Should I attempt relactation - again- at 4 months?

[narmada]

A long and boring back story involving severe PND and a baby boy (now 19 weeks) with a few issues - possible cow's milk protein intolerance, severe reflux and now bottle refusal, tongue tie/ palatal issues (TT now divided) sleep absolutely awful etc etc etc. We stopped BF at 5 weeks literally overnight as I got really poorly and couldn't care for my DS without a lot of help.

When my 1st DD was 8 weeks old I relactated and she was EBF by around 13 weeks. I have toyed with the idea of attempting same this time around but been put off by having another child to look after and quite a high needs baby who is now over 4 months old and already has some feeding issues.

However, this morning, and after several weeks of escalating feeding aversion and my son's very clear distaste for the neocate we're trying to wean him on to, I am starting to think that relactation couldn't be any worse than this.

I was v. v. lucky with DD1 who re-took the breast no problems at all. DS was always quite difficult to feed and I have waved a nipple at him just now but he doesn't seem to have the first clue what to do with it, but then there is no milk there so that probably doesn't help.

I had a very ample supply (oversupply, actually) after the first round of relactation with DD.

I am on the verge of calling medela to arrange rental of a double pump,try it for a week and see if we make any progress (I know it can be slow going but I would be encouraged to just have a bit of milk being made as I know it can increase exponentially from there, with effort) but don't know whether I am taking too much on and setting myself up for failure. What would you do in my situation?

well... having done it before you know how much work is involved, and i would say it's worth a try!
but DON'T beat yourself up if it doesn't work

have you thought about getyting a supplemental nursing system? that may help if he is unsure about the breast...

I should say the sleep issues and feeding aversion are all likely to be something to do with his reflux/ CMPI. He's on strong meds for the former.

thanks thisisyesterday I tried SNS with DD and neither of us got on with it, but DS is different so who knows?

I wish I'd been in a position to attempt relactation earlier but I have been a bit of a wobbling jelly until the las 3 weeks. I think I'll get on to medela, give it 3 weeks, and if nothing's happening call it a day. Nothing to lose and I won't worry too much if it doesn't work out.

absolutely. do you have a dh/dp around? if so then is there any chance of some days off work while you start the process off? gives you a bit of time to get back into the expressing routine without having 101 other things to do at the same time

i really feel for you as ds2 has CMP and egg intolerance, and had tongue tie etc etc and i was sooooo thankful that i was breastfeeding him (even tho the first few months were still hell on earth), so i can totally understand why you would want to give relactation a go

hope it's a success

Yes and yes. DH is due some time off as he has been working like a dog, poor man.

Thanks for the support. I hate FF and he has been so poorly with a million bugs and viruses on top of everything else so I am fairly motivated. The food refusal might make things more difficult but on the other hand it's not a bottle so he may actually prefer it. Will only know by trying.

I would give it a go - you have nothing to lose. Why not aim to give X number of breastfeeds a day at first and then work from there? Surely if you managed to mix feed it would be better than not bf at all? I know my local LLL group helped one woman relactate - have you sought RL support?

Good luck!!

Gah. I have just noticed spots on my DS's tonsils! I don't believe it.

I still think we will give it a go. I am at my best with a task to focus on and even if we end up mix-feeding or exclusively expressing, it would probably be worth it. Fewer infections would be nice, for a start.

Just seen this narmada.

Wanted to send you some encouragement and best wishes.

Hope things are going better for you now.