If you have followed my journey for a while, you will know that I had severe anxiety attacks after my birth with Cameron (now 3.5 years old) and weaned him from breastfeeding at a mere 1 week old because of medication and advice from health professionals.
What followed was a lot of guilt and it made recovery from postpartum depression and anxiety even more difficult. I didn’t really know what options I had and am very thankful to a child health nurse who asked if I was aware of re-lactation. By this point, it had only been three weeks but Cameron was used to the bottle with donor milk and my milk had dried up due to lack of stimulation and stress.
Thank goodness for Google and an open mind. I researched and read and questioned and researched some more. I found a lactation consultant at a free clinic and whilst she hadn’t had any experience with relactation, she was willing to seek advice and provide me with information. I shared my journey at my side blog: Relactater.
What is relactation?
In short, it is re-establishing breastfeeding after stopping, or after a period of very little breastfeeding. Another related process is induced lactation (inducing lactation artificially – typically for adoption).
How likely am I to succeed?
There isn’t a lot of research on relactation, but the studies that have been done suggest that, with proper support, most mothers can partially or fully relactate.
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I was very fortunate. I was able to go from expressing a couple of drops of breast milk to a full supply AND get Cameron back to the breast. It took a month, and lots of determination and effort but it was well worth it.
After relactating I nursed my son until I was 12 weeks pregnant with my daughter (my supply dropped to almost nothing) and Cam was almost 21 months old. Since then I have received emails, sometimes more than one a week, with desperate mamas wanting to relactate but feeling lost and wanting to find someone who has successfully relactated.
So this post is for them.. and all the future mamas who need the help, guidance, information and support. I’m not an expert, just happy to share my experience.
Top 10 Relactation Tips
(All of these I used myself)
1. Do not forget the importance of drinking water and resting.
2. You are going to need supportive family, friends and healthcare professionals.
3. Galactagogue medication (Domperidone aka Motilium) helps your breastmilk production immensely. In some countries, this is not available anywhere but online. In Australia you can see your doctor for a prescription and advice.
4. Galactagogue supplements such as Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle can increase your supply.
5. Get a hospital grade double breast pump. I hired one through the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA).
6. Speaking of pumping, remember the #1 rule of breast milk production: supply = demand. Therefore, you need to pump more frequently than your baby is feeding and pump through the night (yes, really). I used a high quality strong electric double pump (a Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump) which saved time.
7. Skin on skin time with baby has been shown to be effective in helping breast milk production.
8. You can consider purchasing a Supplemental Nursing System (SNS). I used this to bring my baby back to the breast after bottle successfully. This is a device that feeds the baby extra milk at the breast (rather than by bottle) through fine tubes connected to a container worn on a cord around the mother’s neck. This adds stimulation for milk production as the baby sucks and can help bring a baby back to the breast.A Supplemental Nursing System can be used with either formula or breast milk (including donated breast milk*) Ensure you get the help of a lactation consultant, as it can be fiddly and hurt the babies mouth if used incorrectly.
9. Make some lactation cookies. At the very least, they are delicious! The cookies are high in omega 3 (through the eggs and the linseed/flaxseed meal) which is proven to boost breast milk supply. Brewers Yeast is also meant to be a milk supply helper, and is high in protein. Brewers Yeast and Flaxseed/Linseed meal can be found at health food stores. Add your own subsitution for chocolate if you wish – e.g dried apricots, mashed banana, almonds/cashews, coconut, etc.
10. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Relactating takes time and effort out of an already exhausting day of raising a baby. Accept help! Anyone supporting a relactating mama should consider: baking a batch of lactation cookies, bringing over a meal, offering to help with other children and/or baby. Every bit helps.
Keep in mind: It is difficult, but it may be so worth it!
Relactation Resources:
The World Health Organization publication “Relactation: review of experience and recommendations for practice”
La Leche League (LLLI) page ‘Relactation’
Kelly Mom page ‘Relactation and Adoptive Breastfeeding‘
* I used donor breast milk for a few weeks while relactating. Lucy was also fed the breast milk of several generous milky mamas. You can read about my donor milk experience here.
If you are interested in donating or receiving donor breast milk, Human Milk for Human Babies (HM4HB) are amazing organisations that help connect local families who have made the informed choice to share breastmilk.
Thank you for reading!
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Wow! That’s impressive! I have heard about relactation but I didn’t know anyone who had actually relactated. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience!
It was hard at the time not being able to find other mamas, even online, who had successfully relactated. I promised myself that when (not if, I was so determined) I succeeded, I would share my story to give others hope :) Thank you for your comment Cristina.
This is amazing! I am currently struggling with relactation. I had stop breastfeeding my baby when he was one month old because I suffered from a yeast infection in my breast and the pain was unbearable. He is now almost 3 months and I feel like I am missing out on breastfeeding him. Specially since I breastfed my 2 year old for 2 years ( I was actually tandem nursing during that first month of my second one) and had to stop breastfeeding both of them. I’m not concern the older one but I do feel guilty about not giving my infant what I gave to his brother. So I decided I was going to relactate last week and I was very determined, just like you. But after a couple of days I have felt discouraged, it is a very hard process and there is very little information about it. I’m very happy you wrote this and I thank you so much for giving the hope I need. Wish me luck.
I have a naturally low supply and I have been taking some fenugreek with blessed thistle pills and they have helped so much. I have been telling everyone I know. I bought them on amazon. I also drink a ton of water and when I don’t keep up on drinking water I notice a decrease big time. Also look up lactation recipe’s there are so many! :)
I hope the best for you momma!
Nice post! Thanks 👍! I used domperidone (for relactation) for my first two boys. I was so happy ❤️ I found ‘DOMBF365’ in Google and got Dom so soon. While I never had to supplement, I worked full time from two months and am not a great pumper. I saw results from the meds within a day or two, and stayed on it with my first for six moths. With my second, once my supply increased, I weaned myself off the meds and my supply stayed strong. I’d also recommend directly breastfeeding as much as you are able, as that works wonders as well!!!
I used domperidone (for relactation) for my first two boys. I was so happy ❤️ I found “GETDOM4BF” in Google and got Dom so soon. While I never had to supplement, I worked full time from two months and am not a great pumper. I saw results from the meds within a day or two, and stayed on it with my first for six moths. With my second, once my supply increased, I weaned myself off the meds and my supply stayed strong. I’d also recommend directly breastfeeding as much as you are able, as that works wonders as well!!!
I also suffered from postpartum anxiety AND had to relactate due to delayed milk onset from my c-section and baby’s birth weight dropping and therefore full on formula supplementation. I was not able to get domperidone, but I did use reglan, which is not as good because it can cause depression! I also used the SNS. My lactation consultant revealed to me later that she was actually quite surprised that I was able to come through with a full milk supply. I believe the postpartum anxiety bordered on PTSD. I’ve always been a happy, not super anxious person, so it really shocked me to have these flashbacks and panic. It’s still painful to write about, but maybe it’s time to give it a go on my blog. How is the La Leche League support in Australia? That is the only thing I would add to this post. :)
Wow Aubrey, that is incredible to find out you went through similar. I’m sorry you dealt with postpartum anxiety, it is so hard.
In Australia we have the ABA (Australian Breastfeeding Association) which are fantastic. That is who I hired the pump through. I thought I linked to them, I will fix that now!
Can I relactate after a year and 4 months? I wanted to bring back my baby to breast because i felt guilty about not breastfeeding her. If yes, How ? Thank you for the help :)
Congratulations! I am a lactation consultant and this is not easy. How old was your baby when you began relactating? The amount of time you wait can also affect how soon you see results.
Thank you Martie, yes my son was only 5 weeks old when I started relactating and had only been having bottles for a little under a month. I was blessed and determined :) I appreciate your comment!
I really need some help my son is 3MONTHS OLD am trying to get my supply back up to flowing cause my son is breastfeeding and on fourmlar and I just want to breastfeed him my hospital told me to try it cause it’s healthy er on he was on fourmlar cause of jandice but jandice was gone I had no real person From The hospital to help me at all my name is chrissy am 24
I wish I knew there was such thing as relax stating sooner. I stopped breastfeeding my son when he was 2 weeks old as I started having symptoms of PND (had it with my first child, so recognised the signs/feelings) I felt so bad giving up, still do. My milk dried up within a week, even though I continued expressing. (mind you, not as often as I probably should have & I don’t think I emptied my breasts)
My baby is 4 months now. Really wish I knew about this sooner.
I totally understand Shamarra, I know that guilt and was so lucky to have found out about relactation as an option when I did (less than a month after ceasing breastfeeding). Thank you for taking the time to comment :)
I tried re lactating when my daughter was 5 months old. Shes now 6. I stooped breastfeed when she was 3 weeks old because I got REALLY sick and barely could hold her to feed her. But with lack of support I got really discouraged and gave up. I wanted so badly to breastfeed my daughter since she is our last and I was so uneducated with my previous three children.
It’s that support that is key Jill, I’m so sorry you didn’t have it. I know that want. Thank you for commenting.
I would love some help. My cute baby is now 3 months old. I breastfeed him for the 1st week I was in so much pain baby and I both had thrush. Didn’t have much support with breastfeeding. This is my 3rd baby I breastfeed my 1st and the bottle with my 2nd. I started to pump last week every three hours and taking mother’s tea. I still haven’t seen much progress. I would really really like to breastfeed. What more should I do and do I have much of a chance to make this happen?
Hi Paige. Definitely see a doctor and discuss lactation medication. You’re doing all the right things. Wishing you luck :) Thank you for reaching out.
Hi, loved reading your experience. Am currently still breastfeeding my 4month old son, but am having trouble with my right breast, as it produces very little due to too little outlets on nipple, I think. Any advice on what I can do, as this really frustrates my son that he does not want to waste his time on this breast, but is happy on left breast.
I’ve heard of so many women doing this. My daughter weaned at 2 months old and is now 9 months old. Is it still possible for us to relactate and bf again even though it’s been so long? If so, how do I get her to latch on again?
I need advice on relactating
My son is now 8 months and I want to re-lactate. My apprehension comes from me working and as a result of working being out of the home and away from my baby for 12+ hours a day. Do you have any specific suggestions for working moms seeking to re-lactate?
Can i start breast feeding after six months i still have drops of milk come out i got a breast pump can i build up milk yet if so how long does it take or tips on doing so??
I’m so relieved that I came across your website. Thank you so much for giving me some hope of being able to feed again. I stopped when my son was 3 weeks and now, at 3 months i feel extremely guilty and want to start again. I’m going to make those cookies tonight and I’m on the double pump as I type :)
My daughter is 2 and half month old. I stopped lactation when she was only two weeks because my breasts starts infected and bleeding from these. I want to re-lactate but I cant because when I restart , infection also restart. I want to feed my baby but I cant do .Please suggest me for safe breast feeding to my baby . Thanks!
Are you seeing a Lactation Consultant Kosar?
I am currently struggling with whether or not to attempt this. My baby is just a few days shy of 1 month old and I’ve been pumping just 3 times a day. I have 3 other children, so finding time to pump is difficult, which is why I only managed to pump 3 times a day. My milk supply has dropped drastically within the last week. Would trying to relactate help increase my output for only being able to pump 3 times a day?
I am trying to read and seek help on being able to improve my milk production. I have a 4 month old baby and she feeds/ comfort feed on me during the night. During the day she has become playful that she has stopped feeding. I started formula when she was born as I went through c section and mid wife’s at the hospital weren’t helpful. Due to the stress I started giving her supplements on top. Add to this I had breast soreness and bleeding so had to stop breast feeding until I got better. Midwife encouraged me to give formula as baby had lost 10% of birth weight within few days.
At the moment I feel so guilty that I wasn’t able to breastfeed my baby fully. I was unaware of expressing so came across few blogs recently and have started expressing at least 6 times a day and able to produce 200ml which covers one time feed during the day. How do I increase my supply from here? Should I express more? I use a medela swing pump. Should I switch to symphony? Will expressing alone increase my supply? I do not have much support and so have to look after my baby and do it all by myself. Husband looks after little one after he is back from work.
I need help and not sure what to do or where to go from here…are you able to help me?
I am considering starting to relactate. My baby girl is 8 months old and I stopped breastfeeding her at 4 months due to low supply and a horrible latch issue even with a beast sheild. I tried to exclusively pump, but was too busy chasing my 2 year old to pump 10+ times a day. I really would love to breastfeed again, any suggestions???
My dd is 6 weeks and I fed her for 3 weeks until I had cracked nipples and blockages and thrush I have since formula fed her and am looking at relactating although wondering how to get bub to open her mouth wider to attach any suggestions I feel as though this is the only problem as I still have leaky boobs.
This is the exact problems that I had. To the T. We stopped at 3 weeks old because of extremendous pain while latching and feeding, and also thrush and clogged ducts. She is 7 weeks old now and I am looking into relactation. Did you ever get any help on this? My poor baby is now colicky because of being on formula and bottle fed. I can’t stand to see her angry and hurting all the time. I feel so guilty!
My baby is 4and a half months and stopped breastfeeding at 2and alittle ..i was wondering if the cookies would help me to get my milk back in
Hi! Thanks for a great article. Can you tell me how long it took to get the “let down” to happen? I’ve been pumping vigorously for 5 days, and get drips and drops, and can hand express quite a bit. No let down yet though.
I’m a mom of a 9 month old baby girl and my supply dropped tremendously about 3 months ago. I have been pumping but I don’t get more than 2-3 drops. I after reading your story it has given me new hope and motivation to try harder. I plan to make lactation cookies and pump often(I have Medela in style). You mentioned getting galactagogue medication is that in addition to fenugreek or brewers yeast? I also have hypothyroid and I believe that’s the reason my supply has gone down.
Thanks
I had to wean my lo at 6 weeks he is now 3 months and i would like to breastfeed him. Its really harx for me because i keep reading how i should let him be at the nipple more but i work alot since im in the military. I do have a good pump and i just started taking mothers love more milk special blend. I try to spend as much time as i can with him when im home i always have skin to skin at least 30 min a day please help with any advice im a mother of 4 and none of my others latched but him so i would love to enjoy having that bond with my lo
Do you think relactation is possible even though my baby girl is already 4 months old? BTW – info on your site is very helpful! Thank you very much!
Absolutely :)
I can’t find anyone in the same situation as me ? I breast fed for about 3 weeks but supplemented about half with formula then switch to fully formula feeding. It breaks my heart. I just now heard about relactating!!! Why did no one tell me months ago?!?! ? anyway my son is 5 1/2 months old now and I’m dry as the desert! Is it even possible to relactate??? How long should I try if so?? I’ve been taking fenugreek for 2 days and started a lot of skin to skin and pumping.
My baby has Down Syndrome and he is 11months old. I have exclusively breastfed him for a month because he had surgery in the intestines and doctors said, he might not digest formula. However, his weight has dropped tremendously and looks like he’s malnourished. I have asked his pediatrician if we can supplement with formula. She did recommend to increase weight. I have continuously pumped milk and feed him through the bottle as he has low muscle tone even in the mouth. Also, so I can measure how much breastmilk he is taking in. I have done this since he was a month old up to now. Recently though, my milk has decreased tremendously and is almost drying up.
I have attempted to introduce him to the breast but he keeps on biting me as well. His physical therapist said he’s compensating due to the low muscle tone.
I wish I can re lactate. Is it still possible for me?
OMG why didn’t I read this article sooner!!! I stopped breast feeding at 4 1/2mo. and now my daughter is 7 months old. I started taking my left over fenugreek pills this morning and am pumping my breast as we speak right now and getting a bout a drop of milk. THIS IS SO CRAZY!!! i mean not to get anyone excited its just a drop of milk very little but I thought i was done! I mean i had “dried up”. We’ll see what happens in the next few weeks! Thank you so much for writing this article! hugs n kiss from L.A!
Has anyone else had success stories?? I am trying to relactate right now!
It’s been a litter over 24 hours..
How soon did you milk come in?
Hi I’m thinking of relactatiing can you keep in touch with me so I can have help in the process and after thanks.
I had cracked nipples and couldn’t bear the pain so i gave my baby a formula for a week is it possable to breastfeed again?
What can I do to try and make her want to when I try she pushes her head away and crys? I would love to breastfeed again I didn’t know it was possible. Its been 7months is it still possible?
Hi, I’ve bottle fed my baby since age was born, she’s now 12 weeks, I want to try and start breastfeeding her. She suffers from silent reflux, is it wise to do this?
Hi, did you ever try this and if so did it work? My son is just over 3 months and feel like now I should be feeding him Breast milk and not formula. We had a tough time finding the right formul. I am hoping if I keep pumping I can get some Breast milk.
I am absolutely desperate to relactate after my baby having tongue tie and myself having an appendicitomy. Can you help me please? x
Now my dather 10years old, and I can taken the tablet and stopped my Brest milk in 1year old for her, but now I really feel to like breastfeeding my sister son so I can again restored r relocated my Brest milk what to do please give me a any suggestions again restored my Brest milk 1ncs I will best feeding my sister child it possible tel me
I need advice on breastfeeding
Amazing to read. But my son is almost 5 months old and stopped breastfeeding due to low supply and I want to start back up but I’m pregnant again and I want to know if it’s safe for me try to start back please any help will be great.
I have a 4months old baby,was never on the breastfeeding since birth,She is on a Formula,since she was 2months,she would drink the bottle,and when burp her she would puke all of it,and am not happy with her weight.I love Breastfeeding, the reason of not nursing from birth was that I am on Depression, so was advised to give a Formula,but now I feel so guilty, I was taking serdep for depression even on my pregnancy, I don’t know if it’s safe for the baby….please help.
Hi! I’m in the process of relactating. Where can I purchase the feeding tube to help with bringing my baby back to the breast?
Can this be possible after a year?? I breastfed my son until he was 2 months old. He is now 14 months old. Is it possible to start again?
Hi, I had a surgery when my baby was 2 months old he was only on the bottle for 2 days. I did pump those two days but I have practically lost my supply . Also now he is having trouble latching on. I really don’t want to give up brestfeeding a any help would be so much appreciated.
Due to excessive bleeding after c-section, I was admitted to the hospital for a whole week without nursing my baby and when I came back home, my supply was nearly diminished. I was badly wanting to bf my LO and tried bunch of remedies to establish my supply but I was unable to produce except a few drops. Then started drinking Healthy nursing tea and fortunately, within a few days, I started producing 4 to 5 oz milk in each session.
I’ve never heard abour relactation before, I just decided to search on google about the possibility of breastfeeding after stopping. That’s where I came across all this possibilities and how one can achieve this. It was such a relieve to know that there are woman out there who relactated and was successful as I also want to give it a try. My baby was 5 months and 3 weeks when I stopped breastfeeding, and its been almost a month since then, but I really want to get her back on the breast. I asked around a little, but 95% of the people spoke to are agains relactation, some even said the babay could get sick from drinking milk after having stopped so I should not consider. I feel like every one is against it and I have no support :(
I breastfed/pumped for my twins until 8 months. At that point I got very sick and lost a ton of weight. I was 89 lbs and the doctors thought I was insane to keep BF and adviced me to stop. My twins are 16 months now and I regret stopping every day. It makes me cry to watch other mothers breastfeed. Every time my child is upset at a store or before bed I want to be able to sooth them. I desperately want to relactate I just don’t know if it’s possible and I don’t know how to find support for it.
I found some useful information about about the possibility of lactation without pregnancy and its stimulation. If it’ll be interesting to you, you may find the necessary information here – http://motherhow.com/lactation-without-pregnancy/
I’m a mom of 3 I nursed my two older girls for 10 and 12 months. My 3rd child cries a lot and I’m older, my body is weaker so I’m freaking tired. My husband makes rude comments about me not nursing our 3rd son like the other two. I wanted to nurse but we struggled with his latch and I switched to pumping to bottle feed until his mouth was bigger. His demand increased so we started supplementing with formula. I grew more and more exhausted and stopped pumping over night to get the extra rest. Now my supply is minimal and my husband is not supportive. I’m feeling very guilty and wish he knew how it felt.
Can you please email me or send me a pm on FB..please!!
I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to tell your story. It has absolutely been a life saver for me. My daughter just turned 5 weeks an I started out breastfeeding an it only lasted less than a week. I wasn’t producing enough an she was hungry all the time an actually lost more weight than she should have. I had my heart and mind set on breastfeeding and I thought all hope was lost until I actually came across your story. Thanks for sharing something so personal.
Hi there! Please contact me if and when you can! Wanting to relactate after a year, so I have a great task ahead of me, and many questions.
I stopped breastfeeding my baby girl when she was two months old and now she’s 6,can restart?
I stopped breastfeeding my baby girl when she was two months old and now she’s 6,can I restart? Is there any health effects on the baby or I when relactating?
This is super cool! I’m a mother of twin boys. As they were born premature they were in the nicu and started off on bottle feeding and after that I was unable to initiate breastfeeding. They are five months now and almost dried up. I was hand expressing and pumping once in a while because i was too busy to keep up constant pumping. I visited a lactation consultant last week and started off with the relactation process. I am able to produce few drops while I hand express but unable to get a single drop through pumping. I am worried if it is because the pump is not proper or if it will take time to start getting milk through pumping.
I have started the process of relactation, drinking lactation smoothies, lactation brownies, fenugreek and brewers yeast as well. When pumping I am getting little yellow sticky things coming from my breast. Its like a jelly. I just started pumping so this is all very recent. Is that something you experienced or heard of?
I am trying to build a supply of milk again. My baby is almost 9 months and is spoiled to the breast. She doesn’t want anything else and my supply has almost completely diminished. I started supplementing due to a number of factors and I am at the point where I know this is what I need to do to keep her happy and healthy. I would like more tips or help and any support other mommies can give me! Please help !
I need so much help I am 20 with my first baby who was born with jaundice and I was told to stop feeding him for 3 weeks . well in those 3 weeks my milk disappeared pretty much completely . I have been waiting and drinking and pumping but I am getting nowhere all I do is cry because it kills me to see my month-old baby on formula . I want to be able to breast feed him I feel
Hi.My daughter is 3months 13 days old.I stopped feeding when she is in middle of third month due to some health problems.My diet got changed (I ate chicken,egg,fish).Now I want to feed her.What is the process
Would this be possible almost 9 months post partum? I had so many struggles at birth (C section, impaction, post partum preeclampsia, little support, low blood sugar for baby) and tried to BF and pump for the first month. Admittedly I was not consistent with pumping or bringing baby to breast. I finally consulted with a PCP who told me that it’s possible I have insufficient breast tissue for lactation. When I heard that I gave up. I’d never became engorged and was only ever able to pump a drop or two. Any chance?
I’m in the process of relactating and it’s very draining mentally and physically!! On the verge of giving up but I need to push through for my baby! Thank you for sharing your story, it has helped me alot 😊
My baby is 6mo. I pumped exclusively until he was 5mo, overproducing. I was tired, and felt I pumped enough. I quit for about 2 weeks, and decided I want to pump again (recently quit my job to stay home). I’ve been trying for 2 weeks and barely getting anything. I’m not going to give up. I ha e done skin to skin and just bought the fenugreek and blessed thistle. I hope it helps. This article and comment forum is great – there isn’t much information and support out there for relactating. Good luck mammas!
I have started the journey pumping exclusively had to stop for about a month and half due to illness, now I haven’t breastfed for 20 + years and this is a personal journey, that my significant other and I have talked about the possibility of adoption, I was doing herbal supplements but stopped when ill, now since I have started pumping again I get a few sticky drops but not all the time, and my breasts ache especially around the 2- 2.5 hour mark. Is all of this a good sign and is there anything else I should add.
Thank you