Breastfeeding - Helena, MT

B., you can absoutly start breastfeeding again. It will take a few days to a week (possibly two) to get back up to full supply, so just nurse him as long as you can, and if he still seems hungry, then suppliment with a bottle. He may be resistant to nursing because it's easier to get food from a bottle than a breast,but if you stick with it, he should come around. If you have a pump, I would also recomend pumping after feeding him to helpincrease the supply. But one thing I would caution you about is the guilt factor. Think about that before you start this process, make sure its something you want to do for your son, and for your self, and not something you are doing because guilt says you have to. If you have to take a week or longer to think about it, you should. In that time, you could start pumping to get your supply back up and make the transition easier if you do decide to go ahead with nursing.

There is no expiration on nursing ability. There are adoptive mothers who have never given birth who were able to nurse their babies (with a little help in the beginning from a supplimental nursing system), and there have been cases of granmothers who have nursed their grand children because mom wasn't around, and neither was a bottle. So don't give up, but do make suer you are restarting for the right reasons, and not just because of guilt.

If you want to talk one on one, or if you would like more help or support, you can e-mail me directly: ____@____.com

Hope this helped you!
S.
Proud extended nurser and mum

Both of my boys were bottle fed and we have a strong bond and they turned out healthy. Don't let anyone guilt you into breastfeeding. I think it may take some work but you should be able to start nursing again, if that's what you want. I can understand you might not want to be "comfort only' nursing mom.

I was going to be put on some medication due to being sick and asked if I could stop nursing during the time I took the medicine and then resume nursing when I finished the meds (which would have been over a week) and I was told no. They said that I had to pump daily to keep my milk supply. I have heard of moms adopting newborns and nursing them so I am not sure if this is true. My first child used to use me as a comfort and to eat and it was VERY HARD TO HANDLE. This time with my second I take her off if I sense she is using me to sooth and give her a pacifier. I have heard that breastfed babies may need that extra sucking (even if we don't want to give in to pacifier use).

In regards to the getting involved idea...I think at what ever age you feel comfortable allowing child around other children is the time to start. With both of my children I started right away. What area do you live in?

Yeah, two weeks isn't bad at all. Just start nursing him again, and pumping afterwards. It shouldn't take long. My daughter is 4 months old and to keep my supply up I drink Mother's Milk tea, you can find it at any natural food store. It's nice a soothing to drink and it really helps you produce milk. Drink 3-5 cups a day, I would recommend the 5 at first. I drink a lot of it if I need to store up milk if my daughter is going to be babysat or something. Good luck!!

That's what breastfeeding is all about is comfort! It's something that only you can offer your child. I used a bottle a lot on the beginning with my daughter so she eventually did not want to breastfeed cause it's harder than drinking from a bottle. So after 2 months of struggling with her, pumping and trying many different things to get her back to breastfeeding I just got rid of the bottles and pacifiers and by the middle of the day she latched on. It was worth the months of pumping and all the struggles I went through. It is one of the most wonderful relationships besides all of the health benefits. There is nothing quite like it, when she would only take a bottle I felt so distanced from her. I think it added another level to my mothering ability.

You shouldn't feel guilty for stopping, but I agree with what Brekka says, breastfeeding is all about comfort for you and baby. I loved breastfeeding my son and he was happy to stay on the boob as long as I would let him! Eventually, I had to go back to work so I pumped and fed from a bottle but any time he was really upset I would offer him the boob and he would nestle in and calm down. I think you can restart your breastmilk up to a couple months after you stop, not sure though. I know if I ever have another baby, I have already decided to take a year off from work so I can be home breastfeeding exclusively. Lucky you!

Try pumping, you might be able to get it going again. Use the Avent pump, it's the only one I could get to work right and feel comfortable. It will probably be hard, but I think you should try. Another idea, once you see if you are getting anthing at all, is to use a thin tube to feed formula to your baby while he's suckling your breast. It will help to stimulate your flow and he won't get so frustrated that you both just want to stop. I had a lot of trouble with my milk coming in with my first one and this technique helps us nurse. I wouldn't worry about exposing your baby to other babies right now. Remember, he can't really see past about a foot, but if you need to talk to other adults, by all means get involved with a group.

Yes u can start breastfeeding again u just have to give him both breast and bottle for a while until u start producing enough milk again I stopped when my kids were 2 months and i felt guilty too so I give u props for wanting to continue not to mention you will lose alot of weight breastfeeding and it is better for him. Good luck

Good Afternoon,
Hey B.....I didn't look to see where you were from. But I would suggest that you go to your local hospital or where you delivered an talk with a lactation consultant, some ob nurses, or your ob doctor. You may be able to start pumping and slowly build up your milk. Sometime women may even leak br milk for up to a year after they deliver and even months after they have quit breastfeeding.
Now, about the group sort of thing. Even now, exposing your baby to sights and sounds isnt' a bad idea. In Fargo there are a few groups that meet. I am not in any...but I heard of MOPs that meet in Fargo at a Baptist church on Tuesday nights. I could try and find out more if you are in Fargo. Hope all goes well with you and have a great Christmas. LAB

B.,

You should be able to produce milk, just attach your baby to your breast and see what he does. You can also talk to your OBGYN about it, there may be some drug you can get to produce milk. Fenugreek helps alot with producing milk too, it's an herbal supplement you take. Your son may not have been using your breasts as a comfort thing, babies that young nurse quite frequently because they are getting the milk, and they need to nurse often when they are so young. I am breastfeeding my daughter, she'll be 10 months in a week. She's doing great with it. It's so much easier nursing when you are a stay at home mom. I love it it's such a joy to breastfeed, a good bonding experience between the baby and you. Hope you'll be able to breastfeed again.

B.,

Yes you can still breastfeed. WE adopted our daughter in 2002 and I was told you could even breastfeed a adopted child so i tried it, and I was able to sucessfully breast feed my daughter! Good luck!
A.

There has been a lot of guilt attached to breast feeding. My friend never was able to produce milk and felt horrible. It wasn't her fault and her children were never worse for it. My oldest was breast fed and was constantly sick until he was four. My middle one never was and has been the healthiest. Now my youngest was breast fed til six weeks but it is too soon to see if it really made a difference. Don't feel bad, formulas have really changed and now contain a lot of vitamins and are just as healthy. I believe it is the time spent with the child while feeding that create a bond not the way they are fed. How would do fathers create bonds with their children? They can't breast feed.

Most certainly so!!! Start him back in again nursing and supplementing with a bottle after each feeding until your supply is built up again. I would pump in between feedings too. A newborn nurses a lot. Usually at least every two hours. I'm still nursing my 19 month old and that's what I love the most-it provides her comfort. Don't give up. Breastmilk is the best thing possible for your little one!

Hey B.,

I don't have any advice for you on the breast feeding. Sorry. Have you tried contacting your local LeLeche consultant? If you don't know who that is, you could call the hospital where you had your son and they could refer you to someone that could tell you exactly what you need to do to start back up again. Are you still producing any milk? I would think you could up your production if maybe you were trying to pump yourself also. Just a thought.
Are you near Sioux Falls, SD? If you are I belong to the local chapter of Mom's Club International. We would love to have you as a member. If you want more information, let me know. ____@____.com any of this has helped.
Good Luck!
J. Shoemaker, Sioux Falls, SD

Since it's only been two weeks, I'd even try just letting him suckle and see if that stimulates your milk. You might try to pump too... but baby is really the best at getting your milk going. It is so hard to nurse but so rewarding for you both. I'm about ready to wean my baby girl - she is almost 16 months.

Yes you can!!!! You can start by having him nurse & then do a bottle at each feeding. It is so great that you are willing to do this for your child. Don't feel guilty about stopping, just go forward from now. You may find it helpful to pump, or you could also look into getting a SNS (Supplemental Nursing System) too help with the switch. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!