Breast feeding is it too late ?

[Summersunx]

Hi has anybody started breastfeeding at 4 months or is this too late?

I am afraid it probably is too late at that point, as you’ve missed the window where baby builds milk supply and I presume you are no longer producing milk?

I have heard it is possible but I have no direct experience. You would need careful guidance on building your supply again. You would also need to supplement with formula. It might be difficult to get the baby to latch in the first place?

Why do you feel like this?

I haven't done it, but you could read about relactation to get an idea of what steps to take:

abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/relactation/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJuNnZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnWOMDfOZzUko56cUyVbKbFFCXYi4yOttyVYqD25mVrxlrWCuE2xQMJB-rXl_aem_388GcWmvMk9QzZfcT2vKTg

Lucy Ruddle IBCLC has written a book on relactation after personally doing it. She also runs a Facebook group, search relactation uk.

I relactated just as my milk dried up with my DD. I read Lucy Ruddles book and hired a hospital grade pump. It was really hard. I pumped 8 times a day, through the night too. But my milk returned and my daughter was exclusively breastfed in the end but via a bottle as she would never latch.

I did it because my daughter had a dairy allergy and the dairy free formula didn’t suit her. I don’t regret it as she was happier on breast milk in the end (I went dairy free) but I also do think I sort of lost my mind and it was part of my postnatal depression as it was so so hard.

Thankyou so much for your comment. Yea I did gather it may be hard work to do, so hearing your experience and other advice online has helped. Yea I'm currently trying to get my son checked for milk allergy but not getting anywhere so far so need to take him back to docs again.

No probs. Just to add, I only think I managed it because it was Covid so my husband was home and we weren’t going anywhere, also she was my only baby so no other kids to care for.

milk allergy can be really tough. Hope you get some help from the doctors! Lots of babies do well on dairy free formula too so don’t think you have to relactate as your only option.

Thankyou so much!