Relactation?

[Laucu]

Does anyone here have experience with relactation?

I feel like such a fool. I bf my baby for her first week but felt like I couldn't cope, felt like I was not giving my other children the attention they needed, and so feed after feed was dropped and I am now full time bottle feeding. Whilst I have no issues with formula, I realised that I desperately missed bfing and maybe I'm being silly but I think my baby does too.

Things are starting to calm down at home and we are starting to settle into life again, and I'm wondering if I have missed my chance or if I will be able to relacte?

I have made a start, I am offering the breast after each bottle, she hasn't forgotten how to latch on which is a great start. I have also ordered a manual pump and plan to try pumping regularly too.

I'm not sure I will bf full time but would like to be able to offer some breast, and pumped milk in a bottle instead of formula.

 

[noon_child]

I'd say it is definitely possible - especially if LO can still latch without a fuss. I've known women relactate after a few months of bottle feeding!

Are you still leaking milk at any times of the day (middle of the night or first thing in the morning)? I'd say if you are then these might be the times to put LO to the breast first rather than bottle feed first. If that causes too much upset in LO then I think you need to look at decreasing the volume you feed her in the bottle so that she demands more of her feed from your breasts.

Pumping can help too of course (and has the advantage of not getting upset if nothing comes out straight away) but it is time consuming and often less efficient at stimulating the breast than LO. If LO will latch and will feed then I'd always do that rather than pumping. If she gets fed up quickly you can always pump afterwards to increase stimulation.

 

[BlingyGal]

My bf book says for relactaction, breastfeed first then offer bottle after. Baby will stimulate your breasts better when hungry.

 

[DaisyDreamer]

GL on breastfeeding your LO!!

 

[Laucu]

Thank you all! X