Is it too late

[Gumby]

This is going to sound so stupid. My DS is almost 8 months and I yern to breastfeed him. I fed him for the first 3 weeks and just had a rough time with ils and gave up. That easy (blerrr :banghead: )
Is it possible to bring my supply up after such a long time?
Would it just be a waste of time?

What can I do?

If I cant feed him, how do I stop the strong urge and guilt of not continuing feeding in the first place?

Sorry if this just sounds like rambles but I am really keen to find out.

[nelly75]

If your son is safe & healthy you have no reason to feel guilty. I actually went through this exact thing after b/feeding my son for 2 weeks then putting him on the bottle. At 4 months I asked my MHN if I could try b/feeding again and she said he wouldn't know how to b/feed and would reject it being offered to him. I still feel guilty for not b/feeding but it just didn't work for me.

[KapowSchazam]

I know exactly how you feel :hugs:

I've been looking into relactation since I first heard of it when Bianca was six months. I tried offering her boobie but she just looked at me like I'd lost my mind! :banghead:

A lot of things have happened in my life since then, and I simply haven't had the time it takes to build up the supply again, so I haven't tried.

You can ring the ABA, they are very helpful and also have a booklet you can buy on relactation and adoptive breastfeeding (I've got one, if you want it, I can dig it out for you)

Basically, try offering the beast. Have as much skin to skin contact a feeds, and general 'together' time as possible. If your bub does what mine did when you offer the breast, you'll have to pump (hand or breast pump) to get supply going again. There are also feed lines you can buy through ABA so that once bub takes the breast again, you can attach these to the breast to give more milk supply, this means that bub is suckling for longer once they've emptied the breast - and this stimulates more supply. Pumping at night is best, as this is when hormones (from memory) are higher, and it's more productive.

Basically, it takes time and patience, but very do-able!

A woman who had never been pg or even one who doesn't have a uterus can commence lactation - it's a normal bodily function.

There are drugs you can take to help build a supply, but you have to talk to a GP about that. But, basically it's the body responding to the stimulation of suckling on the breast!

[Purplebird]

Hi,

I'm no expert and I'm too rubbish to post links (Don't know how to, lol) but there is lots of info about relactation on the internet. Best start is to go to Kellymom.com and then look at 'Adoptive feeding and relactation' (under the breastfeeding section. Hope that helps :)

[KapowSchazam]

It's easy enough to be told that you have no reason to feel guilty, and I don't know if it's the same in your case...but every feed, every time I have a shower or do anything where I basically see my bare boobs, I feel sad that I wasn't able to continue breast feeding. And I feel SOOO guilty that at the time I wasn't ABLE to do anything about it. My XDH went straight back to work after Bianca was born, and I'd had an emergency c-sect so I couldn't drive anywhere, and family couldn't/wouldn't help out. And no lactation consultants would drive out 'THAT FAR'...I HAD to feed my baby...but what I would give to be able to bf her... *sigh*

[Celebrity]

I success fully relactated after 8 months, but it took a lot of work, and determination.

Honestly, the stress was pretty huge. But I don't regret it.

See your doctor if you are serious about relactating. You can take Motilium, and you will need to hire a hospital grade breast pump. You can start the ball rolling by encouraging your baby to suck as often as possible.

If you do not decide to relactate, please know that you have done everything that you could to ensure that your baby is healthy. :hugs:

[JoJoMart]

That's not stupid at all. I partially BF Liam for nearly 3 months (comp with formula) as I never full established my supply. I've read heaps about BF since.......read a book from the ABA on relactation and increasing your supply. It was something I should have read ages ago. I guess in hindsight we all would do things differently, so don't feel guilty.

I asked the nurse the other day if 'any' breast milk is better than none and she said yes......my GP (male) also has encouraged me to keep giving Liam some breast milk so I've been expressing again and trying him on the boob. He STILL accepts the boob which shocked me a bit but the lack of milk drives him nuts! I also haven't got the energy to re-establish fully so I think he will just get a bit and remain mainly formula fed. The ABA booklet said to consider if at this time (after so long of not BF) you think it would be in bubs best interest to re-introduce BF?? Maybe not if they are used to the bottle?

Just try not to feel too bad about it.....totally normal to feel like this though!:hugs:

[allysophia]

What a journey! This will be undoubtably great practice also for the next baby.. and of course, strengthening the beautiful bond between you and bub.

I wish you luck! And I think you're tops for trying!:hugs: