Go with the Flow!

When my girlfriend had issues similar.. the doctor told her oatmeal and fenugreek. She had a small bowl of oatmeal three times a day and took fenugreek capsules 2 or 3 times a day.. she smelled like maple syrup when she sweat, but it worked!!!

I hope that you have resolved this issue already.. if not let me know there are TONS of herbs to help (including the anise already mentioned)
-Dr. Heather

hi K., i dont know how long he has been off the breast, so i think it depends on that, though i have actually heard of moms who adopted babies getting themselves to lactate and breastfeeding sucessfully!! so it can be done. i am going to copy and paste the response i wrote to another mommy trying to boost her supply, these things will work to boost your supply, and probably to re-lactate if it hasnt been that long. if it has been too long for these things to work, i would definitely call a lactation consultant. i have the number of a good one who works out of winthrop hospital here on l.i., you can contact me if you want it, she is really nice. here is my other post, and there were lots of other helpful posts to this woman also, look back in the pages, its back about a week or so...
~~>hi jessie, and congrats on your little baby!! if you are truly determined to breastfeed, then you will suceed. you really have to ditch the bottles, and at 7 weeks, you should try to do it asap. it sounds like she is taking a lot of formula through the day, so you may have to do it a bit at a time, but it is your first priority. like lots of the ladies here suggested, you should have a "nurse-in", just you and her in bed nursing as much as possible around the clock. you will be surprised how fast this will boost your supply, our bodies are truly miraculous, you were designed to do this, and it will work. you need to drink lots and lots of water, NO caffiene, try to feed yourself well and sleep, though i know it can be impossible. if you have people offering to give you help, take it, let them take care of stuff for you while you just focus on the two of you. relax while nursing, read something, watch stupid funny tv, whatever. eating real oatmeal with maple syrup (the cheap fake kind, it has fenugreek in it) was a huge help for me, i noticed a difference right away. and try to relax before and during nursing, it makes a difference. remember to always finish the first breast first, the hind milk is what keeps her full and gives her most of the fat she needs. its more important than getting both sides, though if she gets full after the first side, you should try to put her on the other side even if its for a couple of minutes, just to stimulate it, for now until your supply is up. if she falls asleep nursing, wake her up a couple of times and put her back on, you can flick the bottoms of her feet, wash her face a little with a warm damp washcloth, or take off some of her clothing. pumping will help too, but never in place of nursing, you can do it in addition to nursing, like if you have to stimulate the other side. even if you dont get much at first, its ok, 5 min of stimulation will help increase your supply. just nurse as much as possible (without letting your nipples get too sore), and if both breasts arent being stimulated by her at least every 2-3 hours or so, use the pump also. massaging your breast while nursing will help, a warm compress before nursing will help let-down. **mastering the art of nursing while laying down on your sides, tummy-to-tummy, can be a lifesaver** obviously, just be sure she cant roll anywhere. and yes, it definitely can seem like 24/7 in the beginning, especially while you are trying to get your supply back up, this is normal. exhausting, but normal. my kids both nursed almost around the clock in the beginning, they were big, i dont know if that matters. while i was getting my supply back up, actually it was at about 7 weeks, too-(after the bottles that everyone told me would be just fine really screwed us up), my son nursed almost every hour for up to 45 min at a time! just dont try to do anything else, focus on the two of you and it will pay off faster than you think. best of luck and hang in there, as my husband likes to say to me..."you are a bountifull provider of nutrition for your child!!" the breastaurant is open, and you will do it! take care, D.

This group is wonderful, they absolutely encourage nursing and they can help with ANY breastfeeding issues. There are people in your area that you can call for advice and I belive they have meetings if you like as well. They are ALWAYS willing to help. http://www.lalecheleague.org/

Good Luck!

Have you tried a breast pump. The more you pump, the more you will flow.

My first suggestion is to check out www.lalecheleague.org. They have meetings & leaders that can help you. I fed my breastfed baby solids at almost 5 months but breastfeeding is supposed to be the primary source of nutrition so make sure you do my second suggestion: NURSE NURSE NURSE! The stimulation from the pump is not going to produce milk like a baby sucking will. It isn't just the motion but physically holding and nursing the baby makes your body want to produce milk. If you were to pump all the time to feed your baby w/no nursing the supply will still dwindle & eventually pitter out b/c you need to nurse. Good luck & I hope you can get your son back on the breast!

hi K.-
what do you mean you "accidentally weaned" exactly? did you stop breast-feeding altogether? or just slow down? did you only pump?
when you say that only a few drops come when you try to pump, does the same thing happen when you try to nurse? or does your son get a full feeding?

Have you tried to nurse him? The baby might be able to increase your flow. I breast fed both of my boys and I had trouble expressing milk with a pump and had to suppliment with formula when I was at work. It's hard but you have to relax. If it doesn't work, do not feel bad because you did a great job. I hope everything works.

Oh, K., hope you get this message ASAP, I wanted to let you know that you can take Fenugreek (herbal capsules) that has helped me to bring the milk back and kept it flowing. You can get it at the health stores. Now, I don't haveto take it because I have been taken garlic, cut it up and put in cooked with my foods and peanuts helps too. I eat the natural peanut butter because of my allergies to the other peanut butter junk. Those are important foods that I have discovered to help after reading about them in health books and home remedy books. They have tea bags too, that will help. Drink tea with the tea bag seeped for about 10 minutes I think (the tea bags contain fenugreek and chamomile, etc.) get into bloodstream faster than the capsules, but are not as strong as the capsules. Get it going and you'll be amazed. Hope you get it back. My OB midwife said that it may not come back, but it was worth a try and it did, but little did she know that garlic and peanuts and/or peanut butter helps!!

Hi K., I know that it seem impossible but I breast fed both of my daughters and I learned after the first one that even after you slow down trying to wean them off, if you try to start back have the baby latch back on just to get yourself started again. For some reason your body automatically start a heavy flow again it may take a couple of trys but it works and then once you get a good flow againg keep pumping on a steady basis and the flow should continue. If that does not work seek medical attention.

Keep pumping/nursing as much as possible to stimulate milk production, also try and take Fenugreek capsules (you can get it at GNC)... good luck!

K.,

Will your baby go to the breast? Even if he will not suck having mouth to breast contact, licking can be helpful. (this can begin to increase prolactin levels) How long has it been since you weaned him? How long did you try pumping and with what type of pump? It is normal for you to initially not be able to get more than drops of milk, but with consistent pumping, every 3-4 hr, for about 10-15 min, depending on your comfort, with a double electric pump (hospital grade, rental would be best, if you can afford this) and offering your breast frequently for comfort after feeds, in between, you should be able to re-establish your milk supply. If you can see a lactation consultant she could help you with supplementing at breast which would be best of all, in addition to pumping as often as you can. Try the website kellymom.com and type in "re-lactation" and you should get info and links to more resources. This is very doable and needs a tincture of time and lots of persistance. You could also try herbal remedies (be sure you read the info on possible allergies before beginning)which can also be found on kellymom.com site. Best of luck, know you're doing a great thing in trying to re-lactate and please feel free to contact me for support and further information.

B. L, RN, IBCLC (certified lactation consultant)

My midwife suggested non-alcoholic beer. The barley or hops (can't remember which, but it's the one in non-alcoholic beer, both are in regular beer) helps to increase your milk supply. Also there are teas you can buy to help increase milk production. I got one called Mother's Milk at the local health food store. Pumping can help, but the machine just doesn't stimulate the same way that your son can. Try squeezing your breast at the same time as the pump is pumping (kind of like milking yourself). I know it sounds gross, but I was able to get my breast more empty this way in a faster amount of time. Grab your breast close to your body and squeeze towards the nipple as the pump sucks.

I had the same thing happen once before but my situation was a little different. I actually weaned my daughter then found out she had allergies. I was told by a breastfeeding specialist to nurse my baby first every time before giving them a bottle. Then every chance you have pump. As long as one drop is coming out then keep trying. Try a warm cloth on your breast as you are pumping. I really hope everything goes well for you.

Babies get more out than a pump does. Encourage him to nurse as often as you can. How did you accidently wean anyway? If he's on solids stop now, breastfed babies arnt supposed to have solids till 6 months.

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html

Hi K.,

The first thing to try is to latch your baby - will he latch on? Are you sure you weaned him - or did he go on a nursing strike?
Some mothers will drink mothers milk teas.
My little guy just woke up - it is possible to build a milk supply!
Leigh Annee

Hello K.,
My advice to you is keep drinking, rest and don't stop pumping.
The more you drink and pump, the better chances you've got of getting your flow back.
You might want to hold your son while pumping, this helps the milk production.
And, MOSTLY, put him to nurse whenever you can.
I wish you success.