Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Resuming Breastfeeding after Stopping for a Week | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
I stopped breastfeeding a week and a half ago and am feeling guilty about this decision. I want to start breastfeeding again but am concerned that my breast milk is all dried up. Is it possible to start back up again?— Worried Mom in Hamilton, OH | | | ANSWER |
November 7, 2001 | | | Dear Worried Mom,
Good news! Breast milk doesn't completely dry up for about a month, so you still have time to get back to nursing your baby.
The first step probably should be to talk with a lactation consultant, who can monitor the process and help you be sure that the baby is getting adequate nutrition as you move along. If you don't already know a lactation specialist, try asking your OB practitioner, or your baby's doctor, or call the postpartum floor where you gave birth for a recommendation.
Steps that have helped others include:
- Start each feeding with the baby on the breast. Try to avoid bottles if possible for a few weeks.
- Consider a supplemental lactation system like Lactaid, where a tube taped to your breast drips formula into the baby's mouth, so that the baby gets instant gratification as she sucks.
- For added stimulation to your breasts, you probably should pump in addition to letting the baby nurse.
- Some mothers find that non-alcoholic beer increases their production of milk.
- There are some medications that stimulate milk production, if you want to go that route. Again, talk to your doctor or lactation consultant.
As you start this process, feel proud that you are making a good decision for you baby. While it may be a lot of work, you can expect that you will be able to reestablish nursing within a few weeks.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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