Looking for some relactation support

[Becca]

I have been working on relactating for about a month now. I have had varied success due to traveling for the holidays, but have been working diligently at it since returning. I would really like to have someone to talk to who has done it before and could offer some support. I don't have much milk at all and the prescription drug available is not an option due to bad side effects I had when I tried it with my first son. I have been reading a ton and really haven't gone the herbal route because I have found so many varying opinions on how much to take. I have been eating oatmeal and drinking the mother's milk tea (although not 3-5 times a day as it suggests).

Did anyone else take more than a month to get a significant amount of milk when pumping? My son is still willing to latch and will occasionally nurse for comfort, although not often, so once I can get the amount up a bit, I know he can help the process, but what else can I do until then?

TIA for your help!

[LLLTanya]

First off, what an amazing commitment you are making by relactating! I have not tried relactating personally, but I do have some information that might be helpful for you.

The recommended dosage for increasing milk supply with fenugreek is 3 150 mg capsules 3 times per day. Most mothers see results within 72 hours. The only caution is for diabetic mothers, as it can lower blood sugar. A common side effect is for sweat and urine to smell like maple syrup. Not the end of the world, but I always like to tell mothers so that they are not surprised and think something is wrong. You can read more information about fenugreek here. It is a non-LLL source, but the information may be helpful for you.

http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milks...fenugreek.html

Mothers Milk Tea can be helpful for mothers with a full supply to ensure it stays plentiful. The teas are typically not recommended for increasing milk supply because the herbal dosage can vary.

[Becca]

Has anyone ever had extreme problems getting milk to come back in when relactating? I am investigating "health" issues such as iron, thyroid, etc and I do not think I had a full supply when I stopped nursing before. However, I did get milk in and had feelings of engorgement and had leakage during the 1st and 2nd weeks after birth. Any suggestions?

[Carpenterwoman]

Hi Becca!

Welcome to the forums!


So it sounds like you were nursing before and had milk, then started feeling like you didn't have enough? Is that about right?

How old is your baby now, and how long did you stop nursing for?
Any complications with your pregnancy or labor?
What happened after you delivered, how do you feel like it went?
What was your baby's birth weight, lowest weight and subsequent weights.
At what point did you start supplementing?
What exactly are you doing to develop your milk supply now... pumping, fenugreek, attempting to latch?

These questions will help all of us figure out what might be going on.

[Becca]

I nursed my son for 3 weeks. He had a poor latch (which I didn't really know then) and there may have been other problems going on also. I was nursing for 3 hours, then getting about an hour break, then nursing again. I started supplementing and was having trouble getting my supply to increase after that. My son was not gaining and not seeing enough wet diapers. I stopped bfing. 3 weeks later I started trying to relactate. I just pumped 7-8 times a day at first and ate oatmeal. About 3 weeks later, I was not seeing much as far as results, so I added fenugreek, blessed thistle and alfalfa as well as drinking mother's milk tea 1-2 times per day (I cannot see myself drinking much more than that). I cannot take reglan due to depression as a side effect (I experienced this with my 1st son who I also had problems bfing). I have had my iron, thyroid, and several other issues checked and everything came back normal. I have been in contact with 2 local lactation consultants and have tried several things. The last thing I know to do is to check my hormone levels. I will hear about that within a week, but I am not sure what that will tell me. I have come to terms with the fact that I may not be able to get more than the 1/4 oz or so I get each pumping, but I would really like to know if there is something else going on with my body that doesn't allow me to exclusively breastfeed in the first place.

Sorry for the long winded response, but it has been a long journey. My son is already nearly 3 months old now, so I am running out of time to try to get him back to breast without too much trouble. He already doesn't like it (even with a sns) because of low supply. Hope that helps.

[Carpenterwoman]

Hi Becca,

Take a look through this article: http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/hindrances.html

I'm wondering if you were put on any birth control after you delivered? Had any breast or nipple surgeries? Any history of medical difficulties prior to delivering?

So your son was not gaining any weight at all, not enough diapers? About when was that? (hugs) That's so hard to go through! What was the direction from your hcp at that point?

What are the few things you have tried with your local LCs?