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Relactation is re establishing milk supply after milk production has ceased. It can be a long road of hard work, patience and dedication, but I has and can be done! Some mothers have even gone on to nurse adopted babies!
You’ll want to pump every 2-3 hours around the clock, just as a newborn would nurse. Once your supply returns and increases you’ll be able to take one 5 hour break during the night. A hospital grade or closed system pump is recommended, however a hand pump will suffice as long as the time length recommendations are met. If baby is willing to nurse, allow baby to do so. The stimulation will also help boost supply. If you are giving your expressed milk via a bottle, make sure to bottle pace feed.
If your baby is mostly formula fed, feeding baby through a supplemental nursing system (SNS) can be beneficial towards helping you relactate. Our bodies produce milk through a supply and demand model. An SNS allows baby to stimulate your nipples while taking in supplementation through a small tube attached to your nipple area. Even if nothing or minimal amounts are coming out it doesn’t mean what you’re doing isn’t beneficial. SNS can be purchased through Amazon or at any baby department store. Once you’ve increased your output, you can start decreasing supplementation and replacing it with breastmilk or breastfeeding.
Galactagogues are a popular go to to help increase milk production. Unfortunately many of these milk boosters can actually be harmful to baby or mom, and in some cases even toxic. Many times parents mistake coincidences for results, however if the root of the issue is not taken care of then you're looking a spending a lot of money on remedies that only seem to work randomly. Increasing demand, expressing milk often, and ruling out things such as oral ties or overfeeding at the bottle are going to give you dependable natural results.
Lots of cuddles through skin to skin is beneficial in boosting oxytocin which in turn helps boost supply. Be sure to also remain hydrated and well fed. Good luck! You've got this!
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