Going Back to Breastfeeding

This has been weighing on me heavily for about a month now. About a month after the girls were born i stopped breast feeding for several reasons. 1. The girls were very lazy eaters and usually will fall asleep on me the second the got warm and no matter what technique i used to keep them awake worked. 2. I was getting frustrated at how low my supply was even with trying everything i could think of. But the other day i had to visit my sister at the hospital with her little 4 month old and was talking with the nurse that was taking care of them in regards to breastfeeding (not sure how it came up in conversation) but she did tell me that if i started back up breastfeeding that my milk would come back in. But now that the girls are 8 months old is it too late? They have been on the bottle since 5 weeks old. I would think it would be confusing for them so probably not the best idea it would be more for me in the sence that i want that close connection with them that i had with my son...may be i'm crazy...bleh. what are your thoughts?

 

You can do it. Contact with your local childrens hospital lactation nurses. They can't help. I believe we also have breast feeding forum here. You will get plenty of support on this topic. Gl!

 

Easton is breastfed, and will not take a bottle for anything (he is 8 months old) I wonder if your girls would go back to the breast? You could always try, it can't ever hurt to try! Just don't be too disappointed if they don't. With Easton he just doesn't know what to do with a bottle, he kinda just spits it out, same with a pacifier. I wonder if it would kinda be the same with the breast and your two - ESP if they didn't get anything out at first???? If I were you, I would try just to see what they did. You may be surprised. Good luck!

 

I just realized who you are LOL!!! Hey!!!! I love your new screen name too!

 

if you contact your local La Leche League chapter as well, I'm sure they can help and give some great options and opinions and support. I'd totally give it a go! Maybe try to put them to the breast and see what happens. they may have no idea what to do, but maybe if you start, when they're calm, or when they usually take a pacifier, they may try it out. maybe the warmth and comfort of you would be tempting enough for them to at least comfort nurse. it would be a good start, IMO.

 

There's no harm in trying. I agree with pp's to perhaps contact a LC for guidance and to try them when they're calm and comfortable, maybe in place of a paci. I think the challenge will be patience on both your parts waiting for your milk to return. Good luck!

 

Id try with an SNS so they get some formula but learn to suck on you to do it. Id also eat vats of oatmeal and drink tons of water to try to bump up my supply and consider meds to increase milk supply yo kick start things.

Good luck!

 

bahahaha i love you heather your hilarious =) And thanks!!!

 

wow i didn't know milk could return once you stopped BFing!!

 

It sure can! It's even possible to induce lactation if you've never BF'd before (adoptive mothers for example).

 

wow. maybe i want to do this. how is this done? can you induce milk by pumping? i feel as if my LO latched-on that it would be awful for her to get no milk, no? would she be frustrated?

 

Here's some info from Dr Jack Newman: http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-BABB