Relactating and Resuming Breastfeeding
Circumstances may arise that maay cause you to stop breaastfeeding or find that being separated from your baby has led to decreased milk supply despite pumping. Regardless of the reason you stopped breastfeeding it is sometimes possible to begin again, to relactate, and begin providing all or part of the norishment your baby requires.
Relactation is most successful if you have eithe given birth recently or if your milk supply has been low or nonexistant for a short period of time.
First off nurse your baby frequently as your baby’s frequent suckling (and combined with other forms of nipple stimulation like breast pumps) are critical for establishing or restablishing your milk supply. Plan on nursingg eight to ten times a day (maybe more) and at least two night feedings. Each feeding should last fifteen to twenty minutes. In between feedings stimulate your breasts with self massage or a breast pump.
Don’t expect instant results. Your breast milk supply will gradually increase over a period of weeks, so it may be hard to detect a day to day change in the ammount you are producing.
Keep the nursing sessions relaxed and pleasurable for you and your child. They may take several days to lapse into the habit of feeding from your breast.
Lastly remember that relactation does not guarantee a return to exclusively breastfeeding. You may need to supplement your baby’s nutritional intake with donor breast milk or solid foods (if they are over six months)
Monitor the weigh of your baby much more closely during the time you are relactating as this will be an easy to measure indicator of the nutrition they are consuming. Be sure to keep your pediatrician and lactation consultant aprised of how things are going.
