Mumsnet Talk

I started relactation 9 days ago after stopping bf 9 weeks ago. Tonight my left breast started producing milk!!!! I'm so excited and hopeful. I need to tell the world!

Yay, I hear ya, and that's great

Thank you tiktok. Any advice would be very welcome! I hear you're quite the bf guru

That's amazing, well done

Yay star girl

You really are a star, girl! Bet your baby will love the milk.

x

That's fantastic, well done!

Massive well done to you! I know what dedication it takes. I relactated at six weeks with dd1 and . I used the Medela supplemental nursing system which was fab. Good luck and keep up the good work - your baby is lucky to have a mummy like you!

Thank you, everyone, for your encouragement. My DH is really supportive but lots of other friends and family think I'm mad to be attempting this. The midwife at the bf clinic doesn't think I'll get baby interested in the breast. The infant feeding specialist at the hospital just keeps saying not everyone can bf, don't feel bad about it.

Ticklebug, may I ask how you enticed your LO back to the breast? I have bought the Medela SNS but haven't tried it yet.

I have read quite a few stories in the LLL magazine of people who tried this and it worked! So maybe you'll prove all the doubters wrong, Star! Please keep us posted!

LLL have been fab. Really good advice from leaders on their telephone helpline. I have been invited to a LLL meeting in Edinburgh but haven't been yet - it'll be an hour and half in the car

about that journey.

Star when you're through with the relactating you should train as an LLL leader yourself - then no one would have to travel for advice

I've certainly learned a lot about bf after having so much trouble! I should've done all this reading before giving birth - hindsight's a wonderful thing! I just assumed it would be fine, and, if it wasn't the NHS midwives would know what to do.

Hi star, it was six years ago and I am currently bf dc3!! Lots of people thought I was mad too and I never got back to ebf. That's not to say you can't. I did lots of skin to skin and baths and just let her snuzzle in without pressure. Basically I sat for days on end naked at the top with my dressing gown around us. Getting all misty eyed remembering those days. Once she was happy to suck for a reasonable amount of time we started using the supplemental system for day time feeds. I found it too much at night so she still got a top up bottle if she didn't settle after a bf. I also pumped in the night as someone told me it was good for supply. If I remember anything else then I will post. Keep positive and keep us posted!

I'm not expecting to get back to ebf but I need to have her latch on successfully. I need pleasant memories of bf - I doubt I'll bf another child unless I can sort this out. I'm so scared of bf. But, I've never failed at anything I wanted in my life and I'm not about to start now! I think I need to do lots more skin to skin. Did you try any herbs? I ordered fenugreek capsules and milkmaid tea from Amazon but I haven't taken/drank any yet.

Oh yes I did take fenugreek and i do believe it worked.. And I had great success with latching on in the bath. Also when giving the bottle don't make it easy, make her root for it and open wide for the teat as she would need to for the nipple. Is there anywhere you can go to have the latch looked at?

There's a bf clinic at a hospital about 2 hours from me. My LLL phone contact told me about it. I'm not in the health board that oversees the hospital but I might be able to blag my way in...

Hi stargirl1701, how has your week been?

Hi star girl, that's fantastic! I can so empathise ... I've never failed at anything and not bout to start now. Best of luck with it all. How old is your lo ?