Teach me to re-lactate

[Kizmet]

Background history, i stopped bfing DS a week and a half ago after a 4am incident which had me ripping the top layer of skin off my nipples as they were stuck to my bra :no:

I fed him twice after that feed but I was in agony, so stressed out and in tears. I tried pumping but that hurt just as much!

He has been thriving on formula but I'm really keen to succeed at breastfeeding . I still leak every now and again so is it just as simple as pumping and eating lactation cookies?

What should I do?

Thanks in advance!

[reAllytee]

Start pumping every few hours but put bubs to the breast first.

Also try to make it as relaxed as possible dont stress if he doesnt feed just try again later. Spend lots of time skin to skin, so bathing together, laying in bed or even letting him play on the floor & you stay topless being around him. This way it tempts him in a way if that makes sense makes him want to be close & gets him smelling you. It also helps with your milk too.

Get your supply up with the cookies or something like Fenugreek but the best thing is getting him to feed as much as possible along with pumping.

Try & stay relaxed about it as i said earlier as this helps with your let down obviously cause this may frustrate him a little now that he has been using the bottle but also will help him relax too.

Good luck hun :hugs:

[Funkychicken]

Firstly, you need to put him back on your breast. He should take to it without any problems if it has only been a week and a half. The important thing for you is to ensure you have him well latched on to prevent further damage to your nipples.

If it is possible one of the best ways to establish or re-establish breastfeeding is to go to bed with your baby for a weekend. Just lay in bed with him with no shirt on and let him feed as much as he wants at any time. Loads of skin-on-skin and snuggles into your breast. This is the easiest, most efficient way to build your supply and with correct positioning, you shouldn't experience any pain. The key is to stay as relaxed as you possibly can and this way both you and baby will find it a positive experience.

To help boost your supply, you can take Fenugreek capsules. You can buy them in the Chemist or health food shop-made by Natures Own. You can take about 4 a day to begin with, although it won't mention anything about breastfeeding on the bottle.

Your body knows what to do as far as milk production goes and won't let you down. Just try to stay as calm and relaxed as you can and offer him the breast at every opportunity.

Good luck-remember to believe in yourself and know that you are doing the right thing by persisting with breastfeeding. :hugs::hugs:

[SilverStarfish]

Ouch!! That must have hurt :hugs:

Funkychicken has given you some awesome advice there. There's nothing I can add to that, except to say that if you find your nipples stuck to your bra or nursing pads again, hand express some milk to moisten the bra/pad, or hop in the shower... or, if you're flexible enough, stick your boob under the tap :)

[dragonflyblu]

a week and a half is not very long so you should be able to get your supply back.:thumbsup:

everyone has pretty much covered everything, i just wanted to give you some support. Just feed feed feed and slowly those formula bottles will not be needed at all.

[Funkychicken]

I just wanted to add if you want a really lovely, inspiring book to read, try Breastfeeding by Sheila Kitzinger. It is such a beautiful book and very easy to read.
In fact, I re-read it when DS#2 was born, this time 2 years ago, and I remember laying in bed with him and browsing through it and feeling all warm and fuzzy! :cloud9:

:hugs:

[AM]

Kizmet - the best thing is, you are already lactating!! So, that is by far the biggest hurdle out of the way :) Just think of it as re-introducing baby to the breast.

Get in touch with your local ABA crowd, and do it with their support, it can be a long process, but as everyone has said, a week and a half is not very long away from the breast, so it should (hopefully) be a fairly straightfoward thing to get going again. However, I really think the added support and expertise from those in the ABA would really help hugely IRL.

All the best, you are so awesome!! :D