Expert: Jennifer Herrin, RN, IBCLC - 2/2/2006

Question
Is it possible to begin breastfeeding again after stipping? If so how long a period can lapse?

Many thanks

Tracey

Answer
Hi Tracey, and thanks for writing. I apologize for the delay in responding; I was unexpectedly without email for three days.

Yes, it's certainly possible to start breastfeeding again after stopping. (It's even possible for women who have never even been pregnant to breastfeed, such as adoptive mothers.) The amount of time needed to get a full milk supply back varies from woman to woman, but as a very general rule of thumb, you can expect it to take about as long as the time since stopping. So if it's been three weeks, for example, the mom should plan on needing about three weeks to build up a full supply again -- and if it takes less time than that, great! And for those women who don't, for whatever reason, get a full supply back, their babies will still benefit greatly by any amount of breastmilk they *do* get; breastfeeding definitely doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing process!

If it's been just a short time since stopping, frequent nursing and supplementary pumping will probably be sufficient, but some women benefit from galactagogues -- substances, either prescription or herbal, that can increase milk supply -- to get a jump start on the process and help it along. Here's a Web site with excellent, up-to-date information on the various galactagogues:
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/herbal_galactagogue.html
(Please note that those with a history of peanut allergy should avoid fenugreek.)

An SNS -- supplemental nursing system -- may also be helpful; this gives the baby adequate nutrition (in the form of formula or pumped breastmilk) while increasing the baby's time at the breast, which gives the baby more practice and the mom's breasts more stimulation; here's a link to a picture so you can see what I'm talking about (scroll down to "Supplemental Nursing System"):
http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/specialtyfdg.html#startersSNS

Here are some other links to articles, information, and how-to's on relactation:
http://www.alisaikeda.com/Clients_Clips/Relactation/body_relactation.html
http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/relactation.htm
http://www.lact-aid.com/rpt025.htm
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/adopt/relactation-resources.html#linksrelactation

Hope this is helpful!

Jennifer