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Is It Possible To Restart Lactation?
Question: I want to know whether re-lactation is possible.
I am a mother of 5 month old baby. I could breastfeed my son for the first 5 days after which he refused to latch on. He used to cry like hell whenever I tried to force him for latching and hence had to feed him with formula (Enfamil then Nan Pro1).
I had a low milk supply, so I used breast pump and could get 25ml to 30ml of milk in a day. Then from 2nd month onward milk supply gone further down and I could pump only 10ml to feed my baby. From 3rd month, milk dried up completely. I want to breast feed my baby, is it possible to get the milk supply again. Would like to mention I have flat or inverted nipple and I have lot of fat in my belly. May be, because of this latching was uncomfortable for my baby who was small in size. Low birth weight (2.26 kgs).
Now, he is over 6 kgs, may be he can latch now. Shall I try to breast feed him again? Is it possible to get the milk supply again? Please advise.
I am a mother of 5 month old baby. I could breastfeed my son for the first 5 days after which he refused to latch on. He used to cry like hell whenever I tried to force him for latching and hence had to feed him with formula (Enfamil then Nan Pro1).
I had a low milk supply, so I used breast pump and could get 25ml to 30ml of milk in a day. Then from 2nd month onward milk supply gone further down and I could pump only 10ml to feed my baby. From 3rd month, milk dried up completely. I want to breast feed my baby, is it possible to get the milk supply again. Would like to mention I have flat or inverted nipple and I have lot of fat in my belly. May be, because of this latching was uncomfortable for my baby who was small in size. Low birth weight (2.26 kgs).
Now, he is over 6 kgs, may be he can latch now. Shall I try to breast feed him again? Is it possible to get the milk supply again? Please advise.
Brief Answer:
yes, you can restart breastfeeding
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns. Exclusive breastfeeding the baby for the first six months of the life is advised. Breastfeeding is a cyclical phenomenon, meaning the more baby latches and sucks the breasts, the more milk supply is the there. Contrary is also true, the milk production and supply is almost nil if the baby does not latches and sucks the breasts for a long time, 5 months in your case.
Babies do have problems in latching and sucking the breasts when the nipples are flat or inverted. In that case, the mother needs to make the nipples prominent with the suction created by a syringe, but this exercise has to be started in antenatal period, under the guidance of the doctor.
However, since you are willing to restart breastfeeding, I would advise you to do this exercise now onwards, and start latching your baby to your breasts. Yes, you can have milk supply again. You have to be very patient as baby must have developed preference for bottle nipple and would be having nipple confusion. But slowly and steadily, he will learn to latch and sucks the breasts. To increase the milk supply, I would suggest you to have a lot of milk and milk products, food with increased protein content and take a teaspoon of cumin seeds daily.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back to us for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
yes, you can restart breastfeeding
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns. Exclusive breastfeeding the baby for the first six months of the life is advised. Breastfeeding is a cyclical phenomenon, meaning the more baby latches and sucks the breasts, the more milk supply is the there. Contrary is also true, the milk production and supply is almost nil if the baby does not latches and sucks the breasts for a long time, 5 months in your case.
Babies do have problems in latching and sucking the breasts when the nipples are flat or inverted. In that case, the mother needs to make the nipples prominent with the suction created by a syringe, but this exercise has to be started in antenatal period, under the guidance of the doctor.
However, since you are willing to restart breastfeeding, I would advise you to do this exercise now onwards, and start latching your baby to your breasts. Yes, you can have milk supply again. You have to be very patient as baby must have developed preference for bottle nipple and would be having nipple confusion. But slowly and steadily, he will learn to latch and sucks the breasts. To increase the milk supply, I would suggest you to have a lot of milk and milk products, food with increased protein content and take a teaspoon of cumin seeds daily.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back to us for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
I tried to latch my baby to my breasts, but he repelled and started crying. Then he got very angry and started throwing his legs and arms so that I have to leave him..
Got very frustrated and upset.
He is getting scared somehow. I have very fat body (weight - 110 kgs), and very heavy breasts. So, I have problem in properly latching my baby, so may be he was uncomfortable with the position. He did not even started sucking.
My other breast nipple is normal with which I tried.
please advise.
Got very frustrated and upset.
He is getting scared somehow. I have very fat body (weight - 110 kgs), and very heavy breasts. So, I have problem in properly latching my baby, so may be he was uncomfortable with the position. He did not even started sucking.
My other breast nipple is normal with which I tried.
please advise.
Brief Answer:
Try a different position while breastfeeding
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for responding.
If you feel that your baby is not comfortable in latching in any particular position, then I would suggest you to try different positions of breastfeeding to assess which one suits your baby best. I would suggest you to try the position of lying down on side first, as many babies find this position of breastfeeding most comfortable, and it is comfortable for the obese mother too.
I would further suggest you to have patience as this exercise will really long time.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back to us for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Try a different position while breastfeeding
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for responding.
If you feel that your baby is not comfortable in latching in any particular position, then I would suggest you to try different positions of breastfeeding to assess which one suits your baby best. I would suggest you to try the position of lying down on side first, as many babies find this position of breastfeeding most comfortable, and it is comfortable for the obese mother too.
I would further suggest you to have patience as this exercise will really long time.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back to us for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX
Thank you very much for your prompt reply. I will surely try this position.
Further I have few more queries:
1. I would like to inform you that my menstruation has already started from my baby's 3rd month of age onward.
Hope, this will not create any problem in generating milk.
2. What kind of milk products should I start ? You suggested cumin seeds, should I take it raw or grind-ed with water? Should I take any medicine?
3. Should I use breast pump for generating milk? If yes. then which is suitable manual or electric? Any specific model?
4. If my baby sucks then he will not get any milk initially, then he will lose interest. What to do?
5. I am a working mother. So, I get less time with my son. How many times, should I try to make him latch?
Thanks again for your help.
Best Regards
XXXX
Thank you very much for your prompt reply. I will surely try this position.
Further I have few more queries:
1. I would like to inform you that my menstruation has already started from my baby's 3rd month of age onward.
Hope, this will not create any problem in generating milk.
2. What kind of milk products should I start ? You suggested cumin seeds, should I take it raw or grind-ed with water? Should I take any medicine?
3. Should I use breast pump for generating milk? If yes. then which is suitable manual or electric? Any specific model?
4. If my baby sucks then he will not get any milk initially, then he will lose interest. What to do?
5. I am a working mother. So, I get less time with my son. How many times, should I try to make him latch?
Thanks again for your help.
Best Regards
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Patience is the key
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX thanks for responding. I will try to answer you question by number
1. Resuming periods anytime after childbirth does not effect breast milk production in anyway.
2. You should take milk products like cottage cheese, curd, yogurt, etc .Cumin seeds should be grinder and then taken with water.No medicine is recommended to increase breast milk except high protein diet.
3.Breast pump is not helpful in generating mik. It helps to express milk which is present in breasts. Manual breast pumps are better to express milk.
4.You have to be patient and consistent in putting your baby repeatedly to breasts. Initially, he may be irritated due to lack of milk, but slowly he will adapt to it and in the meantime, milk will start forming and secreting.
5. You should try to put him to breasts at least every two hours when you are with your son. When your son starts sucking in day and evening, gradually start breastfeeding him at least 2 times in night, preferably in side lying down position.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back to us for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
Patience is the key
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX thanks for responding. I will try to answer you question by number
1. Resuming periods anytime after childbirth does not effect breast milk production in anyway.
2. You should take milk products like cottage cheese, curd, yogurt, etc .Cumin seeds should be grinder and then taken with water.No medicine is recommended to increase breast milk except high protein diet.
3.Breast pump is not helpful in generating mik. It helps to express milk which is present in breasts. Manual breast pumps are better to express milk.
4.You have to be patient and consistent in putting your baby repeatedly to breasts. Initially, he may be irritated due to lack of milk, but slowly he will adapt to it and in the meantime, milk will start forming and secreting.
5. You should try to put him to breasts at least every two hours when you are with your son. When your son starts sucking in day and evening, gradually start breastfeeding him at least 2 times in night, preferably in side lying down position.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back to us for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Deepti Verma
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
Dr. Deepti Verma
OBGYN, Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Practicing since :2009
Answered : 5064 Questions
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