Will my brest milk come back?

Question

I give birth to my baby 28 days ago, and I brest feed for like the frist week, then I got sick, and I been using formula. Now my brests are out of milk. I'm wondering if I buy a pump and start pumping it, will my brest milk return.

Anyone with answer please feel free to answer thanks

Answer 1

Alright...here's the correct answer.......

Not only can you induce breast milk to return, but you can actually stimulate the production of milk even if you've never produced any. This is the good news. The bad news is that the process can be quite time consuming and rather painful.

If you're determined to breast feed your baby, take the following steps and most likely you will be producing adequate milk within a month. However, it is important to continue formula feedings for your son until you get an adequate milk supply established....

1-Buy a pump. Not a cheap hand pump. You're going to have to spend quite a bit of money, upwards of $100 at the LEAST, to get a good electric breast pump. Medela is the best.

2-Set up a schedule. This will be hard for you as a new mother and I hope to goodness you're not working as well. You will need to pump quite often, and this is where it gets painful. Your breasts have decided to stop producing milk, you're going to force them to start again. Pump for around 30-45 minutes, at first, every 2 hours. (i.e. 1:00pm-1:20pm, 3:00pm-3:20pm, etc) This will make your entire breast, and more specifically your nipples, extremely sore. There is little to be done for this if you truly want to reinstate your breast milk. Try cool or warm compresses, whichever feels better to you. Depending on your breasts, your milk may return within a few days or a few weeks. When it does, match your pumping schedule to your baby's eating schedule. If he/she eats every 2 hours, pump that often. It doesn't have to be at the same time, just on the same time scheme. Also, pump until you have collected as much milk as he/she is drinking, plus 2 ounces. If your child is drinking 8 ounces of milk by this time, you will want to pump 10 ounces, 5 frin each breast.

3-When your breasts are producing enough milk, often enough, you can stop pumping and try nursing again. Now you'll encounter a different problem, after bottle feeding for so long, your child may reject the breast. You won't know this until you try. Another tip is to keep your baby used to the breast by allowing him/her to use it as a pacifier when going to sleep, during this process. Again, this probably won't be entirely pleasant for you, because your nipples will be sore, but it will keep your child used to suckling from the breast.

4-If your child refuses your breast, keep pumping!! You've already gone through the process of getting your milk to return, so you may as well continue using that expensive pump you purchased and feed the breast milk from a bottle. It'll be better for your son/daughter than formula!

Good Luck!!

Answer 2

Three weeks without nursing is a long time, especially so soon after your delivery. If your breasts are completely "out of milk" then probably not, but I've read that after some women stop nursing they can still squeeze a drop or two out for quite awhile. (I think this probably applies to women that nursed for a long period of time though.)

If you're still producing ANY milk at all then I guess there's a slim chance that you could pump and start building up your supply again.

Like other people said contact La Leche League, they'll be able to tell you for sure.

Also, I've heard of women who had adopted babies taking hormones to stimulate lactation so they can enjoy the experience of nursing and can give their babies the health benefits of breastmilk. I don't know how long that takes or how much it would cost to make it happen, but you might want to ask how it's done if you're really desperate to return to breastfeeding.

Congratulations on your new baby. Sorry you were sick, and that the answer's probably not the one you wanted to hear.

Take care

Answer 3

It's possible to recover your milk supply. (There are even adoptive moms who never gave birth who produce milk!) I would suggest that you talk to a La Leche League Leader or a Lactation Consultant to help you through this. It will take dedication and patience.

You might want to try offering baby pumped milk or formula through a supplemental nursing system. This would allow baby to get milk while nursing at the breast.....it's a little tube that goes by your nipple and a bottle that goes around your neck. You'd get stimulation to produce milk but you'd know baby was getting something at the same time.

It's all about supply and demand. Put baby to the breast or pump with a good quality electric pump.

The link below has some tips on relactation.

Answer 4

You can absolutely get your milk back! I know 2 women who adopted babies and had not nursed in more than a couple years. They put a lot of effort into creating milk though!! Impressive hua!?!
Anyway, what they both did was manipulate their breast as though they were expressing milk. You can get a good breast pump, or you could even be a human pacifier and let your baby stimulate those milk ducts. I would also advice you to talk to a lactation specialist and go to a La Leche league.

Good luck and don't give up!!!

Answer 5

yes it can. It'll take some time & dedication, but it can happen. You'll want a good pump, a supplemental feeding system so your baby can nurse & still get something to eat until your milk comes back, & probably a lactation consultant or someone from la leche league to talk to.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Please look up this web site: www.drjacknewman.com.

Dr Newman is like a breastfeeding guru. He talks of adoptive parents breast feeding and how they can try to acheive this. So if this is possible there is hope for you. You can e-mail a question to Dr Newman and he will respond. I received a same day reply to my question. a suggestion from his info is doing all of the below:

- putting baby to the breast (of course supplementing with formula until milk comes in)
- pumping frequently to stimulate milk production.
- using the herbs fenugreek and blessed thistle. Take one of each three times per day.

Milk production is supply and demand so the more you pump/put baby to the breast the more you should produce.

Good luck with this and try the Dr Newman wed site it is very helpful.

Answer 7

yes, if you start pumping it will stimulate milk production. You also need to make sure you stay very well hydrated.. If your milk is complety dried up, you may have to take some herbal supplements to re-lactate. For re-lactation info call your local La Leche League.

Answer 8

As far as I am aware, no, I don't think so. It's hugely important to breastfeed during the first month of pregnancies so your alveoli get used to producing that much milk. Otherwise, they dry up and you won't be able to produce any more on your own.

Ask a doctor for confirmation, but I think you might have to consider formula milk from now on.

Answer 9

Hi,

I am really not sure. You delivered not too long ago, so it might happen. Before you buy, I would contact La Leche League to pose the question. They have lactation consultants on staff that can help you. I provided the website below:

Answer 10

Along with nipple stimulation (let your baby nurse frequently -- even on a dry breast), your doctor can also give you a nasal spray to stimulate lactation.
Kudos to you on getting your baby back to the breast. It's the best for babies!
You're a good mommy!