Relactation
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19732
Printed Date: 01 September 2025 at 6:43pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Relactation
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Subject: Relactation
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 10:30am
|
Has anyone tried this? I stopped breastfeeding about a week and half ago.
A friend if mine who is training to be a midwife said something about relactation, I didnt know that once you stopped breastfeeding you could start again and get your milk coming back in. I still get the let down feeling when caden crys, and am keen to try this now that my nipples have healed, he will still be formula fed but id like to offer him the breast 3 times a day before his formula feed. I tried latching him on just before and did so beautifully but only sucked for a few seconds until he realised he wasnt getting anything, but he needs to suck to bring the milk back in.... ------------- |
Replies:
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 10:37am
|
Yay for healed nipples! The fact you still get the letdown feeling is great. I don't know much a bout relactation, but thought of a couple of things you could try...
Do you have a breastpump? How about pumping to stimulate your letdown, and then once milk is coming out, offer it again? Or just keep offering all the time to Caden - have lots of skin to skin contact, maybe have a bath together and then snuggle up all day in a nice warm bed, and just constantly offer it to him - encourage him to suckle for comfort instead of using a dummy? I'd probably do the skin to skin all the time, and getting him to suck as much as possible, then when he's not interested/asleep, use the breastpump if you have one (or just kinda massage your boobs from the top towards the nipple lol). ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 10:43am
|
I had another thought too - it's probably worth eating lots of protein, drinking lots of water, and maybe taking supplements like fennel or there's another one I can't remember the name of (boost milk supply).
Also smoothies - yoghurt, complan, brewers yeast and a bit of honey. That'll be fab for your milk supply. If all that fails, my friend's mum is a lactation consultant in Howick/Botany and does a free clinic on friday mornings I can find out about. Or can your mw refer you to a lactation consultant? ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: monster
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 10:45am
|
I don't know anything much about it either, but http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation.html - this site is great for all questions re: bfeeding and has a bit of info on relactation.
It certainly sounds achieveable, good luck! -------------   
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 10:49am
|
Cool thanks for that liz, Ive been taking complan for the past 2 weeks and Im trying to eat more protein and stuff, so hopefully that has helped the quality of my milk(of he comes back on).
Im just a bit concerned cos I dont leak anymore, so Im guessing my milk has dried up, but I read online that you can re stimulate the milk by the baby sucking(which he wont do for long). I will keep trying though, as I would still like to breastfeed him as much I can, although he will definitly still need to be formula fed as I wasnt making enough to fill him up. ------------- |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 11:01am
|
Have you thought about seeing an LC for advice?
No other advice just wanted to say good luck. ------------- 
 
|
Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 11:10am
|
Awesome girl, what a grewat idea doing 3 bf before formula. Best of luck relatching, and I hope you have lots of support around you. You could also ring plunket line and see if they can help. Best of luck hun!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 11:45am
Ive still got milk and I havent fed Isabelle in months ... so keep trying  ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
|
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 11:53am
|
I still have a tiny bit of milk as well and i havent fed josh since about 2 weeks. I say good luck to you and i hope it works out it will take a lot of hard work though as i had the same thing after my nipples started healing and i needed to try bring my supply back up which i needed to pretty much be stuck to the breastpump for awhile. It hurt too much so i had to quit but it is definitely possible!!! -------------   
|
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 12:04pm
|
Good luck! Would definitely recommend the LC route for more advice. The advice I got re increasing my milk supply (while BFing) was switch feeding - every 5 minutes switching breast; massaging breasts while BFing and expressing at the end of the feed. Worked a treat! ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 12:15pm
I had to take Blessed thistle tablets, yeast tablets and alfalfa tablets and ate lots of bananas and used my breast pump every 3 hours for half hour each side, this all bought in heaps of milk but Astin was still too much of a pig!
|
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 12:51pm
I'd recommend contacting a LC also...I tried relactating when Maddie was 6 months...I got my milk back in but Maddie wouldn't take to the breast.
Good luck sweetie! You can do it! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 1:59pm
|
I take Motilium Domperidone to help with my milk - maybe you could get a script for those? They basically stimulate milk productions and can also prescribed to the likes of adoptive mums who like to try b'feeding
ETA to fix spelling ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 2:04pm
| oh yip i also took the domperidome to top it off and man did it work!! |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 2:11pm
|
me too, it rocks.
Also,you may want to try a teat that Caden has to work harder to get his milk out of, or else you may find he isn't too keen on BF. You can get these teats called Chu Chu teats and they are great for mixed fed babies as they have to work the teat in the same way they have towork the nipple if you get my drift. See if you can see a lactation consultant, well worth it, and she will be able to give you all the info in regards to your diet and supplements (herbal etc) that you can take to help your supply. Good luck! You can do it chick! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 2:27pm
|
I tried this with Kaia after several months of not breastfeeding.
I was able to get milk production back up and running but not enough to feed her exclusively. I am 99% sure that this was only because i didn't have enough time to dedicate to making more milk (pumping etc). So it's def possible and if he'll still latch on then you are already past the hardest bit! Phone LLL and ask to talk to someone there about it, I phoned twice. First time got someone who knew nothing about it but the second woman i spoke to was AMAZING! She had all the answers. I can tell you everything she told me if you are keen. The other thing I would prob suggest is that if you had problems with sore nipples it may be worth finding a really good lactation consultant to make she he is latching on properly everytime cause that'll help with sore nipples. If you want to it is def worth a go, a week and a half of not feeding is not a long time so give it a go! ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 2:42pm
When I was still breastfeeding I got the tommee tippee bottles with the "nipple like" teat for mothers who swap from breast to bottle, they seem to be working cos he latches on really well and even his suck was good, he just thought "pff nothing coming out of here" and gave up. I think I will speak to my plunket nurse who I meet on the 5th for cadens first plunket visit, she might be able to put me onto a good LC 
I hope it works cos I really miss the bonding time with caden and I would love to breastfeed him as much as I can as well as formula for his main meals kind of thing. ------------- |
fattartsrock wrote:Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 2:43pm
Oh that would be great thanks!, did you want to pm me what they told you? ------------- |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 2:43pm
|
if you havent fed him for a week and bit chances are everything is still working fine in there. you might want to see if you can express a bit before you try latching him on so that he doesnt have to work as hard to get the milk flowing.
------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 2:57pm
|
My pump isnt the greatest, I tried expressing on wednesday cos I had mastitis in my left boob and I got a drop or so out. Maybe I didnt do it for long enough.....I will try again after my shower tonight, the heat should help aye? Then will latch him on and see if he can bring anything down. ------------- |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 3:01pm
|
have you tried hand expressing in the shower instead...
oh and what helped me when i had to express in the hospital was looking at pics of the kids and thinking about them... you'd only need to get it going a little bit tho to help him get the taste and desire to suck more... or maybe put him on one boob then try and hand express some from the other at the same time and put him on that one after hes tried the first one. just a few suggestions there... ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
|
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 3:10pm
|
Heat will definitely help, a heat pack or hot flannel on your breast when expressing helps get things going, I used to do that when I was expressing for the gremlins if things got a bit blocked up.
I agree with everyone else tho, a week and a half isn't long so you should still have milk, it took me 3 weeks to wean fully both times and I still never dried up completely in between babies. The fact that Caden is still latching well is awesome coz that's the hardest part. Getting the milk in is hard but can be done, but reteaching a baby to latch that has forgotten is really hard! Good luck! -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 3:12pm
|
Yep I have tried in the shower, but no luck(since stopping breastfeeding). My boobs both still feel slightly tender like they did when full of milk and they still sting and tingle when caden crys sometimes! so Im hoping all I need to do it stimulate the let down.
Yeah Il try that Bizzy, I'll have a shower and then use the pump to get some milk down then pop caden on and see if he can get some more out. I guess it will just take time, but hopefully it works. Thanks ------------- |
Posted By: kakapo
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 3:21pm
|
Another option is to buy a Medela "Supplemental Nursing System". Basically its a bottle that hangs upside down around your neck, and has two tubes attached to the base. You fill the bottle with formula (or EBM if you have any), tape the tube in place so it ends at your nipple and then latch baby on. You end up doing two jobs at once: bubs drinks the formula/EBM while sucking on the breast and stimulating your own milk production. Quite a time saver really. But it does cost about $80 and I had to wait for mine to arrive from Australia (I ordered it through one of the major baby stores - Baby Factory perhaps?). I'd suggest you try the other advice given above before buying this, especially since you only stopped BF recently. But just thought I'd mention it so you know the option is there. Another herbal supplement to try is Fenugreek Seed - Nature's Way make them in capsule form (available from the chemist). Unlike milk thistle you won't necessarily need to continue taking fenugreek for very long: 1-2 days is usually all it takes to increase milk supply. |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 3:34pm
|
Wow that sounds like a good invention! I think I might invest in that!
I just pumped my left breast and milk came out! yay, wasnt much but it kept coming as I pumped, so if I latch caden onto that side he should hopefully drink and that will cause let down in the right breast? I couldnt get anything from that side, but cos I have milk in the left breast that should mean the right breast will start producing it again?? I hope so! ------------- |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 3:40pm
|
It should do, but it is possible to feed on one side only, some people feed from one side only for months. I couldn't do it, I'd be insanely lopsided! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 3:48pm
|
lol I think I would to!, the side that has the milk is the side I got mastitis on, so I hope its not just the blocked milk ducks clearing out, that breast was insanley bigger the other when it was sore!! looked so stupid when i looked down lol, I hope no one else noticed!
When caden wakes up I will pump that side again to bring the milk down a bit and then latch him on and see how he goes. After pumping my nipples got the achey let down feeling on both sides so thats a good sign I guess. ------------- |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 5:13pm
My boobs are ridiculously lopsided from Caprece having about 75% of her feeds off one side 
What I find always helps to get my letdown is sit there with baby, shut my eyes, relax everything and imagine the milk filling up the wee chambers and then coming out. I look like such a dork doing it but it really works. Good luck Sheena I hope it all wokrs out for ya. |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 5:25pm
|
You can definately do it! I did it with Lauren when she was 5 months old. I had dropped down to just 2 b/f's per day and the rest formula. It took me three days of pumping and b/f her to get my milk back into production and to get her fully b/f again. It was blimmin hard work but I got there in the end. I basically just stopped everything else in my life just to get her back to being fully b/f.
You can do it!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 07 October 2008 at 11:56am
|
thought id bump my old thread again.
peachy I think thats what Im going to ahve to do. Pump like crazy! Im trying to get him to latch but he wont have a bar of it right now! Im going to LLL breastfeeding class's every monday starting next week. ------------- |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 07 October 2008 at 12:37pm
| Good on you for giving it a go Sheena - all the best!! |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 07 October 2008 at 12:45pm
|
wow Sheena you are a legend!!!! i think thats so awsome that you are doing this!!!
I was hopeless and never got it but it sounds like your doing great!!! big ups to you luv!!!!!
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 07 October 2008 at 1:22pm
|
Thanks :)
I managed to get him to suck a little, for like 3 seconds lol but then he got hysterical and screamed and I felt so bad for him, he is so confused! I dont know what to do about it. I tried a nipple sheild and he latched a bit better, but I think the shild is too small as my nipple only comes barley half way up the nipple bit....is that right? Shouldnt it fit nicely? ------------- |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 07 October 2008 at 2:45pm
|
Sheena, my nipple hardly came up the nipple shield at all and they worked a treat for me getting Lauren to latch properly in the first few weeks. They made my milk come down so fast it was crazy!
------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: BessieBear
Date Posted: 07 October 2008 at 2:47pm
|
lol sheena ive treid with ryan he sucks for a few seconds then starts screaming. i still get the guilts and i really want to try bf again, they say 3 months aye well i have 1 week left. ------------- Sarah Mum to, Boy 07/2008, Girl 03/2010, Boy 05/2012, Angel 07/08/2014
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 07 October 2008 at 5:22pm
|
No no you have three months from when you stop breastfeeding SO you have heaps of time! and they say its alot easier when bubs is under 3 months. So you could do what Im doing aswell ------------- |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 21 September 2009 at 8:54pm
|
bump for ice_girl ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |