Is it all over?

[deegward]

Due to one thing and another - laziness, unsupportive dh, no family within 300 miles - i have gradually dwindled and now stopped bf my ds2 of 8 weeks.
Well as luck would have it I now miss the feeds, and would like to know is possible to start again, or is it gone forever?
I still get leaks in the bath, and my boobs ache, if the answer is no, well I live with it, but I would like to feed at least once a day.
Is this possible?

Yes, it's possible to start breastfeeding again, Deegward. I don't know the details of how to do it exactly, but I think you just need to put your baby to the breast at regular intervals. I'm not sure what happens if he has forgotten how to latch on, but I am sure one of the counsellors or MW's on here will have lots of tips, or you can phone an NCT counsellor on 0870 444 8708. HTH and good luck.

I have heard that you can pick it up again even after a few weeks ...
I wish that I had started again deegward ... When I was planning to give up (at 6 weeks) someone told me to think hard about it as it would be the last time I would ever be that close to my baby. I gave up anyway as I was already majorly wallowing in PND and I had come to resent my baby ...
I wish someone had told me at the time that if I worked at it I would be able to up my supply etc ... but no-one ever did ... it wasn't until I joined Mumsnet that I worked out that you can get it back if you think you have lost it ...
suedonim's advice is good .... Ring NCT or La Leche League .... or hopefully Mears will see this thread and come to the rescue (after she has changed into her Midwife Woman outfit in a phone box )

Give it a go, you've got nothing to lose. There's obviously milk there and your ds will probably love it anyway. Personally, I would offer more often than usual to start with then when the supply is stong I found I could be very flexible with breastfeeding. Good luck.

Deegward, give it a go, as the others say, you have nothing to lose. I started off breast feeding my ds (now 6.5 weeks old) but only managed a month. Although I breast fed my dd for 5 months, things were different this time and it just didn't work out, but I do definitely miss the closeness (and the convenience ) I don't regret my decision as I am much happier since changing over and ds (touch wood) seems to be very settled now, but it's a very personal thing and if you feel like giving it another go, you go for it.
All the best, and I hope you get the information and support you need.

Hi there,

Yes,yes, yes! Do give it a go again - even if its only once a day. Try just putting your baby back to the breast or try to re-establish your supply by expressing a 'feed' at a regular time for a few days. I have breastfed all 3 of my sons for varying times and both 'expressed' and 'at the breast'.

My third is almost a year now and I am still feeding him, albeit only in the morning.

Like you, the early days were a slog. No family nearby and two other kids under 6yrs didn't help. But, I carried on and got through these problems (mind you my hubby gave me good support).

Hope it all goes well for you. Take care.

PS I know not everyone likes them but Nipple Shields (available from Boots etc) might just help baby get used to Breast again - ie use them at start of feed for a day or two to make it seem similar to bottle then remove when baby latching on well etc.

deegward - it is possible to breastfeed again. Have you tried offering the breast and see what happens. If your ds fixes on then that will be half the battle. In order to stimulate milk production you will need to express regularly just to get the milk making signals going to the breast. What you could do instead initially is allow ds to suck at the breast then give him is bottle. You will need to make sure you are producing milk before cutting out any formula feeds. Feeding during the night is more effective for producing milk because of higher levels of prolactin.
Give it a go, you have absolutely nothing to lose.

Time to change back into old frumpy clothes - nothing decent to wear. Thank goodness for that phonebox ghosty lol

By the way, nipple shield idea is one way of making ds suck if he refuses to attach to breast, but isn't good for milk stimulation. You would need to express as well if you did that.

Deegward - to encourage you - it CAN be done.

A friend of mine got very discouraged and gave more and more bottles until by 1 month the baby was completely bottle fed. Then, after a week or two she decided to give it another go and eventually managed to replace about half the bottle feeds with breastfeeds (ie middle-of-the night until lunchtime). Basically she rested as much as poss, especially mornings, drank lots and put her dd to the breast as often as a newborn. She gradually delayed the time at which she gave the first bottle.

Good luck!

By the way, if you miss the suckling, there's no reason why you shouldn't give your ds a suckle before a feed. I did that with my ds for a couple of weeks after properly giving up bf, just at bedtime, because it felt good.