Thinking About Relactating

Hi,
I don't know if it's possible, but a lactation consultant is who you need to ask. This is what I did about my own night feeding frustration...
I have a 7 month old son and I have been breastfeeding him and the multiple night time feedings have been getting to me too, enough with the sleep deprivation already. So, a week ago, I began just feeding him once at night and my husband started giving him a binkie if he woke up more than once. Then, last night, he didn't wake up to feed at all, he finally slept straight through the night and so did I, what a miracle. Good luck and I wish you the best.

Hi J. - Have you tried talking to LLL? Or a local lactation consultant? I have no advice but best of luck!

I.

I would call your doctor or see if they have a lactation specialist they can give you the number of. That person can tell you how to best go about getting your bulk of your milk back. Of course it goes like this you have to take in a lot of fluids, and take off a lot of milk. If you don't increase the times you are pumping or putting her to the breast, then your milk supply will not increase. Luckily you didn't quit all the way so you haven't lost your milk. You have to figure out how to manage the night time thing. I have always given my children milked down rice cereal starting at four months to help tide them through the night. Some doctors agree, some don't. Another thing is that breast milk digests so easily. Maybe your man would like a little bonding right before bed, he could give the baby a bottle of formula before bed. It seems to carry them over further. Also, don't jump out of bed every time that baby cries. I decided I couldn't get up anymore and at six months stopped jumping out of bed everytime my baby cried. Within a week we were both sleeping through the night. If they know you are going to get up and feed them they will just keep getting up. Maybe for the first week or so go in and re-cover them or give them the binkie and then leave. My child cried for five minutes last night. I never got out of bed and he went back to sleep. It is hard when they are younger, but if you can even reduce the amount of times you are getting up, that would be a drastic improvement.

I don't know anything about relactating but kudos to you. I'm still breastfeeding my 13 month old and it is the best decision I ever made. Contact LLL in your area, they might have some advice for you or a lactation consultant.
Good Luck!

You can do this on your own! Your body makes milk in response to nursing, and since you are still breastfeeding it will be a snap. You need to make sure you are still taking your prenatal vitamins and extra calcium/vitamin D because the baby gets their nutrients from you. If you increase the number of times you nurse every day, your milk will increase within 1-2 days. The more they nurse, the more milk you get. So nurse her first and if she still seems hungry, supplement with formula. You will be amazed how quickly your milk will come in! As far as getting more sleep, the experts say that formula does not help them sleep any more than breastmilk. Too bad huh? Luckily, she is getting older and won't be up as much at night to nurse. Many times they wake to eat out of habit and not hunger. Good luck!!!

J., you are going to be just fine. Start pumping and eating oatmeal. When you are done pumping, pump some more. The more you pump, the quicker your supply will increase. Also, pump when you have nothing coming out. Pump anyway! Pump, Pump, Pump!!! After four days of this, you will be flowing like a river after a storm. :) Good Luck Momma!

Good for you! You are doing what's best and just go for it! I am not a lactation consultant and most likely you will get some great responses from one or two, but I know it works as a supply and demand equation. Your body will produce more milk if you are nursing exclusively because it recognizes the need for more. I am a mother of four, my youngest is 8 weeks old just yesterday and I have many years of nursing experience... about 7 years give or take. Keep up the good work, and you can do it!

J.:

relactation is possible. there are no "right" or "wrong" ways to do it. pumping may not be necessary. some woman uses herbs/some use homeopathy/some ancupuncture/ some pharmasuiticals/ some none of the above. ....

i would be happy to assist you with this.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com

I would talk to your doctor or a lactation consultant. But I'm sure it will be pump, pump, pump!!! Maybe also instead of giving her bottles of breastmilk or formula during the day try nursing her. Cause her nursing more frequently will/should get you going again. Obviously then you would have to top her off with a bottle but I would offer the breast before the bottle. Good luck!!

Hi there,

The pump would be helpful but do remember that your daughter is the best at getting your breast to make more milk. A pump always suck at th same speed and intensity where as she sucks harder and better the bigger she gets and naturally stimulates your breasts so produce more. Try giving her half a bottle of formula and then putting her on the breast, That way you get the stimulation, she is not starving anymore and she gets the comforting. Also if you want to feed her less during the night try and strech the time between feeding by 15 min each night. She will gradully get use to the longer stretches and learn to take more milk when she feeds. Lastly, don't feel guilty, any breastmilk is great. Hope this helps.

Ofcourse I am not the lactation expert, but I can tell you what I've experienced. the temptation to give it up is stress and fatigue related primarily. Nutrition can really help, but you must also address the other two issues and your body will adjust because it so much more capable and confident with the process. The biggest problem after relactating is engourgement, but there are ways to deal with it even when you are tired and don't want to move a muscle, like standing in a warm shower. As she gets older, you can go longer between feedings, but may need to just take an afternoon off to lay in bed with her and have quality time while she works to relactate. You can do it, and it's okay to want an afternoon away if you give it your all when you aren't too tired. Best wishes to you and your cutie.

Pumping is no fun for me either. I would just start taking away one bottle feeding every other day or every third if you feel like she isn't getting enough. Just offer the breast when ever she seems willing to take it even if it isn't her normal feeding time. A minute or two here and there will help trick our body into producing more. Our bodies are amazing and you'll catch up in no time! Oatmeal is a great milk helper, I try to eat lots of it while baby is having a growth spurt. They also sell mother milk tea at most any store but esp whole foods type stores, you could try that. You don't have to give up sleep or time away either now that you know she will take a bottle, you and your partner can take turns night feeding. I told my hubby next baby we will be switching off nights! We often don't realize it till after the fact but most times when babies are treating us like a all day/night buffet is because they are having a major growth spurt either physical or mental. Good Luck I'm sure you'll catch up in a week or two.

I with all here so far, you haven't stopped nursing, so you're not really trying to relactate as much as trying to increase your supply. More than pumping, nursing your daughter will do the job. Whenever she's hungry, or at the times she would usually get a bottle, just make sure she nurses for a good long while first before "topping her off" with a bottle if you need to. I had great luck with Traditional Medicinals "Mother's Milk" tea and found it tastier than straight fenugreek tea. Oatmeal is another tasty way to help your body build your supply. Good luck!!

I would second everything everyone else has said. There are some good resources on www.kelleymom.com, www.laleche.org, and www.askdrsears.com. Also if you google "adoptive lactation" you may be able to find some good resources. Good luck!

You haven't stopped lactating - it seems like you just need to offer the breast for more feedings until your milk supply builds up again. You should do at least one night feeding if you want to build supply. Take fenugreek and drink lots of water. If you can, take a "nursing holiday" and spend a weekend in bed (you can still supplement w/formula before bed once you get things going again.) Good luck!

Hi J.,

I relactated when my daughter was 9 months old...I tried breastfeeding when she was first born and gave up too soon...she started getting a lot of ear infections at 9 months and I decided to give it a try...

I used a prescription drug called Motilium and a herb called fenurgreek....I also pumped about 6 times a day...I was able to produce about 2, 5 ounce bottles a day which was enough for me....

I would imagine you would only need to take the Fenurgreek (available at the Vitamin Shoppe) and pump every three hours...you could even use a supplement nurser...It's devise you put formula in and attach the tube to your breast, so while your daughter is nursing, and stimulating your milk, she's also getting formula too...Medela has these....

I admire what you're doing.....if you need any more info. just email me....Dr. Jack Newman is a good resource too...just google his name and you'll get to his homepage....He works in Canada and does a lot with relactation...
M.
____@____.com

I had to stop breastfeeding when my son was about three months, I just stopped producing. The lactation consultant I spoke with (while I was trying to increase production) suggested pumping at least every two hours, every hour if you can, for at least ten to fifteen minutes. You can also breastfeed and then top her off with formula afterward to ensure she's getting enough to eat. My production never did pick up, but I had a lot of milk saved. The lactation consultant also mentioned that just one breastfeeding a day is enough to give all the antioxidant and health benefits. Good luck.

You have already given your daughter a lot by breast feeding at all. Keep it the way your doing it and add just one pumping at night to help bring in milk. I breast fed until my son was one and a half but not everyone can or enjoys doing that. If you are getting stressed from breast feeding it is much better to slow down or stop. People want to say the bonding will be hurt by that but the bonding can be hurt by doing something with your child that in some way is making you uncomfortable (like not getting enough rest). Our little ones can sense when we are not happy and that can result in a negative effect on our children. We make our decisions on what is best for us and our children and I feel like you have done just that. Relax your daughter is still getting the health benefits because your are still nursing 2-3 times a day. Your doing a great job and don't let anyone tell you differently. Some people believe this is the time you should quit nursing but I say it is a circumstantial decision that every mother should make on her own. A lot of people were offended by me nursing until my son was a year and half old but I have a friend that nurses just past 2 years old. Other friends couldn't or just didn't want to nurse and I refuse to judge them or you becuase like I said it is a personal decision on what's best for mom and baby and only a true mom can make that decision.