Understanding Relactation for Restarting Breastfeeding
Restarting breastfeeding, or relactation, involves resuming breastfeeding after a gap. Whether due to medical reasons, initial difficulties or personal choice, many mothers find themselves wanting to restart breastfeeding after a pause. However, the journey isn’t always straightforward and may present unique challenges. With the right relactation tips, support, and determination, you can successfully begin breastfeeding again.
Key Factors in Successful Restarting of Breastfeeding
Before diving into relactation tips, it’s important to understand the factors that influence your breastfeeding journey. These include:
- Your baby’s age
- The length of time since you last breastfed
- Your general health and wellbeing
Now, let’s explore some crucial tips for restarting breastfeeding.
Relactation Tips for Restarting Breastfeeding
1. Foster Skin-to-Skin Contact
One of the most effective relactation tips is encouraging skin-to-skin contact. This can stimulate your hormones and jumpstart your milk supply. Moreover, skin-to-skin contact can calm your baby and strengthen your bond, making the relactation process smoother.
2. Use a Breast Pump
Pumping can also be a helpful tactic in relactation. It helps maintain your milk supply and can stimulate the production of more milk. Make sure to use a hospital-grade pump for best results.
3. Feed on Demand
Meal schedules can be thrown out the window when you’re trying to restart breastfeeding. Instead, opt for feeding on demand. This means breastfeeding whenever your baby shows signs of hunger, helping to boost your milk production.
4. Seek Professional Help
If you’re finding the relactation process challenging, don’t hesitate to seek help. Lactation consultants, midwives, and healthcare providers can offer invaluable advice and support. These professionals can provide personalized relactation tips that cater to your unique situation.
Overcoming Challenges in Relactation
Relactation is not without its challenges. Many mothers face issues like nipple confusion, one side preference, or slow milk production. However, with effective strategies, these hurdles can be overcome.
For instance, nipple confusion — where a baby has trouble toggling between bottle and breast — can be tackled with patience and persistence. Resources from organizations like La Leche League provide guidance on managing this common challenge.
If your baby develops a preference for one breast over the other, consult your healthcare provider or check out expert advice on managing one-side preference. This is a common occurrence that can be addressed with various techniques.
Lastly, if you’re struggling with maintaining your milk supply, remember that consistency is key. Regular pumping and feeding can help stimulate milk production. Additionally, ensure you’re hydrating and eating well to bolster your body’s ability to produce milk.
Remember the Three ‘Keeps’
The “Three Keeps” approach is a motto for all mothers planning on restarting breastfeeding. It consists of keeping close to your baby, keeping calm, and keeping breastfeeding. By maintaining physical closeness, a relaxed attitude, and consistent feeding, you can significantly enhance your chances of successfully restarting breastfeeding.
Additional Strategies for Successful Relactation
Let’s delve into some more strategies that can help you in resuming your breastfeeding journey.
5. Co-Sleep Safely
You can consider safe co-sleeping to encourage your little one to nurse more frequently. This will let your baby latch whenever he/she wishes to, which can support milk production. However, bear in mind that safe sleep guidelines, as recommended by experts, should always be followed for co-sleeping to avoid any potential risks.
6. Use Galactagogues
Galactagogues are foods, herbs or medications that can help to increase milk supply. Consider incorporating them into your diet or daily routine only with the advice of a healthcare provider. It’s also important to understand that these aids work best in conjunction with frequent breastfeeding or pumping.
7. Utilise Gentle Induced Lactation Protocol
As per the Byram Healthcare, the protocol starts with just stimulation — no milk removal — and gradually moves to removal of milk so that the body gently adjusts to the new demand.
Applying Patience and Perseverance to Your Journey
While the desire to restart breastfeeding is a significant first step, one must also cultivate patience. Understandably, resuming lactation may take several days or even weeks to begin. Thus, maintaining a positive attitude and a belief in your body’s innate abilities are equally crucial for success.
Understanding the Slow and Steady Process
Relactation isn’t an overnight process. It may take time to stimulate milk production and for your baby to relearn breastfeeding habits. The Global Partners in Infant Feeding recommends taking it slow, as pushing yourself too hard may create stress that will affect your desired outcome.
Trust Your Body
It’s important to trust your body’s breastfeeding capabilities. Breastfeeding is a natural process; however, like other natural processes, it may need time to re-establish after a gap. Formulate a plan and believe in the power of your body by remembering pregnancy and childbirth. You’ve done it before and you can do it again.
Connecting with other Mothers Through Support Groups
Many mothers have been in your shoes and are there to lend an ear, share experiences, or provide advice. Support groups — whether online or in person — are an excellent way to gain insights and moral support from mothers who have been there before. Many websites, like the La Leche League International, offer local and online support groups for breastfeeding mothers.
Final Thoughts
Relactation is a personal and individual journey, influenced by numerous factors. However, armed with valuable information, professional support, peer help, and a dose of determination, the journey can be a successful and fulfilling one. As with any worthwhile endeavor, remember that the process may be challenging but the outcomes are rewarding. Do not hesitate to reach out to professionals if in doubt and know that you are not alone on this journey.
Ultimately, whether breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or a combination of both, your love and commitment as a mother is what matters most to your baby.