nice, it is only one data point. Do any of you have experience with this? I'd love to be able to have this relationship with my future child (no current plan for that yet).

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

[Jessica]

Hi JessicaClaire 🙋‍♀️ Welcome to Susan's!  I'm Jessica also and a greeter here.  I have wondered the same about breastfeeding.  What I have gathered is that it is possible but you must be off hormones while feeding. 
I will post some links for you to get more acquainted to the site.  Consider posting a bit about yourself in the introductions forum.  Enjoy and explore!

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[valerie anne]

I will be very open about this here, my secret fetish.

I have been trying to induce lactation for a couple of years. I have taken lots of drugs, herbs & potions and I use hospital grade breast pumps on a very regular basis. I am pumping both sides as I type!

I often carry suction teats on my nipples in my bra during the day, and I massage the girls regularly. Very occasionally, I get the chance to dry feed an understanding friend.

My boobs have gone from nothing to quite a substantial B cup with large hard & heavy nipples. I need a bra for support all the time now, plus shields for my nipples when not carrying teats, to prevent inversion.

I get regular milky discharges into my nipple teats, but not from massage or the breast pumps.

Oh, Oh, Oh, I would really love to leak a little real milk!   

[HappyMoni]

I remember hearing or reading that Dr. McGinn actually breast fed her twins.

[noleen111]

I also managed to achieve lactation a few years back. I found that it matures your breasts nicely and it helped me get rid of those teenager looking breasts.

I got an ok amount of milk, but not enough to feed a child. I had a cool breast pump which pumped both breasts at the same time.

I felt amazing to pump and I felt so female.

[judithlynn]

I have two girlfriends, one TG and one CIS female who have had a baby and both have undertaken the breast feeding process. My TG girl friend having had BA five years ago, The regime they followed was according to the Kolfarb protocols and included the following.

My TG girlfriend was on Domperidone two pills four times a day, and Depo Provera shots every three months for 9 months prior to the birth She also had an oestrogen implant and daily Cyproterone. She kept to a strict routine of massage and pumping every 3 hours, and at her best was able to pump around 150 millilitres each breast, that was usually in the mornings if she hadn't pumped much over night. As soon as she dropped the Domperidone she noticed a big drop in milk production probably by half and if she got lazy and didn't keep to her pumping or expression schedule it would drop as well. Both she and her partner shared breast feeding. Her partner worked four days a week in the City and my TG girlfriend did breast feeding during that time schedule.
Judith

[Julia1996]

I didn't think a transwoman could lactate. It's very cool that it's possible. I can imagine how validating it would be for a transwoman to breast feed. For myself, lactation is not something I would be interested in. As sensitive as my nipples are the thought of a little rug rat chomping on them makes me cringe.

[AnonyMs]

Here's a couple of links about transwomen breastfeeding.

http://www.milkjunkies.net/2013/05/trans-women-and-breastfeeding-personal.html

https://www.thestranger.com/queer-issue-2017/2017/06/21/25225867/my-first-time-breastfeeding-my-daughter

[judithlynn]

My TG girlfriend is actually pre-op and therefore the baby was naturally conceived. She basically ceased her HRT program until the baby was conceived. Their daughter is now 2 years old and I understand that she has had her Oestrogen implant removed and they are trying for a second baby. Once conceived she is going back on her  lactation program and full HRT, with a plan that once the second baby is born she is going to have GRS.

Even now they make a beautiful couple.
Judith

[judithlynn]

By the way Domperidome in Australia is known as Motillium (available from most chemists) and mostly prescribed for Gastric reflux and Nausea. I had to take it for about the first 6 months on my HRT program as I suffered from PMS symptoms and Nausea until my body adjusted to the low Testosterone and High oestrogen regime.

Domperidone (Motilium) is a drug that has, as a side effect, the increase of milk production, probably by increasing prolactin production by the pituitary gland. Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates the cells in the mother's breast to produce milk. Domperidone increases prolactin secretion indirectly, by interfering with the action of dopamine, whose action is to decrease the secretion of prolactin by the pituitary gland.

Domperidone is generally used for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (gut) and has not been released in some countries for use as a stimulant for milk production. This does not mean that it cannot be prescribed for this reason, but rather that the manufacturer does not back its use for increasing milk production. However, there are several studies that show that it works to increase milk production and that it is a relatively safe drug.

[mako9802]

By the way Domperidome in Australia is known as Motillium (available from most chemists) and mostly prescribed for Gastric reflux and Nausea. I had to take it for about the first 6 months on my HRT program as I suffered from PMS symptoms and Nausea until my body adjusted to the low Testosterone and High oestrogen regime.

Domperidone (Motilium) is a drug that has, as a side effect, the increase of milk production, probably by increasing prolactin production by the pituitary gland. Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates the cells in the mother's breast to produce milk. Domperidone increases prolactin secretion indirectly, by interfering with the action of dopamine, whose action is to decrease the secretion of prolactin by the pituitary gland.

Domperidone is generally used for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (gut) and has not been released in some countries for use as a stimulant for milk production. This does not mean that it cannot be prescribed for this reason, but rather that the manufacturer does not back its use for increasing milk production. However, there are several studies that show that it works to increase milk production and that it is a relatively safe drug.

This drug domperidone works extremely well.  I used it for a while and pumped my breasts with a breast pump.  This was after taking black  market hormones in my twenties so i already had some breast development.    I  don't advise doing that though....

[judithlynn]

Hi Mako;
Actually whilst I was taking Motillium for my first 6 months to counter my morning nausea as my body adjusted to the drop in Testosterone and High Oestrogen regime (my T level is now 0.9, and my Oestrogen level is 409), after about 4.5 months on the high Oestrogen levels, I used to find that my breasts were leaking most mornings onto my nightdress or PJ tops (evident wet patches  where my nipples were). At that stage of course I wasn't on Progesterone (Micronised Prometrium) as I am now as well, taking it on a monthly cyclical basis (days 12-25), but these days I dont need Motillium. Mind you my girlfriend below tells me if I went back onto it and used  a double pump every 4 hours I could easily be producing a good quality in milk from my 44C rounded breasts (especially as these days since being on Progesterone, my breasts have become noticeably more rounded and heavier (very noticeable every morning).