Milk Supply Question

Is it possible to regain your supply after you have stopped breastfeeding???

It can depend on how long it's been since breastfeeding. Generally the milk does dry up and it's almost impossible to get back if too much time has passed.

It is possible - but very hard work. That's why some adoptive moms are able to breastfeed. Google "relactation" for some info.

Kellymom.com http://www.kellymom.com/bf/adopt/index.html has some excellent info on relactation. It IS possible! Basically, you put the baby to the breast as often as possible (even if it's for comfort at first), and pump every 2 hrs, 3 at night. Using a Supplemental Nursing System helps immensely. Lots of skin-to-skin contact is important as well. There are herbs that boost milk supply, as well as prescription medication (which does have side effects so you have to be careful). If you still have milk, it's much easier to relactate.

HTH~

I actually know more than one person who has done it. Jgonz link is a good one. I would also contact your La Leche League for info and support.

We are totally behind you if you want to relactate! You can do it!!!

I did seriously consider this... I still have a little milk left from when I stopped breastfeeding. Not alot but some. I think I may have tried if I wasn't returning to work in 2 weeks. I just won't have the time to dedicate to this. I think I would feel worse failing to breastfeed a second time. It would be a LOT of work to reestablish a good supply... and I don't feel I would have the right amount of time or energy to give to this.
But now I am armed with alot more information for next time. And hopefully I will be able to have a longer and more successful breastfeeding relationship with my next baby.
I was alot naive about breastfeeding this time round. I thought everything would just work... And it didn't help when my mother was telling me that my milk was going to go very early (like hers did, she only fed us for about a month). I also know what not to do if you want to give the best possible chance of a good breastfeeing relationship.

Part of me wishes I wasn't returning to work so soon, so I could see if this would work... Ah well...

You could always part-time breastfeed. If you have a little left, why not nurse her first thing in the morning and at night? Just her sucking should get your supply going at least enough for that eventually.

They can also give natural herbs to help your milk supply. Talk to your LLL consultant about that. I like GracePaints idea.

Angelsgirl, I nurse only at night, and occasionally during the day for comfort. I pump every 2 or so hours because I'm working to get Abel to the breast full time, but I have a feeling he's not going to do that. For right now though, nursing him at night and pumping and doing bottles during the day is working for us. It's a very strange, uncharted realm for me... but, like I said, it's working for right now. When it doesn't work anymore, I'll change it.

Anyway, you Can just nurse at night (or whenever) if you want... your body will kick in and make as much milk as your baby needs for even just 1 feeding per day if that's what works for you.

HTH~

The problem is Maddie is lazy now she has been on the bottle. I was trying to do this, feed when I could and then use the bottle when I couldn't. But she would just suck for a bit and then scream cause she wouldn't get anything and pull off and be VERY fussy.

I found a bottle with a teat where the flow is regulated by the baby's sucking and it doesn't drip out at all and she won't feed off that either. It's a pity that bottle wasn't at work when i first wanted to use the bottle... I actually think it's harder to get milk out of that bottle than my breast!

Yes. I lost my supply with my son for no apparent reason. But I continued to nurse and of course suppliment and I looked at his picture when I was pumping and I pumped every hour. It came back in a couple of days but it was very frustrating.