Relactation. Help and advice needed.

[Haribosmum]

When I was pregnant with DS2 I was determined to b/f for at least 6 months. Things started off well but at 2 weeks he started to refuse breastmilk (off the breast and expressed in a bottle). My Health visitor at the time was not very helpful and just told me to put him on formula which i reluctantly did. However I have just moved house and got a new Health Visitor who has been VERY supportive of me trying to re-establish b/f. (Buy this time I was feeling very guilty about giving up and felt I had let ds2 down and still I do - I'm really depressed about it). I still have a little milk but not enough it seems for my son to want to latch on for any period of time. I also have 2 Medela Mini-Electric pumps (don't ask!) but they are not powerful enough to express what is there and so my milk supply is not increasing at all after 2 weeks. I have decided to rent an Medela Symphony pump and see if that works any better but I was just wondering if anyone else has been through this and had any advice? Thanks.

That is such a shame Haribosmum after all your hard work. What an achievement though. I am rather disappointed that your doctor said that you cannot have anti depressants because you are breastfeediing - that is so untrue. There is also lots of information about lactose intolerance and breastfeeding around as well but I certainly do not want to confuse the issue for you anymore.

If you feel you want to know more then please ask. I am sorry you are feeling as you are but hopefully things will get better soon. Best wishes, mears

I am sad for you, Haribo.

Just want to confirm mears's comments.

Antidepressants certainly can be taken when bf - there is lots of info about this on these boards. Ditto lactose intolerance - vanishingly rare as a congenital condition, and only very occasionally and temporarily in a baby, and it should be properly diagnosed with tests.

It's up to you to work your way through all this conflicting stuff, and that can be really hard when you feel low.

But you said in your first post last week that you were 'really depressed' about not breastfeeding. You have to decide if stopping breastfeeding will help - and changing your doctor to one who bothers enough to find out the correct info might be helpful in this, so you can properly discuss your options.

All the best, whatever you decide.

Haribos - Whatever you decide you have done the best by your Child and you will never regret that.

Very Good Luck, hope to see you around the board

haribo - so sorry to hear you are depressed. You CAN get through it though.

I have copied and posted my earlier post here:

"SERTRALINE is a safe anti-d when bf - it is known by different names but if you tell your gp it is "sertraline hydrochloride" she should know it or be able to look it up"

If you look up kellymom.com it is mentioned there as in the "safe" category for bf.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, the important thing is to become happy again

Sorry, just realised my last post sounded like an advert or recommendation to get anti-D's. No, I didn't mean that. Some people can get through depression without meds. It depends on your situation. Hope you find a good solution

Haribos - I have had almost the same problems. First I had loads of problems breasteeding, my milk supply dropped, I gave formula, eventually managed to relactate, and then found out ds was lactose intolerant. Just wanted to say ds improved as soon as I cut out dairy and is doing really well (it's been a month now)