Can you start breastfeeding again, if you quit a long time ago?

Question

I breast fed my son for the first three and a half weeks and it was horribly painful. He got thrush and then i got it on my breast. He is now eight months and I would really like to start again. Is it to late? He eats alot off the table and baby food he only takes two to three bottles a day. but i heard it is...

Answer 1

How it Works

Ideally, a woman's pregnancy prepares her body to produce milk, the experience of birth gets the milk "flowing," and her baby's suckling provides the demand that keeps the milk supply up. Though this may not have been the case in your particular situation, that doesn't mean you can't now make milk.

Prolactin and oxytocin, the milk-making and milk-releasing hormones, are pituitary (not ovarian) hormones. That means even a woman who's never been pregnant may be able to lactate, as may a woman who has had a hysterectomy. Both prolactin and oxytocin are produced in direct response to nipple stimulation by massage, breast pump, and baby's nursing. Most effective in stimulating your milk supply, of course, is your baby. So nurse as frequently as possible. Next to your baby, an efficient hospital-grade double-electric pump, used frequently (every two to three hours) for about 15 minutes a session, may be your ace in the hole.

How Much Milk Will You Get and When?

Be patient, as your milk may be painfully slow in coming. Don't be discouraged by mere drops after weeks of effort—where's there's any milk at all, there's likely to be much more! Look for other encouraging signs of success, including fuller, more tender breasts, nipples changing color, increased thirst, and changes in menstrual cycle or libido.

Don't fall prey to performance anxiety, as it will only hinder milk production. Rest assured that most all mothers are able to produce at least some milk, though the amount varies considerably from woman to woman. If you view supplementation as your ally in this process, you'll be much happier, more relaxed, and pleasantly surprised by all that you do make. Remind yourself that any amount of mother's milk will benefit your baby.

It's impossible to determine how long it will take to build your supply. It is known that the hormone level is naturally highest in mothers who delivered a baby within three months. So if you're a mom trying relactation within that 3-month window, you're chances for success are especially high.

Breast Over Bottle

It will, of course, be easier to "train" a 10-day-old newborn to take the breast over a bottle than it will a 5-month-old baby. A baby must work harder at the breast than at a bottle, so many babies habituated to bottle feedings may initially be reluctant to nurse. Make the transition a gradual and gentle one. Start by bottle-feeding the baby in nursing position, keeping her cheek close to your bare breast, and positioning her such that she must turn in toward you to take the bottle. Offer the breast frequently, and always before the bottle, but don't fret if she doesn't readily suckle. She will in time.

Many relactating or induced lactating women opt for a supplemental feeding system like Medela's Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) and the Lact-Aid Nursing Trainer, which can help you to nourish your baby at the breast whether or not you're yet producing milk. A hidden pouch holds supplemental milk or formula, and a small, discreet tube is taped to your breast to extend just beyond your nipple. At once, baby is rewarded for suckling your breast, she gets enough nourishment, and she stimulates your own milk production. As your milk comes in, you'll find yourself able to gradually lessen the amount of supplementation needed to satiate her.

Note: Be sure to have your baby's weight gain closely monitored by a supportive pediatrician.

More Milk, Please

With these supply boosters up your sleeve, your milk-making success is even more likely:

Try fenugreek (diabetics, please seek the counsel of a physician before taking) and blessed thistle (Mother's Milk tea is a good source of both) or brewer's yeast.
Seek the guidance of a trusted doctor and certified lactation consultant; a few moms are advised to take milk-inducing hormone therapy.
Rest often and eliminate as much stress as possible.
Keep your baby close and encourage her to nurse often.
Consider pumping several weeks in advance of an adopted baby's arrival.
Opt for pumping more frequently over lengthening individual pumping sessions, and maintain a regular pumping schedule.
Eliminate all caffeine and alcohol.
Be wary of any drugs, including contraceptives, allergy medications, and hormone replacement therapy, which may adversely affect your milk supply.
Pump after every feeding to stimulate further milk production (many women pump one breast while the baby nurses from the other).
Go on holiday (be sure to enlist your partner's support on this one): indulge in a whole week spent doing nothing but eating well, drinking lots of fluids, resting, snuggling, and, of course, nursing!
http://www.alisaikeda.com/Clients_Clips/...

I always wondered if i could start again (even though my son is 8 months old now...since i couldnt produce enough for him only after a month and a half of breastfeeding) if you do get more info on this, please pass it on to me... i would love to know if i could breastfeed again

Answer 2

Yes! I know you can because I have read about people breastfeeding adopted children even though they had never been pregnant.

You should try contacting your local La Leche League chapter and/or a lactation consultant. I am sure they will tell you exactly what you need to do to get your milk back.

I am interested in this, because I am currently breastfeeding my six month old and I plan to adopt. So I was wondering if possible to bf an adopted child, and I did a bit of research on it.

Good luck !!

Answer 3

He might still be interested in breastfeeding. Try putting him to your breast to see if he'll latch on and suck. If so, you can relactate with fenugreek, oatmeal, lots of latching and practice sucking, and you might even have to take some reglan.

I tried to relactate at 6 weeks and got nothing from a pump and although the girls would latch it hurt sooooo badly. They had thrush but I didn't know it yet.

Either way, I tried again when they were about 6 months old but they wanted nothing at all to do with my breasts.

Answer 4

NO!
its not too late!
go rent or buy a very good electric pump...(medela is great)
and you will have to be dedicated to it!!
its going to take a lot of time and patience. You will have to pump about 20 minutes every hour on each side.
you can call a lactation consultant to help you with this also

I stopped breast feeding too soon and i felt really bad...i went through the same thing but i just didnt have the patience and time to sit around and pump all day....
GOOD LUCK to you!!!

Answer 5

You should start by not wanting to get pregnant, just have sex everyday or every other day and don't think about getting pregnant, just have fun with your partner.
after sex-put a pillow under your butt or prop your feet up on the wall so your pelvis is tilted
eat healthy
back off caffiene
workout,even if its just a 30 minute walk a day,be active!!
Get more useful information and guides to get pregnant here:

Answer 6

Discover How She Overcame Her Own Infertility and Taught Thousands Of Women Worldwide To Eliminate All Their Infertility Issues and Get Pregnant Quickly and Naturally

- Get Pregnant Quickly and Naturally Within 2 Months
- Give Birth to Healthy Babies
- Improve the Quality of Your Life Dramatically !
- Reverse Both Female and Male Infertility Issues

Discover the secret ! Now - http://bestchance.co/pregnancymiracle

If You or Someone You Love is Struggling to Get Pregnant, Then This Will Be the Most Important Letter You Will Ever Watch...

Answer 7

You can almost certainly start making milk again. More difficult would be teaching baby to nurse again.

If you just want to give breastmilk (it's great nutrition and immunities) start pumping. Your supply will come back and you can give the milk via bottle.

If you are hoping to get baby back on the breast, you'd probably want to talk to a lactation consultant who can work with the two of you to teach baby to nurse.

Answer 8

are you still making milk?! if so, then, yeah, you can probably start making enough milk to satisfy him by pumping.

But I have a heard time imagining that an 8-month old baby would suddenly start nursing. Not to say it's impossible (stranger things have happened), but it would be very very unusual. Most babies want table food at that age. It's hard to imagine that he'll have patience or interest in trying to learn to nurse.

Answer 9

yes you can. mothers who adopt can even breastfeed. i should talk only a couple weeks if that, every woman is different, just start doing it again and it will come back soon.

Answer 10

Your milk production decreases after waiting so long to do it. He's already 8 months-how long do you want to do it for? I would ask his pediatrician.