Re-starting the Lactation Process

All I wanted to say is Good for YOU!!! I know this can be done, you just need the right combination of herbs/meds. I think fenugreek is good for this. Contact the nearest LaLeche League leader or group. You can also try to call the LLL directly at their national offices. They have a hotline. Good luck!!!

I wish you all the best - breastmilk rocks!

If you eventually need an alternative solution...

http://www.hmbana.org/

No advice that adds to what's already been recommended. I just wanted to say "Yeah!" Breastmilk is magic milk!

Wow! You are brave and yes this can be done, but it will take some very hard work on your part. You really need to find a lactation consultant that has experience in this or a local La Leche League for some support. Also try mothering.com and look in their "forums" area for people who have done the same. I know woman have lactated for adopted babies so it can be done! Good luck!

Hi D.,
It sounds like this can be done and why not. I have found that when it comes to breastfeeding it is all about determination. From my personal experience with breastfeeding and pumping I've rarely been able to pump as much as my daughter actually takes in while nursing. If you can get your daughter to latch on that would give her the most amount of breast milk. I would suggest spending time where you and your daughter are skin to skin. That might help her to be interested in your breast again and help your body to produce milk.
I wish you all the best and I hope you have success with breastfeeding. I think what you are doing is wonderful and I encourage you not to give up. Breastfeeding can be difficult at times and there have been many times when I've thought about stopping. So hang in there and trust your body and mother nature.
Many blessings to you and your baby.
C.

You can MOST DEFINITELY start lactating again. I know this for many reasons:
1. I'm studying to be a board certified lactation consultant.
2. My aunt started breastfeeding her child again after a 6 month cold turkey break.
3. A woman who has NEVER breastfed before can stimulate her body with or without the help of medicine to lactate.

Since you have already lactated and not that long ago, pumping and latching your baby on can stimulate your body to lactate. You can also talk to the LC at the hospital and the doctor to prescribe medicine that can assist. The best people to get in contact with are your doctor and LC, as well as a local La Leche League chapter.

Good luck and it CAN be done!

Hi D.,

Just to correct what has been said in other responses, cereal is not used to "fill a child up". It's used to teach a child how to eat. That is the main benefit to it. They are learning the skills of eating solid food. It's true that it has little nutritional value - until age 1, a baby gets the majority of its nutrition from either breast milk or formula. Many pediatricians recommend not starting a baby on cereal until age 6 months anyway, so if you put the cereal feeding on hold for a month or two, you will be just fine - especially if the cereal is causing reflux issues.

That being said, I don't think your doctor thinks you're a quack because you want to breastfeed or because he has an issue with breastfeeding, as I think some others here have implied. I think he is just concerned that what you are trying to accomplish may not be physically possible. Trying to start milk production again after 5 months of being essentially dry may not be something your body can do, and I think he is just trying to prepare you for that reality. If it is what you desire for your child, however, I wish you the best of luck and hope that you are able to get the lactation process started again! I applaud you for the effort you are making.

Fenugreek is an herb that can "beef up" your milk supply. It helped when my daughter wasn't nursing "strong enough".

Good luck!

Dump the OB. I had an OB that I didn't really see eye to eye with and it was a relief to find a new one who would dialogue rather than just pronounce.
I don't know personally about relactation but do know it can be done as some adoptive moms do it. Good luck.

Sorry, but I don't think it's possible after so long.

Try speaking to a lactation consulant or call Medela at 800-435-8316 and speak to customer service - I know that they have products that will help you get your milk back and still be able to feed your baby I think it is called an SNS Starter.

My daughter was a preemie and for various reasons, I was producing less than an ounce every time I pumped. My ob-gyn prescribed a drug for me- sorry I can’t remember the name, but it was an ulcer medication– that didn’t work at all. I researched holistic remedies for low milk production and fenugreek caplets got rave reviews. Those pills, combined with more frequent and lengthy pumping (for at least 2 let-down cycles) really increased my production. I pray this or something else works for you too!

Hi D.,

I relactated with my daughter after she was nine months old...I breastfed for about 2 days when she was first born and it was a disaster....she started getting lots of ear infections so I really wanted to try giving her breastmilk again....I took fenurgreek, a natural supplement and I also took Domperidone (Motilium is the generic name)....I also went online and googled Dr. Jack Newman, a dr. in Canada, who has worked on a protocal for women who want to start lactation or relactate...I even emailed him and he responded....I was able to produce about 7 ounces a day....you'll probably be able to produce more since it's not been as long since you lactated....I wish you luck....my email is ____@____.com....if you have any questions
M.

I had bad migraines when my baby was 2 months or so and he had to use formula since meds were too strong. I didn't think I could nurse again but I pump and starting drinking mothers milk tea and it started producing and he started right back no problem. I was determind. Hope that helps good luck

Domperidone is very effective for this. It is not manufactured in the US, so you have to get it from a compounding pharmacy. All you need is to have someone write you a prescription, send it to a compounding pharmacy and they make it for you (it's not illegal by the way, some people are under the impression that it is, totally legit:) ) Many providers use Reglan for this as it performs the same action but Domperidone is better because it doesn't have the same bad side effects (depression and other CNS effects).

Here is a link to Dr Jack Newman's (famous canadian BF guy) website on Domperidone http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Domperidone%20Getting%20...

Some info on adoptive nursing (similar idea)
http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Breastfeeding%20Adopted%...

I took domperidone to increase supply and have several friends who have had good success. Good luck!

I've heard that fenugreek works wonders in producing breast milk! I think what your doing is amazing! I have read plenty of testimonies of women who have done this, so keep trying. I would definitley contact a lactation consultant and also a La Leche League leader (www.llli.org). Good Luck!!!

I also recommend calling La Leche League: www.llli.org.
There is a medical practice called Homefirst: www.homefirst.com, and I was seeing some doctors there for our homebirth (before switching to a midwife closer to home). One of the doctors there (Dr. Rosi) was telling me all about how he's gotten women to relactate after a break, even months like you've had. If you want a new doctor who will support you, they might be a good place to check. They are very natural in their methods. They have offices in Rolling Meadows and many West suburbs, as well as Chicago (unfortunately none in the N. suburbs, not sure where you are located).
Best wishes!

D., I know some women can re-start lactation. I think your best bet is to find a lactation consultant asap. I've not worked with one, but met Barbara Hardin ###-###-####, who I've heard good things about. Or try your local La Leche League for referrals. Good luck!

D.,
I too didn't have much milk, though putting my baby to the breast as often as possible (even when he wasn't hungry) helped a lot as well as taking fenugreek (herb) & brewers yeast pills. Call La Leche League for support & advice..they are Very helpful! You can find their 800 number on line. Do leave a message & they will return your call promptly!

If you have time, you should really contact the lactation consultants at Central Dupage Hospital. I think they have their own department. You can certainly re-start it. I breast fed my adopted daughter, and they helped me through the process. No kidding. You don't need drugs or anything. Give them a call.

This is unrelated to lactation, but you might try giving your daughter digestive enzymes. We give my son Absorbaid to help with his digestive issues. It's all natural. You can get it at Whole Foods.

I know that and herb called Feungreek can increase your milk supply, but not sure if you can restart it. Check out this link about Goat's Rue: http://www.motherlove.com/product_goats_rue_veg.php

I don't have an answer for you but I do have a recommendation. There's a lactaction group in Orland Park at the Palos Primary Care Center building. It's run by lactaction nurses and it's every Tuesday from 10-11am. You do not have to have delivered at Palos either. EVERY mom I know that has been there raves about it and they say how very helpful it has been for them. They weigh the babies before the meeting and after you feed them to see how much they're actually taking in. You can go every week for the first year...then they kick you out and make room for new moms :)

Call the hospital where your daughter was born & ask for the lactation consultant. She will be able to give you the best advice.

I don't believe you can re-start your breasts to producing milk. That would be like me trying to produce breast milk at any point in my life. I'm really curious if anyone thinks this can be done. Once you dry up that's it unless you get pregnant again....that is how I understand it. I know that someone can fake their body out phsychologically if they really want to have a baby, but that's a psychological issue and I'm not sure you can pull it off just because you really want to.

My lactation consultant told me that, even better than fenugreek, is Mother's Milk tea. Make sure you cover it when you steep it. Drink that 3 times a day and it may help. You can get it at the health food store. I've found that the lactation tea by Yogi brand tasted the best (if you have to drink it so frequently, you might as well like the taste...I found the mother's milk tea to taste like black licorice which I DON'T like!!) Good luck!

D.:

find an international board certified lactation consultant who can work with you on this.

look at the ilca website.. www.ilca. org

P., RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions

Animals do this all the time, where an "adoptive" female animal will automatically start lactating even if she has never been pregnant or produced milk before, in order to milk a baby animal. My dog as a puppy was nursed by his older sister, she automatically started lactating when another dog in the house had a litter of 12 dogs!

Your effort is really respectable and I agree that the breastmilk is so good for your baby. If your doctor doesn't genuinely respect your decision to try this, don't listen to him, you are doing the right thing! Good Luck! Hopefully some medicines and/or herbal supplements will help once you find the right combination!

If your OB can't support your desire to do what's best for your own child, you need to find another who will be!

If the cereal is causing reflux episodes, I'd skip it entirely. Baby cereal has little nutritive value and is primarily used to *fill the child up*--it's more beneficial to fill her up with breastmilk (or formula).

I see fenugreek has already been suggested. An herbal alternative that I find even more beneficial for increasing milk supply is vitex, which can be found at most health food stores. There is no contraindiction with fenugreek, so they can be used in tandem with each other, but I've seen most women successfully increase their supply solely with the vitex.

You are to be commended for doing this for your daughter. You need to dump that OB. Any doctor who is less than supportive in this decision is not worth your time. It's not easy but it is possible and your efforts should be encouraged.
I can't recommend any specific medication but I know they are out there. I do recommend visiting
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppexcluspump
It is an online message board for mothers who exclusively pump and I know I have seen topics posted on medications to increase supply or relactate. In the meantime, Mother's Milk Tea has always helped me when my supply has gone low.
If you are anywhere near Libertyville, I can recommend a doctor who I know will be supportive and help you to relactate. Good luck with everything! I know little Rayanna Jean will be just fine, especially with a mommy who cares so much!

Hi D.,
As a mom who is 29 weeks pregnant and still nursing my 18 month old, I support you. Better than plain fenugreek,is More Milk Plus. It includes fenugreek, blessed thistle and nettle. You can get them from Whole Foods. An excellent lactation consultant is Janet Talmudge. You can get her info on line,. She came to my home and was worth every penny. I also strongly agree that you need to be working with a lactation closely. Best wishes.

Hi, GOOD FOR YOU...what a GREAT Mom you are! You are NOT a quack, you are awesome!!! Doing what is best for your child...how can that not be right!!!

Heck, I stopped nursing over a year ago, and I was taking a hot shower, and I gave myself a squeeze, and a little milk came out! Funny!!!

I am sure a Lactation person will give you the best advice, but definitely put your baby to breast (with nothing but skin) - drink lots of water, and keep trying and be patient...

Good for you Mommy, and the BEST of luck to you and your little angel...