What is Relactation?


Relactation is when a woman has previously breastfed and stimulates milk production again without benefit of a pregnancy.

This re-starting of lactation can be for a baby who had breastfeeding difficulties early on, who never breastfed, an infant who weaned prematurely, an adopted child, or even a kinship baby. Obviously, the stories of relactation are fascinating, as is the process of how a woman's breasts reactivate.

Love makes milk, literally.

When a person cuddles a baby and they spend time together, oxytocin is produced in both of them. Oxytocin is a hormone that causes you to feel loving feelings and helps to make milk, but that alone won't make you lactate.

If you stimulate your nipples whether by hand, breast pump or your baby suckling, then you will begin to make milk again. How much milk you make depends on your breast development and capacity, and the consistency and frequency of stimulation you are receiving.

There are also herbal and medical protocols for making milk.

There are protocols using herbal and medical galactagogues that will improve your milk production, though with some side effects. These are options you can consider, and you will have medical supervision while doing so.

Who is relactation for?

• Mothers who pumped for or breastfed their baby, quit and now regret it.
  
• Mothers who pumped or breastfed previous babies and are adopting a new baby.
• Lesbian couples who want to co-nurse
  
• Grandmothers and aunties raising their kinship baby

While the family configurations are endless, the goal is singular: You want to your baby to benefit from the comfort and closeness of breastfeeding and breastmilk feeding.

The good news is: You can definitely breastfeed your baby, even if you don’t make much milk.

Obviously everyone would love to be abundant and bounteous, because that's a wonderful feeling, but that might not be realistic.

• If you previously lactated or breastfed with good milk production, your chances are good that you will bring in good milk production again.
• If you have been pregnant or lactated for a short time, you may produce enough, but you may not, but you can still supplement baby milk at the breast.
  

Breastfeeding is so much more than providing food.

In all cases, it's better to go into it with your goal being to "nourish" at your breast and expect to supplement at-breast or by bottle. It's far healthier for you and your baby to define your own success, rather than try to meet a textbook definition of breastfeeding.

If you agree with this, I can help you.

All options are available: medical, stimulated, and supplemented induction and/or relactation. It starts with a consultation to understand your medical history, your baby's medical history, and to explore how you see yourself breastfeeding. 

Simply schedule an appointment. I look forward to helping you!