If one stops to breastfeed, can she go back to breastfeeding again after a few months?

Question

I stopped breastfeeding when my baby was 3 1/2mos old. I stopped because of my job. The milk stopped after a week. Now, i want to resume breastfeeding again. My baby is now 6mos old. Is there any chance that I will regain all that milk again?

Answer 1

Yes, it is very possible. For one thing even many adoptive mothers can breastfeed without prescription medications, even those who were never pregnant. Also assuming you do not have success with just nursing and/or pumping there are herbs and prescription. Also remember there is MORE to breastfeeding than just milk.

As long as you nursed on demand for the first 6 weeks you should have no problem making more milk. However you may have trouble getting baby back to the breast (or maybe not).

Here is the info you need:
Relactation and Adoptive Breastfeeding: The Basics
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation.html

Help -- My Baby Won't Nurse!
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html

Answer 2

Please pay no attention to people who answer questions without doing any research first.

I am so thrilled for you that you have decided to re-lactate! It is possible and it is also very beneficial for both you AND your baby.

The very first thing you will have to do is to make sure you are really sure about this. I am sure there will be people out there who are unsupportive or who don't understand, so you have to feel secure in your decision, knowing that it is the right thing to do.

It will most likely not be easy, so make sure you have a support system. Make sure you talk to your husband or partner about your decision, and make sure he supports you. You will need to "let the house go" for a little while, just while you focus on getting the baby back to the breast. Then, contact your local La Leche League leader. They are friendly, knowledgable, and best of all FREE. I put a link at the bottom for you to find them online.

It's a good idea to do a little research so that you know what to expect. I put some links at the bottom to get you started. In general, you will be offering the breast a LOT -- probalby every hour or so, and there will probably be a little trouble helping your baby adjust to your nipple instead of a bottle nipple (they work differently). But as Mystic_Eye said before, if you nursed for that first 6-8 weeks (and you said you did for 3 1/2 months), then that should help you out tremendously. Your body will know what to do, and your baby will probably remember before too long. You might need supplements like Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle/Milk Thistle, or Mother's Milk Tea, or even a prescription (although I think this is unliklely in your case).

When you do get that baby back on the breast (and expect it to take several difficult weeks), throw yourself a party to celebrate. And then -- and here's the most difficult but important part -- THROW AWAY ALL THE BOTTLES AND FORMULA IN THE HOUSE ! You don't need that temptation around, and giving formula and bottles when you don't need to is just providing more trouble when breastfeeding (nipple confusion, supply issues, etc etc etc). Breastfeeding can be so rewarding, even just from the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are doing the very best possible thing for your child.

Congratulations, and feel free to contact me for more info or support.

Answer 3

Yes yes yes yes yes!!!!! :)

First thing I would do is go see a lactation consultant or go to a La Leche League meeting.

Then I would buy a SNS (supplemental nursing system). It is a bottle with a tube attached to it. You tape the tube beside your nipple and in the bottle is formula. That way when the baby sucks on your nipple, it stimulates your breast which will help with milk production but the baby won't get overly frustrated because he/she is getting the formula as well.

I would start pumping as much as you can. Every hour at the least. When you start getting milk in you can add the pumped milk to the SNS, and then when you use the SNS baby will start getting more breastmilk through that.

I would also start drinking Mothers Milk tea or take Fenugreek. Both are available at a Health Food Store. Eat oatmeal as much as you can (it helps with lactation). Water water water water!

You can also ask your doctor about medications to help with lactation.

That's so awesome that you are wanting to relacate! You are doing the absolute best thing for your baby. I'm sure it will be a bit frustrating at the beginning, but once everything gets going again it will be so awesome!! GOOD JOB!

Answer 4

Arghhh, I'm shocked at all the posters who *think* they know and are telling you it's unlikely or impossible to re-lactate.

You really need to contact La Leche League. Someone will be able to help you on the phone and they can suggest many ways to begin this lenghty process. I'm not gonna sugar-coat it, it will be frusterating and sometimes difficult....but the benefits to you and your baby are too numerous to mention :)

Just be prepared to nurse ALOT to get the stimulation going.....it'll be like nursing a newborn again for awhile....at least until you get your supply up.

Here's what I suggest in the mean time:

-start offering your breast to your babe....he/she may seem frusterated or hopefully might suckle for comfort. Allow it to happen and offer all throughout the day. Perhaps try after your baby has had his/her bottle feeding and the hunger is gone, they might be mmore willing then

-pump in between, although this is just a back-up method, babies are much more effective at boosting a supply

-talk to you doc (a supportive one is important) and see to get a prescription for domperidone

-be prepared for some difficulty, you may get frusterated at the seemingly endless amount of time spent trying to nurse and with little reward.....it will get better. Expect this process to take at least a few weeks, depending on how often you try and nurse.

-also, when you call La Leche League, ask them where you can purchase a Supplemental Nursing System. There inexspensive and can help wonders. It's a small pouch filled with formula or breastmilk that hangs around your neck like a necklace. It has a tube that flows down and it attaches to your nipple and into babes mouth where they receive milk and stimulate your supply. Its a great system if you can get one :)

Good Luck to you and please ignore all of the negative feedback here. The benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh any frustration you may encounter :)

Answer 5

I did it and you can too! It is hard work sometimes and sometimes it isn't. I had to pump pump pump before I got any! It was hard and sometimes I felt like giving up. If you really want to do it, go for it! It is well worth the benifits to your baby! Breast is the best and anyone can lactate! Even men can given hormones and stemulation! Can you believe that! Women do it when they adopt even if they haven't had a child before! Get a great lactation consultant and a great pump and get it going mommy! You can do this! You can contact me if you wish I know all about the stresses and the eventual satisfaction of getting it done! Try contacting the hospital where you had your baby or the local health department for a consultant. Happy Re-Lactation Mommy!

Answer 6

First, she shouldn't in simple terms quit breastfeeding, it is going to likely be a sluggish alleviation the place you drop one feeding each and every few days. And 2, he needs that closeness. I disagree Ellen that it nonetheless is in certainty approximately nutrition at 9 months, yet countless that's that closeness. Reassure him with the help of cuddling him extra until he gets over it.

Answer 7

I don't know, but if it's possible for adopting mother's to breastfeed I don't see why you can't try. My advise is find a La Leche group and leader in your area. They are everywhere! Even in my small town :)

You'll have someone really sweet help you and tell you what to do. There are ways of stimulating your body to make milk and herbs you can take to help too. Your biggest hurdle will be breaking him of the bottle - they tend to get attached easily.

Here's the link, and good luck!

http://www.lalecheleague.org/

Answer 8

It is possible to relactate, but you may not get back to a full supply.

Contact your local La Leche League for someone to help you out. You might need to use a Supplemental Nursing System with formula in it for a while.

Good luck !

Answer 9

No prob at all--i had a frend who had to leave a new born at her moms ,she came back after like abt a coupla months and when the child wudnt let go of her--she started nursing the baby and voila--she was able to--so start it asap--dont delay and if u focus on it--its not a prob--gud luck

Answer 10

No I am sorry I do not believe that it is possible to get your milk back. Perhaps if you do this again, instead of stopping when you return to work just pump your milk. Then your child will still get breastmilk and you will not have to worry about drying up.