Can i restart breastfeeding after stopping?

[HappiestIveEverBeen]

My baby has just turned a month old. I breastfed her for 2 weeks but then she stopped latching on and after 2 days of a hysterical baby I bought formula. I tried for another week to get her back on the breast but shed only suckle for a few minutes before getting upset. Now my milk has completely gone but I really miss feeding her myself. Can I start to breastfeed her again or is it not possible? If I can, how do I do it?

Yes, you can restart.

First step, google relactation.

The repost here with any questions.

A week without breastfeeding means probably a week to restore your milk supply - but there will be other factors, such as why she stopped latching in the first place and they need to be rsolved.

Call any of the bf helplines, too, and they will help.

It is definitely possible and actually, very likely, that you will get back to full bf :)

yes, relactation is possible. I think Kellymom and LLL have articles on it. Google may bring up others too.

do you have face to face support possible where you are? If you call one of the helplines they may be able to direct you to local support. eg a NCT bfc or bf drop in or a local LLL leader and meeting.

or, if yuo have the cash, yuo could meet with a IBCLC with experience in relactating?

best of luck

I'm sure your support is welcomed, quietly :( :(

I have personally supported many women to relactate, and there are many examples of women who have relactated here on the mumsnet boards.

The OP has only stopped breastfeeding for one to two weeks. Her baby is a newborn, still. These are both factors that make relactation easier.

As I pointed out, she needs help to work out why she had difficulties in the first place, but there's no reason to think relactation won't work for her - quite the opposite.

It's a shame you were disappointed with your own experience, but you are one individual. Why assume everyone will be the same?

Yes, OP. I relactated after an 8 week break with DD1. I wasn't able to return to ebf but I had milk and DD1 regained her latch.

I found getting a latch was easiest in the bath so we bathed every evening. Last thing at night and first thing in the morning were good too. Lots of skin to skin. I used a sling with DD1 only in a nappy and me in a low cut vest. We co-slept with DD1 in a nappy and me with no top.

Good luck. I would recommend the LLL helpline.

stargirl fabulous & well done. Thank you so much for sharing your success. Out of interest did you have to pump or take any supplements to get your supply back?

Happiest what did you do eventually?

FWIW I did not have to relactate officially but it felt like it.

PFB had a PTT which was only snipped at 4wo. My milk production by then was very low, presumably because his tongue had not been stimulating my supply. (I had been producing initially as evidenced by me suffering mastitis at the end of week 1!!)

With the support of my local LLL group, my wonderful DH, a post natal doula and a local IBCLC I managed to get my supply back and by week 7 PFB was ebf, despite needing formula from week 2.

From week 3 until week 7 PFB was nursed every 2 hours (only longer stretch was 5 hours at night if he did not wake up) I pumped after every feed, whilst DH was topping up (with ff or bm). I aimed for 8 pumps a day (incl 1 during the night in the "magic zone") of probably no more than 10 mins, unless milk was still coming out in which case I kept pumping until it stopped. The aim was to stimulate my supply rather than create bm for topping up - I never did manage to get much!! the mantra #pumpingoutputisnoindicationofsupply was a good one!!!!

I also ended up taking domeridone with the support of my MW and then my GP, following the Dr Jack Newman protocol explained in his handouts.

I hope you got the info you needed. Best of luck with whatever you decided.

MindfulBear, what is the "magic zone" at night exactly? I'm trying to increase my milk production, and I'm worried I'm not feeding enough at night, as I have a very sleepy baby.

hi!
ITs tough with a sleepy baby if you are trying to increase milk production. What has led to the need to produce more?

The magic zone is when certain hormones involved in milk production are at their highest & have a big impact on increasing milk and, depending what you read, it is generally considered to be somewhere between 11pm and 5am. I used to try to pump either at 11pm/midnight or between 4 &5am. Mind you I did not always manage it!! However I did manage to nurse my LO though - even if I had to wake him up or dream feed him.

Both Kellymom and LLL websites have info on sleepy babies and ideas for strategies.

IF you have a sleepy baby then it is always worth getting help via one of the helplines or at a NCT bf drop in or LLL meeting (It may be different where you are but I never found the NHS drop ins to be any use at all).

Best of luck!

BF helpline numbers: (remember most are staffed by volunteer mums like you and me so be patient and keep trying if you dont get through first time)

NCT Breastfeeding Line
0300 330 0771 (8am - 10pm, 7 days a week)

La Leche League 0845 120 2918

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers 08444 122 949 (9.30am - 10.30pm, every day)

Breastfeeding Network Supporter line
0844 412 4664 9.30am - 9.30pm (every day of the year)

I stopped bf ds1 after an awful case of mastitis when he was three days old. I bottle fed him for four days with minimal pumping before I successfully changed back to ebf. In fact after those first few days ds never took formula so I breastfeed for over a year. Btw ds had a posterior tongue tie which was only diagnosed when dd was born and had one (at three it was still quite tight). Good luck x x

Mindfulbear, yes. I pumped x12 daily including 3 overnight sessions with a hospital grade pump. I ate oats with everything and nursing tea as my main beverage. I took fennel (I think, maybe fenugreek?) supplements.