Seeking Relactation Help

One beer helped me ... my midwife says it's the hopps in the beer that stimulates production. However, it didn't work with a friend of mine, so it may also be genetic.

Hi J.,
E. here. I had the same problem with my son so I spoke to a nutritionist. I was hoping there was some sort of super food or shake that could help me. lol She told me the only thing that could help was to breastfeed and or pump often. The more stimulation the more milk you produce. Also my Gramma swore if i eat a bowl of oatmeal a day it will help. My great Aunt swears by a beer a day. (didnt have the guts to try that one lol!) They are never wrong. So far the oatmeal has worked for me. Goodluck!!

If you call the lacation service at the hospital where your son was born and ask for a free medela SNS supplemental starter kit and it will help establish your milk supply. It is a container that attaches to your shirt with a small tube that you tape next to your nipple. You fill the container with formula or expressed breast milk and as your baby sucks your nipple, the milk is released from the container. Your baby sucking is the best way to get your milk supply up and it gives the baby milk as he sucks so he will be more inclined to want to nurse if he is getting food from it. Also drink lots of water. I also used a prescription called Reglan I obtained from my OB and it worked awesome within 48 hours but if you completely quit nursing for over two months, you will need your baby sucking to get it to come back in. Try the free Medela SNS with Reglan. Hope it works, it did for me. H.

I dont know if there is any way to get it to come back after that long but when I was nursing I was given the number to the womens center in Springfield, MO (not sure of your location) and they answered any and all questions I had.

T.

Dr. Sears is my favorite when I need help about anything parenting related, here is his answer:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022800.asp
I also like kellymom:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html
And of course La Leche:
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/increase.html
Also, I know you are not an adoptive mom but this site has a TON of information and if it helps adoptive moms (I am an adoptive nursing mom) it will help you!
http://fourfriends.com/abrw/
Hope these help. Be determined, you will get there! He is still very young it CAN be done I promise!!
L.

Talk to your dr. about what you would like to do and they actually have a pill out there that will help you start to lactate again. I don't know the name of it; however I do know a person who was going to start using it and she is a trustworthy person. For his spitting up have them do a PB or PH Probe. That will tell you if he has Acid Reflux or not. It took us several months to realize that my youngest had it. Please keep me posted at ____@____.com as to what goes on and if you find anything out.

I think your objective can be done.
1. Start drinking raspberry leaf tea, and eating things with anise in it, for they both aid in milk production.
2. I would pump, and see if you can jump start the hormonal feedback loop that is necessary with breastfeeding. Pump as often of slightly more often than you would nurse.
3. Add garlic to your diet, for it entices the baby to nurse longer.
4. I would say you should call the Le Leche league. they do know about these things.

J., I am not sure if your milk will come back but I would suggest you talk to the lactation nurse at the hospital where you had your baby at. Good luck.

Not sure what you can do but I called this number to get help there is a lactation consultant on call 24/7 1800-4-gerber.

Hope that helps

G.

Ask you doctor for a prescription for reglan. It is a nausea medication, but I have known of several people that have had their milk come back by taking it. It will not hurt the baby either. Make sure you are breastfeeding or pumping every 3 hours at least until your supply has returned sufficiently.

There is a pill at the Health food stores that is supposed to help your milk come back in I have heard it works great I had a friend that used it and she was in full swing of things in like 3 weeks, I hope this helps
J.

Hi J.! First of all, good for you! I know you wanted alternative ideas to nursing and pumping, but have you tried power pumping? You can pump for a few minutes on each side, wait about 10 minutes, and then repeat the process for an hour a few times a day. I have heard it really works! I have also included some helpful links. Breastfeed.com is a great site, and I love Kellymom.com. They have tons of information! I would also suggest finding a good lactation consultant. They can make a world of difference and really help you to foster a great nursing relationship. Hope this helps. Good luck to you! I know you can do this!! :)

http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/relactation.htm

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation.html

http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBrelactation.html

Pumping is the key. My mother-in-law got her milk supply in by pumping throughout the day before she adopted a baby. She was about 49 and she was without her uterus and ovaries! Good luck.

There is a drug called Domperidone that is used to increase milk supply. Do a google search, or call the folks at Mothering magazine for more info. You can also try the natural things, like Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, etc...

Read this:
http://www.lact-aid.com/rpt025.htm

Could be helpful

Fenugreek, is a natural vitamin to boost your milk, you can find it in a vitamin or natural foods store. They may even have it at Wal-Mart. When my milk dried up, it helped me greatly, it took me from about 3oz to pumping 8oz a day, but within about 3 months it was gone completely. I think once it's done it's done.

To echo another poster's grandma, the beer a day thing does work. I don't know about relactation, but when I was nursing having a beer once in a while (never more than 1 in a day though) did boost my milk production. Good luck!

I breastfed all four of my children. As far as I know it's more hormonal, so once you dry up, you can't nurse again. The hormones necessary for it are produced while being pregnant.

Hi J., you deserve a medal! You can definately do it! Contact a lactation consultant in your area - call your hospital if you don't know one. Check out the La Leche League website too. I know it is very possible, so just keep seeking the support until you find someone who is supportive.

I know if a lady who is adopting a baby and knows BF is best, so she is working towards lactating - with no baby!

You hang in there! Your baby won't know how devoted you are!!

Some of these links are about adopting babies but the info is good. Best wishes. :)

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html

http://www.asklenore.com/breastfeeding/abindex.html

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=481793

There is a prescription medication called Reglan. It is typically used to treat nausea, but can be used to raise your prolactin levels and therefore increase your milk production. You may want to discuss this option with your Dr. I hope this helps!