Relactation? Is it possible?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Have any of you had experience with or advised patients on relactation after a break in breastfeeding? Wondering if it's possible to start breastfeeding again after a 10 week break, with milk supply pretty much gone? For some crazy reason, I really regret not having nursed my daughter longer. She is almost 5 months, and I quit nursing her about 10 weeks ago. Someone put a bug in my head that I should try to relactate so I could resume 1-2 feedings of breastmilk a day. I have a double medela pump. I'm also on the pill...which I know can inhibite milk anyway.

Any advice on how this would be possible, or how many times a day I'd have to stimulate/pump to try and get milk back? I don't know if I'd really try it or not, but I'm curious anyway!

Thanks a bunch!

Lisa;)

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

Re-lactation is possible, but it is a LOT of work and a LOT of frustration. You also can NOT re-lactate if baby is not interested. 10 weeks is a LONG time in the lifetime of a 5 month old.

Also, you need to ask yourself... Why did you d/c breastfeeding? Why do you want to go through the difficult process of re-lactating? Is baby interested (i.e. does she show signs that she's still interested in nursing?)?

I had an inadequate supply from the beginning. I went through using a Supplemental Nursing System (tubes to feed the baby supplemental formula/EBM while nursing) pumping after each feeding, waking in the night to pump, etc. etc. It was very difficult and very upsetting.

We did stick it out and I had a full supply by the time Kayla was 3.5 months old, but (I can't stress this enough) it was very, very difficult. I am thankful that we stuck with it (Kayla nursed until she was 2) but I don't know if I would try to re-lactate after a 10 week lapse.

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it takes determination and work but it can be done. it consists mostly of lots of pumping and or nursing. some herbs have been found helpful as well as reglan. hope that helps:)

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Thanks for the advice. We had trouble with my 4 year old wanting constant attention after Hannah was born, and her greatly interferred with nursing. I became so frustrated with the constant inturruption and outbursts from him, that I decided to wean her. Things have settled down a lot now, and I go through periods of huge guilt that I didn't nurse her anyway. I was just wondering how possible relactation was. She does, frequently, still go for the breast. She was a great nurser from the very beginning! I was just interested in how it would work.

Thanks again,

Lisa

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

Since she's still interested, you may want to give it a go. But remember, no matter what you decide, you're a great Mommy. No guilt! :nono:

I would start out slowly (maybe one feeding per day) that way you don't put too much pressure on you or Hannah.

Good luck!

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No Guilt? That's one emotion I learned ALOT about since becoming a Mom ! LOL:eek:

I'm selfish in my deisre to nurse her again. I miss the bonding of it! Nursing didn't go well with my first child and I was estatic when I had ample milk with Hannah! I was so frustrated when I decided to wean her.

But, I'm also researching to write a paper on relactation for my final childbirth educator module, so I can take the final exam for certification. I thought, what better research than to also see if I can relactate myself? But, between 3 jobs and two kids, I don't think I'd be relaxed enough to produce anything. And, my husband would think I'd gone mad for sure!

Thanks again.

Lisa

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

It is definitely possible, but as previously stated it will be some dedicated work.

Get one of the SNS systems you can get one from one of the LC's at the hospitals or get online and order it from Medela. Get your Doc to write you a script for reglan. Get the baby to nurse frequently. I have taken care of several adoption babies that the adoptive mom wanted to attempt to BF. These moms never attain a full milk supply, but some of them have at least gotton some response.

Since you were lactating and have had all the hormones pumping.

If the baby will latch and nurse then that will accomplish much.

Reglan has been shown to markedly increase the prolactin levels.

I used it with my last baby when I flipped from nights to days my milk supply fell off dramatically because when I worked nights she would nurse all day ( was the only way I got any sleep), but when I went to days she was sleeping long stretches at night and I was workingduring the day relying on pumping (when I had a chance) within a few days of starting the reglan I had a massive increase in production and we were able to continue on till she weaned at about 1 year of age.

Good luck!!!

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Specializes in OB, lactation.

Look under "Relactation" here:

http://www.geocities.com/breastfeedinglinks/

Lots more info!

Best wishes

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