re lactation?

Question

an answer to one of my questions earlier prompted me to ask about this. does relactation really work? when i first got pregnant, I told myself that I was going to breastfeed. and as i got closer to my due date, i talked myself out of it. and now i'm just kicking myself for not giving him the best milk for him. he's 11 weeks old. i would really like to breastfeed him. can this really work for me and is there anyone who has actually tried it and succeeded?

Answer 1

Hi,
I've never actually met anyone who has tried it, but I just read about re-lactation yesterday. Unfortunately I can't find the article. Here is a quote from the La Leche League website below:

"Sometimes a mother decides to resume breastfeeding, whether due to an emergency when there is a shortage of other food, after a separation, etc. Often a mother can rebuild a milk supply very successfully, with patience and determination (and a cooperative baby). La Leche League's BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK (p. 52) recommends the following strategies for relactation and induced lactation, to stimulate milk production:

Putting baby to breast to suck at each feeding and for comfort between feedings as often as possible.
Using hand expression or a breast pump.
Using a nursing supplementer (if available and if conditions are sanitary enough to make its use safe) to provide expressed milk at the breast while baby sucks at the breast.
Taking herbs/medication that increase milk supply (herb resources are listed in the resources collection).
If you do use herbs or medications to increase your supply, be sure to put the baby to the breast frequently, to remove as much milk as possible. This will help avoid breast infections or plugged ducts."

Good luck! I hope you succeed!

Answer 2

I'm not actually sure what's involved in relactation, but check out asklenore.com for great info about lactation, including induced lactation. I breastfed my adopted child, after only 1 month on the protocol, and was able to breastfeed for 8 months, although I did have to supplement with formula. The fact that you carried to term likely means you could a lot more breastmilk, although you might have to go on a protocol for a month or two to get your supply maximized. Good luck, it's best for the baby to get some breastmilk.

Answer 3

I think you can if you start pumping with a hospital grade pump to get the milk to come in. I have heard that mothers that adopt do that to actually breastfeed. I am sure there is more involved....you should try asking a lactation consultant. They are very helpful when it comes to breastfeeding.

Answer 4

Yep, it's possible to re-lactate for one year after you stop nursing. It was used a lot way way back when before formula if the mother of the baby died, they'd have a wet nurse come in and nurse her baby. You should see a lactation consultant if you want to do this. Good luck!!

Answer 5

Here are a couple of websites that may help. I saw your earlier question about your baby and formula, but I didn't know of anything that would help, so if you decide to try to relactate, I hope it works. I also hope he feels better, no matter what you decide!!!




http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t027200.asp

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/adopt/index.html

Answer 6

Talk to your ob-gyn about getting a prescription for either Prolactin or Motilium (domperidone).....either will generally have you lactating in a week or less

Answer 7

Absolutely! First read the great links provided. Then ASAP, put your baby to the breast and get yourself a SNS http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/specialtyfdg.html#startersSNS or Lact-Aid http://www.lact-aid.com/.

Good luck to you!

Answer 8

yes, but it would be alot of work to get your milk supply back.