Restarting breastfeeding?

[bumble908]

I'm wondering if anyone restarted BF after formula feeding?

I was able to for the first 3-4 days, but emotionally really struggled to continue, I think it would have been a disaster at that time for my mental health.

DH and I are quite isolated where we are and family aren't able to visit so much, so when they do, understandably it's all about the LO. So no one to help with dinners or even get a cuppa, I struggled with even showering or eating anything for the first few weeks.

But I feel guilty every single day, and really wish I'd been able to continue. DD is nearly 10 weeks

I've read it's possible, but is it achievable? How did you start again if you did?

Thanks x

Have you tried to see if your baby will still latch on? I’m not sure it can be done, but don’t beat yourself up about it! Fed is best remember!

I was going to give that a try tonight, but I get a feeling she may just think I've lost the plot 😅

There are lots of Facebook groups dedicated to relactation! Have a search. I think being that baby is still so young you might have a good chance

I think there is some advice on the Kelly Mom website about relactation. And also La Leche league.
I considered trying because I felt so awful about not being able to breastfeed due to tongue tie. But I decided against it as I felt like it would be setting myself up for another "failure" and further endanger my mental health.
Did your baby have a good latch in the first place? I think it's very hard work to achieve relactation and difficult without support. Think carefully about your reasons - honestly, formula is fine, it's safe, your husband can help, it's not harmful to your baby. I understand why you feel guilty, I still think about it most days six months on, but just be gentle with yourself xx

@londonloves I hadn't considered how I would feel if we struggled again, I think you're totally right, DH agreed we are in a good place now so maybe leave things as they are.

I just really struggle to shift the guilt when I'm constantly reminded breast is best, I understand why they push it, but it doesn't half make me feel like I failed

Have a google of breast feeding guilt, it might help you. There are also some good Facebook groups for formula feeders which can offer support. Personally I feel like breast is best, but formula is fine. My son is thriving, the only person who has suffered from not breastfeeding is me.
But don't let me put you off if you really do want to try relactation - it's definitely possible if you had w good latch in the first place.

Sorry I meant breast feeding grief. But same concept as bf guilt.

Please don't feel guilty - fed is best and a happy mum is worth more to a little one than a million Breastfeeds!

I know it's not quite the same but I stopped breastfeeding for over a week whilst I took medication. I wanted to start up again so I kept expressing as much as possible to get the supply up first and then got her to latch on. Try expressing first, bit by bit. It should help get your milk production back up again. Mine was very low to begin with. Good luck. I also formula fed my little girl and she was absolutely fine, alternating between breast milk and formula.

I second Kelly Mom if you want to give it a try. I did with my 16 week old as she didn't get on well at all with formula but it was quite the process. We were 100% BF by 6 months, at which time she started solids. It was actually easier as her latch was hugely better by 16 weeks, it was just the BFing before each bottle, and offering less and less formula that was a faff.

Agree with pp’s your mental health and fed is best truly are the most important things. But if you want to try for you and you go in with the attitude that if it doesn’t work out it’s not the end of the world you do have a good chance of success. Student26 is right about expressing, it could be a tough haul (it was for me), you’d have to commit to frequent pumping (about every 2-3 hours including night) to relactate whilst simultaneously working on baby latching again (their suckling is obviously great for stimulating milk production). You may even consider combination feeding if you can re establish lactation. I also found Kellymoms a fantastic resource as a pp suggested. But don’t feel you need to do this driven by guilt, there really is no need, I’ve been there and ultimately my two dd’s (dd1 it didn’t work out for various reasons) and dd2 (combination fed) are both happy and healthy little girls. Good luck whatever you decide.