amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

LazyLukesSlings · 07-14-2004, 09:11 PM

A friend just called me and while she was in the tub with her little one she tried latching on. As soon as I pick her up she starts rooting and nuzzling on me, and I've been telling my friend it's because I smell like milk. Anyway, tonight with her little one trying to latch she's decided she really does want to breastfeed. She tried in the hospital, but had VERY LITTLE support so gave up after only 3 days

I have a cheap Gerber pump that I'm going to take to her, because it's better than nothing, but what are the actual steps she needs to take to start relactating? The baby had just turned 3 months old and she says she still has a TINY bit of milk. Any advice, please?!

APmommyCarrie · 07-14-2004, 09:20 PM

There are various herbs to help--I had luck boosting my supply form almost nil with my 2nd using a combo of fenugreek, alfalfa and blessed thistle with lots of nursing.

She should rent a hospital grade pump like a Medela Lactina or similar and pump every 2 hours round the clock and also try and nurse tha baby as much as she can. She can also get a SNS 9nursing supplementer) and that will help--she can put formula in it so when the baby nurses she is getting fed and also stimulating the breast, KWIM? it involves taping a tube to her breast 9tiny tube) and when I used one a loooooooong time ago there was a syringe-looking thing that the formula or expressed breast milk was in.

I hope this helps, I have to run, I'm making food. BTW, I researched relactating with my dd, I too had no support and we failed though I pumped for about 8 weeks for her. This is mostly what I read in brief.

*eta--check out this link: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation.html

~Heidi~ · 07-14-2004, 09:25 PM

I called the Lactation nurse at our local hospital (she has six kids & all were bfed)...she brought out a pump, I had a Supplemental Nursing System - SNS from Medela I believe...and then taking those herbs will help too...argh I went blank on what it's called!

Anyway DS was 3mos old when I tried to relactate...I just never had enough milk for him. But I did start again a little! And I've read on here about adoptive moms producing a bit of milk too...and using the SNS!

kas · 07-14-2004, 09:57 PM

if her baby will willingly latch on, all she has to do is nurse, nurse, nurse, and that will increase her supply faster than anything else.

also, domperidone works faster than any herbal galactagogue, so she might want to invest in some of it (do an online search).

3mo is a perfect time to relactate-she should feel blessed she has a second chance to give her baby what he deserves

miraclemom · 07-14-2004, 10:40 PM

I jsut tried to relactate in March after 4.5 months of not bf'ing. I don't have time tonight to post, but email me and I'd be happy to share what I learned from the LC I spoke with. I also have some Lactaflow and an SNS on hand that I don't need any more.