Relactation, How to Breastfeed Again After Stopping

However, for any mother who is determined to continue breastfeeding, there is always a second chance: relactation!

Triggering the release of milk

Unplanned cessation of breastfeeding can be due to a variety of reasons, such as the mother having to be separated from the baby for work, hospitalization or other reasons. Stress can also affect milk flow. Meanwhile, the decision not to breastfeed immediately after the baby is born or other breastfeeding problems can also cause the milk to stop flowing.

Regardless of the reason, breastfeeding can be restarted with relactation. The term relactation refers to efforts to get the breasts that have stopped producing milk to produce milk again.

Keep in mind that these efforts may yield different results for different people, so don't expect instant results; it may take several weeks depending on the age of the baby, the time lag between breastfeeding and the condition of the breast. Because of these factors, the milk that comes out later cannot always be relied upon to meet the baby's full needs. However, relactation can still maintain the relationship between mother and baby.

Steps of Relactation

Let's do the following relactation steps optimistically.

• Frequently put the mother's nipple to the baby's mouth. If he/she is willing to latch on and suck, breastfeed him/her every two hours for 15-20 minutes. However, if the child is not interested, do not force but do not give up. Try again when he/she looks happy or sleepy. The more often you breastfeed your baby directly, the more likely the milk will flow again.
• Breastfeeding your baby at night. This can have a strong effect on milk production.
• Make baby's skin contact with mom's skin. This contact can be done by the mother and baby in a naked state so that skin touch occurs. Positions that you can do, for example, lying down and placing the baby on your chest. To prevent cold, cover with a blanket.
• Apply breast milk to the nipples before breastfeeding. When the breasts are able to produce milk, express a little before offering the breast to the baby.
• Between feedings, try to express breast milk. Expressing milk can be done using a pump or by hand. The act of expressing the breasts can stimulate the breasts to produce milk.
• Supplements containing kelabat (fenugreek), often referred to as a breast milk booster.
• Feeding formula through the breastfeeding position. If the milk has not yet come out and the baby is still breastfeeding with formula milk, Mommy can try to give formula milk in a position like breastfeeding from the breast.
• Be patientDo not expect this process to give instant results. Your child may refuse to breastfeed for 1-2 weeks before they get used to it. Meanwhile, it may take a few weeks for your milk supply to increase.

If breast milk production is still not ideal, you may need to supplement your baby's nutritional intake with donor breast milk, formula, or complementary solid foods if your baby is older than six months. In the meantime, it is very important to keep monitoring the baby's weight gain to ensure that his/her nutritional needs are well met.