Could I be pregnant??? Lactating and my son is 3 years old.. Never breastfed

[chelleypooh2004]

Hello Doctor,

My son is 3 years old and I never breast fed him. For about a couple of weeks I have been getting milk in my breasts. They hurting and have gotten bigger. Then I noticed that I have gotten real emotional lately. Tonight I notice that after squeezing my left breast and seeing milk, I felt my uterus contract. I have been suspecting that I may be pregnant because most of the signs are there. Nausea, frequent urination, mood swings, emotional, and the breast being swollen and sore. But they have milk. Not to mention the contractions and a little stomach pain here and there. In your personal opinion do you think I could be pregnant?

Oh, and I took the drug provera about 2 weeks ago and never had a period. I took it because I took my last birth control shot October 2nd. It was due in January and I never took it. I didn't get my period after not taking it so the doctor prescribed provera to jump start my period. So I am wondering if it is the provera trying to do its job or if I could indeed be pregnant.

[JaneRae]

Will offer this if you are in fact not pregnant, which its hard to say really given your circumstances. I produced milk starting at age 18 (2 years before my first pregnancy) and did so continuously until I got pregnant. After pregnancy it would slow down but never stop. I found out after my 3rd child was born (who tragically passed away) and my cycle did not return that I have a tumor at the base of my brain pressing on my pituitary gland. The type of tumor is relatively common, many people have them without any indication. However in my case mine has gotten so large that it will be problematic until removed. Galatorhea is the name of the condition where milk is made without cause. Surprisingly men can have this problem as well! There are other causes than brain tumors as well. If pregnancy is not the cause please investigate further! My tumor was not detected until I was 25. So it has had a good 7 years to run the hormonal show.

[Factorymomma]

Hello you've actually stumbled upon the peer to peer forum rather than the "ask a doctor" forum.  Happens all the time :)
If you suspect pregnancy the first thing you need to to is take a home pregnancy test with your first morning's urine.  If positive, of course call your ob and schedule an appointment.
If negative, wait a week and try again.  If negative twice and you've yet to experience a period, then I would make an appointment to ensure you either are, or are not, pregnant.
As for the "lactation", you only produce true milk after birth, so you would be experiencing colostrum (if you are pregnant).  And you can actually express fluids from your breasts without being pregnant.... it's just difficult.
Anyways, at this point all you can do is test and wait.