Relactation
Bringing
back full milk production depends on many things:
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the age of your baby
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the amount of time that has passed since weaning
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how forgiving your breasts
are
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Is your baby
willing to nurse at your breast and suckle? If so, then start by nursing her
every two hours. Research has shown that night
nursing has a strong influence on milk
production, so consider sleeping next to your baby so
that she will nurse often during the night. You will need to supplement with formula after most
feedings until your milk supply gets back up to speed
and is able to provide everything your baby needs. Set
up an appointment with a
lactation consultant.
If your baby is no
longer willing to latch on, consider renting a fully
automatic double pumping system electric pump.
Taking the herb
fenugreek, which has been used for centuries for a
variety of ailments including low milk production, can
also bring your milk back up. Mothers generally notice
an increase in milk production 24 to 72 hours after
first using the herb.
Taking 3 capsules, 3
times a day is recommend. Fenugreek capsules can be
purchased in most any health food store for around $7 to
$9 for a bottle of 100 caps.
When you feel like you
are beginning to produce milk again, it's important to
monitor your baby's weight frequently. This will help
you determine whether you should decrease or eliminate
the formula supplements. If your baby is less than 4
months old, make sure that she is gaining at least an
ounce a day before cutting back on the supplements.
Cutting back a couple of ounces every 24 hours and then
checking the baby's weight gain is a reasonable way of
cutting back
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