Milk drying up?

[anita665]

How long does it normally taking between finishing breastfeeding and the milk drying up? I hadn't breastfed for at least a week and thought that it was all over. Then today I noticed I can still squeeze some milk out so I fed Pierre again. I doubt he got much but every bit counts.

 

[Lyns]

Differs from mum to mum. I've helped one woman re-lactate after several weeks.

As a matter of iinterest, you say every bit counts....so why not carry on then?

 

[Samantha675]

My best friend BF'd her daughter for 18 months, then weaned her. She still had a tiny bit of milk for a long long long time.

 

[anita665]

Differs from mum to mum. I've helped one woman re-lactate after several weeks.

As a matter of iinterest, you say every bit counts....so why not carry on then?

Thats what I plan on doing but to start with I thought it had all gone.

 

[AppleBlossom]

I stopped feeding Grace when she was 2 weeks and I am still leaking a little bit but only out of my left boob, not sure why

 

[Lyns]

Differs from mum to mum. I've helped one woman re-lactate after several weeks.

As a matter of iinterest, you say every bit counts....so why not carry on then?

Thats what I plan on doing but to start with I thought it had all gone.

Did you know even adoptive mothers can feed their babies? If baby latches on and suckles, you will produce milk!

If you decide to carry on breastfeeding, you can get your supply re-established. It may be hard work to get levels back to being able to exclusively feed immedialtely. but I'd recommend lots of skin to skin, let him to the breast whenever he wants to feed, for as long as possible, and if you need to supplement with formula, then try and gradually reduce it bit by bit as you up your breast milk supply!

Good luck!

 

[welshcakes79]

Did you know even adoptive mothers can feed their babies? If baby latches on and suckles, you will produce milk!

i did not know this... im sooo peeved off now as i had started to bf Rhiannon but changed to bottles when she was 4 days old due to her breathing probs and me being rather large boobed...WHY didnt my HV or MW tell me this.. i would have re started doing it if id known.....

so so so upset!!!!!

(p.s sorry anita for hijacking your post hun)

 

[Carley]

Go to your LL asap for help with re-lactating, it's hard but doable...

I had milk up until 8 weeks ago. I stopped pumping about May 2006.

 

[Ragirl]

Also- if you are wanting to return to exclusive bfing, there are medications you can take (not sure of the names) to get your supply going- so talk to you mw or doc. This is often what adoptive moms do to get things going.

 

[Lyns]

Also- if you are wanting to return to exclusive bfing, there are medications you can take (not sure of the names) to get your supply going- so talk to you mw or doc. This is often what adoptive moms do to get things going.

The broad name for these is Galactagogue....the group of substances which encourages and increases milk production.

Medicinal versions include, most commonly, Domperidone and Metoclopramide, but I would always try herbal versions first which often have just as good effect. The best known and most widely used would be Fenugreek, but Milk (or Blessed) thistle and Alfalafa are also very good.