About Julie Love., LPN, CBC Expertise As a licensed practical nurse and a certified breastfeeding counselor, I can answer questions/make suggestions about getting started, nutrition, common problems-such as yeast/thrush infections, mastitis and clogged ducts, ect., lactation gadgets such as breast pumps, shells, shields, ect., alternative feeding methods such as cup feeding, finger feeding, syringe feeding, ect., positioning-proper positioning, positions to use after a c-section, positions for large and small-breasted women, ect., special needs and breastfeeding, such as premature baby, cleft lip/palate, neurological problems, and relactation/adoption, Baby blues and postpartum depression, and questions about medications while breastfeeding. It is out of my scope of practice to make a medical diagnosis.
Experience I work full-time as a nurse in an excellent OB/GYN office with many great doctors. I love working directly with breastfeeding patients and giving suggestions to physicians.
I have experience breastfeeding my daughter until she was about 18 months. I have went through difficulties, including a VERY reluctant newborn, after a c-section and long separation, sleepy baby, clogged ducts, putting in a 40 hour week at the same time-.I am the mother of 2 children and am hoping to help in any way I can!
Breastfeeding - relactating after 7 months of formula feeding
Expert: Julie Love., LPN, CBC - 1/9/2009
Question Hello. I am the proud mother of a 9-month old boy who I breastfed (almost exclusively) until he was two months old. Around that time I had to abruptly wean him and put him on soy-based formula. He currently lives with his great-grandmother (due to reasons beyond my control), but I will be starting overnight visits very shortly at my house. We recently discovered that he is lactose intolerant. My caseworker is encouraging me to try breastfeeding my son again. I tried, but he screamed at the sight of my breast. I still want to give him the best, even though I can't physically breastfeed. I have been pumping as much as I can, and it is possible for me to relactate. I've gone from being dried up, eating a bowl of oatmeal, to producing a few drops of milk within minutes of pumping. I've also been taking fenugreek, blessed thistle, and mother's milk tea. Would I need to take any prescription medication to induce lactation? Right now I am cutting dairy out of my diet to prevent my son from getting sick again.
So with all that, my main questions are:
Would I be able to express milk and give it to him in a bottle or sippy cup?
Would I need to look into prescription medication to induce lactation?
Would my cutting dairy out affect his lactose intolerance at all?
Thanks.
Answer Hi Elisabeth,
It has not been that long since you stopped breastfeeding, so it is very likely that you can do so successfully without medications. You can pump (a hospital-grade pump would be best) every few hours or as often as you can. You can try power pumping, where you would pump 10 minutes, take it off for 10 minutes, pump another 10 minutes, etc. for the period of one hour. You give it to him in a cup/bottle. Even better than pumping would be to latch him onto your breast. To help him do this, try when he is not crying or upset, sit in a quiet room with no distractions, dim lights, skin to skin contact, while rocking, etc. Use a breastpump first to get your milk to let down, then he won't get so frustrated.
Cutting the milk out of your diet could help, but you should see if it really affects him. After giving him breastmilk for a few days, add the dairy to your diet and see how he reacts. It is very possible that he won't react at all.
