I stopped breastfeeding my son when he was about 1 1/2 weeks old. He is now 7 weeks. Can I start breastfeeding again?
2007-03-14 07:29:46 · 7 answers · asked by ajax 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I stopped because I started smoking again. Now I want to quit smoking and start breastfeeding again lol.
2007-03-14 07:35:09 · update #1
Yes!
Contact La Leche League and/or your Lactation Consultant to help you. LLL will help for FREE!
Start nursing and/or pumping again to bring your supply back in.
You can buy a supplemental nursing system that allows him to be suckling at the breast and get formula or pumped milk at the same time. This would help make sure he is getting enough, but give you the stimulation to rebuild your supply. The LLL Leader or LC will know where to get one.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation.html
ETA:
Yay for you for trying to stop smoking! What a great choice you've made for your health and for your child's health!
While it *IS* best if you don't smoke, it is FINE for you to smoke AND breastfeed. It is considered healther to smoke and breastfeed to smoke and formula feed. Breastfeeding actually can help to counter some of the bad effects of being around a smoker.
http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/smoking.html
2007-03-14 07:34:09 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Even most adoptive mom's who have never been pregnant can make milk if they try. Also starting or restarting breastfeeding has a very high chance of success if the baby is less than 4 months.
There are a few things you need: patience and support.
If you can see a Lactation consultant or La Leche League. http:///www.llli.org
Also this page is good:
Relactation and Adoptive Breastfeeding: The Basics
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation.html
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Edited to add:
Everyone is stressing supplimenting with formula, honestly that isn't really a key point. Yes a SNS may be helpful, they are expensive.
Yes a nipple shield can be helpful for some babies to learn to take the breast.
However if you count diapers you can very easily make sure your baby is getting enough and you should be supplimenting as much as possible with expressed breastmilk whenever possible. Supplimenting with formula can sabotage your efforts more than help. It is a fine line but don't think that you have to top up. Just keep putting the baby to breast frequently and your baby will tell you if they are getting enough.
2007-03-14 07:37:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can indeed begin to lactate and nurse your child again, however, it will take a lot of time and patience on your part. Here is what you do:
1) Stop smoking
2) Purchase or rent a double breast pump (you can rent one from the local lactation consultant at your hospital)
3) Start drinking LOTS of fluids
4) Offer BOTH Breasts to your child whenever he or she will latch on. Remember that until you start producing enough milk on your own that supplementing with formula is essential to your baby's health. You can do away with the bottle all-together if you use a supplementation kit, that hangs around your neck and tapes comfortably to your breast. This allows the baby to nurse from your breast and in turn get the flow of milk he or she has become accustomed to. GOOD LUCK!
2007-03-14 07:44:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
GOOD NEWS:
Yes absolutely.
Adoptive mothers have been able to start milk by diligent pumping in preperation for their new baby...so yes you definatelly can!
BAD NEWS:
Its going to take alot alot alot of work. You'll need to pump or nurse EVERY TWO HOURS (no joke, no exaggeration) WHILE you supplement feed with formula.
Contact La Leche League and they can give you explicit directions...on how to do it...it is definately possible...but it could take as long as 6 weeks or longer to reestablish your milk. But you can totally do it!
Congratulations mama! Good Luck!
Check this out too..
Supplemental Nursing System™ (SNS™)
http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/specialtyfdg.html#haberman
Thats a link to the supplemental feeder another writer talked about on here...
2007-03-14 07:38:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
when my daughter was 6 monthes old i went back to work and milk producion slowed down. the doc gave me a med that they give to women who have babies that stay in the hospital for extened periods of time, to restart the milk. dunno the name, its a red pill. ask ur doc.
2007-03-14 07:55:06 · answer #5 · answered by sarah h 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think so. Why did you stop?
2007-03-14 07:33:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well if you have some spare can i have some for my tea cos i don't like dark tea d odd squirt here and there won't hurt anyone thanks in advance!! :)
2007-03-14 07:34:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋