Breast/chestfeeding is a powerful way to connect with your baby. While it’s traditionally associated with birth parents, non-gestational parents, including same-sex female couples, trans, and non-binary people, can also share in this meaningful experience through lactation induction.
This process enables parents who haven’t experienced pregnancy to produce milk, offering a unique chance to nurture their child and create a deep, biological bond. This article explores how lactation induction works and guides those interested in exploring this option.
What Is Lactation?
Lactation is the natural process of producing breast/chest milk to feed an infant. This process typically begins during pregnancy, around the 16th week, and is triggered by hormonal changes.
Specifically, rising levels of estrogen and progesterone cause the milk ducts to grow and prepare for milk production. After birth, these hormones drop suddenly, triggering an increase of prolactin that stimulates milk production.
Lactation continues as long as milk is regularly removed from the breasts/chest through breast/chestfeeding or pumping.
What Is Lactation Induction?
Lactation induction, also known as induced lactation, is the process of stimulating breast/chest milk production without a prior pregnancy. Since lactation normally occurs due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, inducing lactation involves mimicking these conditions to signal the body to produce milk.
The process typically requires working with a healthcare provider to develop a personalized lactation induction plan. While methods can vary, they generally include a combination of:
Hormonal treatments to simulate pregnancy conditions
Galactagogues (herbal or pharmacological supplements) to promote milk production
Breast/chest stimulation and expression to encourage milk flow
Each person’s experience with lactation induction is unique, and the specific approach depends on individual circumstances and goals. The next section explores how lactation induction works in more detail.
How Does Lactation Induction Work?
Lactation induction typically begins at least six months before the baby is set to arrive. You can start later, but the earlier you begin, the better your chances of establishing a milk supply. The process usually involves three phases:
Phase One: Hormone Therapy
If time allows, your healthcare provider may prescribe hormone therapy, typically an oral contraceptive. The estrogen and progesterone in this medication mimic the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. When stopped suddenly, they simulate the hormonal shift after delivery and trigger milk production.
This stage can last for several months. However, if time is limited, your provider may suggest alternative medications, herbs, or homeopathic remedies to support milk production instead.
Phase Two: Breast/Chest Stimulation
You’ll usually stop hormone therapy about two months before you plan to start breastfeeding. At this stage, you’ll begin stimulating your breasts or chest.
This can be done through nipple stimulation, pumping, or breastfeeding/chestfeeding, even if no milk is coming out. These techniques help raise the level of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production.
Pumping is the most common technique. Here’s an example of a pumping routine:
Start with 5 minutes, three times a day
Gradually increase to 10 minutes every 4 hours, including once at night
Eventually, build up to 15–20 minutes every 2–3 hours
Phase Three: Breast/Chestfeeding and Continued Stimulation
Once the baby arrives, you’ll begin breast/chestfeeding. Your healthcare provider may recommend continued pumping after feedings to maintain your milk supply.
It’s important to note that while some people can produce a full milk supply through induction, many need to supplement with donor milk or formula.
If you find that supplementing is necessary, a nursing supplementer can be helpful. This device includes a small container, such as a bag or bottle, that holds milk or formula. Attached to it is a thin tube, which is positioned next to your nipple. As your baby starts to suckle, they will draw milk or formula from the tube as well as from your breast/chest. This provides additional nourishment beyond what breastfeeding/chestfeeding alone offers.
Another option is to pump each time your baby is bottle-fed. Both techniques keep your baby nourished while protecting your milk supply.
Remember that these stages outline the typical approach to lactation induction, but the process can vary from person to person. Your healthcare provider will collaborate with you to develop a plan that fits your needs and goals.
Why Choose Lactation Induction?
The primary goals of lactation induction are to feed your baby without having to be pregnant and to establish a bond with your child.
This option is available for adoptive parents, parents welcoming a child through surrogacy, transgender parents, and same-sex female couples.
There are several benefits to lactation induction:
Bonding: Breast/chestfeeding fosters a biological connection between the parent and baby, helping to form a secure attachment. This is particularly important for babies who are separated from their gestational parent or carrier, as in adoption or surrogacy.
Sharing: For same-sex female couples, both parents can share feeding responsibilities, or one parent can carry the pregnancy while the other takes on feeding duties.
Nutrition: Human milk offers the best nutrition and essential immunities for babies.
Additional Resources
Disclaimer
The medical information in this article is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.
Please consult your healthcare provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. Gay Moms Club expressly disclaims responsibility and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this article. Gay Moms Club does not endorse specifically any test, treatment, or procedure mentioned.