Relactation: How to get your Milk Supply back after Stopping

For a variety of reasons, sometimes mamas lose their milk supply before they’re ready to. Sometimes, babies have to spend time in the NICU after birth. Sometimes, moms struggle with mental or physical heath after birth that impacts their ability to eat, produce milk, and transition successfully into a good breastfeeding rhythm. Oftentimes, moms use formula to supplement, and it ends up taking over as their child’s sole source of nutrition. For many, that’s totally fine.

For others, they might miss the breastfeeding experience or want to choose that for their children for nutritional reasons. So, where does a mother go when their milk supply is gone or barely there, but they still want to breastfeed?

It’s called re-lactation. It’s possible for the female body to come back from “drying up” and produce milk again. In fact, many mothers of adopted children are able to pump and use several methods in order to stimulate their bodies to produce milk, even if they haven’t given birth! Isn’t that incredible?

ABOUT RELACTATION

Re-lactation is the process by which a mom reestablishes lactation after having stopped for weeks or even months. Re-lactation can also apply to a parent who previously breastfed a biological child and now wants to make milk for an adopted child.

What are some reasons for wanting to re-lactate?

Breastfeeding was not successfully established in the hospital after birth.

Separation due to an illness or medical procedure led to earlier than desired weaning.

Your infant does not tolerate formula.

Desire to have a safe way to feed an infant during uncertain times, such as emergencies from natural disasters or disease outbreaks.

 HOW DOES ONE RE-LACTATE?

The process of re-lactation takes persistence, patience, grace, and hard work. And a LOT of pumping. Here’s what the Le Leche League says about it:

“Sometimes, re-lactation produces enough breastmilk to supply all of baby’s needs. Other times, supplementation may still be needed. We recommend the following strategies for re-lactation and induced lactation to stimulate milk production:

• Hand express or pump at least eight to twelve times per day for 20-30 minutes, including at night

• Give expressed/pumped milk and supplements in a cup, or use an at-breast supplementer.

• If baby will latch on – put them to your breast before and after each feeding

• Put baby to your breast for comfort between feedings as often as possible instead of using a dummy/pacifier – it will help build your milk supply

• Get support from your local LLL group/Leader – find local support here

• Accept any offers of support with shopping, housework etc.

• It’s important to empty your breasts completely and frequently. Not only will it increase supply, it will also help avoid breast infections or plugged ducts.”

 SUCCESS STORIES

 Re-lactation has two aspects to it: physical and mental. The physical aspect involves day in and day out pumping and hand expression. Your goal is to empty your breast as much and as often as possible to increase your supply and tell your body to produce more milk. The physical aspect is tiring. It’s constant. It’s long. Re-lactation can take months. That’s where the mental aspect comes in.

Hand expressing for months on end can feel discouraging. Not having milk can feel discouraging. You may experience all kinds of negative emotions surrounding it. Because obviously: you aren’t making milk and you WANT to.

The best thing you can do is read success stories, join re-lactation support groups, and connect with other mamas on a similar journey. Or better yet -- those who have re-lactated successfully and have amazing stories to share! We’re going to post some of those success stories here for you to reference and get inspired by.

 Story #1

Full post here.

 Background info: I am 26 yrs old, have a 2 yr old son and 8 week old son. I am a stay at home mom. Re-lactated for my. 8 week old son.

Total re-lactation time: 3 weeks

Total time between breastfeeding: I breastfed 3 times in the hospital then switched to formula. 5 and 1/2 weeks later I decided to try to re-lactate.

 The Plan:

I met with a lactation consultant at a breastfeeding clinic once a week. There, using a special scale, they could tell how many ounces my lo was getting from my breasts.

I rented a hospital grade pump, took fenugreek 3...3 x a day, ate a lot of whole oats, drank lots of water and made sure I was getting plenty to eat. I ate a bowl of oats in the morning and the small bowls throughout the day for snacks. I don't think this makes a difference, but since I have a hard time swallowing pills....instead if swallowing the fenugreek whole, I broke the pills open and mixed them with applesauce. just wanted to make sure I included that just in case it did make a difference.

Pumping....in the beginning I pumped every two hours. I started with drops. By day 3 I got about 1/16oz.

End of Week one: I pumped 5 1/2 oz in one day. I pumped 1/4 to 1oz throughout the day.

End of Week two: I was pumping around 10oz a day. 1/2oz to 2 1/2oz throughout the day.

End of week three: I pumped around 16oz in a day. 2oz-7oz at a time depending on time of day.

I supplemented with formula for first two weeks...by third week I produced enough to supplement with pumped milk. I am now nursing completely and giving a bottle now and then with pumped milk.

When I pumped, if I had time, I did power pumping, I pumped 10 mins...stopped 10 mins, then pumped 10 mins and so on for an hour. I did this whenever I could. During those 10 mins, if I had time, I did something I read about, not sure where I read this at but it worked for me. Massage, tickle, jiggle.....I massaged the breasts ( in small circles working way for large part of breast to nipple) then using the tips of my fingers nails I gently brushed my breasts from the bigger part of breast to the nipple. Then using gravity I stood up and gently jiggle my breast back and forth. This whole process was suppose to help my milk letdown and it did work really work for me. What I read said to pump 5 mins, do massage, tickle, jiggle then pump again for 5. I basically did anything I had time for and combined techniques. I also at times ( in evening before bed after 2 yr old asleep )would pump for long periods at a time but I think the power pumping and other technique helped most.

Nursing....in the beginning I pumped more than nursing because my lo was not getting much and getting mad. However I would still put him to breast before or after the pumping sessions. I used a breast shield because he would not latch without it. Once my supply came in I started nursing on one side while pumping on other side and then switching sides. Then one my supply really started coming in I nursed every time before pumping....this really helped my supply come in fast. now I am nursing whenever lo is hungry and pumping if breasts still feel full.” 

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Have you re-lactated before? E-mail us your story: hello@coddle.co

We would love to share it with our community!