Is this an insane idea?

[Mammaryplans]

Trying to get a little perspective on whether I’m being hormonal or if trying to relactate is a good idea.

I stopped breastfeeding my third at 7 months and thought I wouldn’t regret it. I have, and massively. I wish I had persevered. I can’t quite explain it but I miss it. She had a medical issue that briefly affected her latch, but I wish I had pumped rather than giving up.

She is now 1 and facing colds and sickness and I’m wondering if it would be nuts to get the pump out and try to get the milk flowing again? I have checked and still produce a tiny amount if I squeeze.

Logically, I think I should just accept that this part of my life is done. She’s likely my last baby and it’s over. But in my bones I am really sad about that and wonder whether I’m missing my chance to keep it going a little longer.

Any advice (or firm shake to bring me to my senses) welcome!

You could try if there’s still some milk there pumping may stimulate the supply. I think there may be medication you can take as well but you’d have to check with your gp

Thank you for your response! From what I’ve read it seems it might be possible, but I feel a bit silly/unhinged hooking myself back to the pump and wonder if it’s a weird thing to try. I wouldn’t go as far as medications as I understand they can affect your mental health and it’s not worth the risk for me.

How much are you likely to get (enough to make a difference and outweigh the time/stress it causes)? With dc1 I got very little expressed it caused me stress, dc2 I got loads.
I have 3 dc who I bf to over a year, 2 were extremely sickly/ill dc throughout their younger years. Your dc may be more prone to these illnesses (more so if they have older siblings bringing them in).
You need to ask is this more about giving dc what you think will help (if yes try it) or is it more about the finality of the situation?

That is really helpful insight, @Bluegreenpinkred- maybe she’s just sicker because the others bring it in. And to your point, if I’m honest with myself it’s more about me than it is about her. I miss it and I’m sad I won’t have that again, and that my other kids got well over a year from me.

I regretted warning DS2 and tried to get him to breastfeed again a week later ( he was one) and he point blank refused to do it so I think if you want to nurse rather than pump and bottle feed I think your baby may not cooperate unfortunately.

Its difficult not to compare but you have to do whats best for all your family (not just one).
Dc1 (a very sickly child and adult) was bf for 19 months, dt were fed till 12 months and especially because dt2 was sickly I beat myself up about stopping however it was the right descion for all of us. I was a single parent, just returned to work and I needed to give everyone the attention they needed but also make sure I was well enough to care for them all. All good reasons to stop (not that you even need good reason) but I was still upset (partly maybe knowing that I'd never do it again). I think sometimes we try so hard to give dc the same, but its not possible, we have to look at the needs of everyone at any given time and decide how best to spread our resources out (thats easy to say in hindsight when my youngest is 17). At the time it sounds like you made the best decision for all of you, thats what you need to focus on. Mum guilt never gets easier!

I think that does make a difference that you think it's for you because it's one thing if she's distressed and you genuinely think it could bring her comfort and protection from illness (think the latter will be limited at this stage) but another of it's because you feel guilty or that you can't let go. You also need to think about the whole family, what if weaning a second time is a nightmare for her? You could feel guilty then too! And she may not take to it anyway as pp said.

This is a helpful reality check. I don’t know why the interest is so strong. I wasn’t actually thinking I’d be able to breastfeed her because it’s been so long and I assume she will have forgotten how to latch, but more thinking of pumping and feeding.

Any advice on how to come to terms with weaning regret? I thought I would have moved on by now but I haven’t.