Relactating 10.5 months after stopping (with a pump) ???

[UberMama]

After the birth of my surrogate baby in March of '08, I pumped for two weeks. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to stop suddenly.

I am going to begin pumping again tomorrow in hopes I can relactate and begin donating my milk again. I am getting a Medela PIS (which I did fine with last time and once before when pumping for my twins, I was pumping 100 oz a day at 2 weeks PP last time). I'll have some herbs on hand, but I am thinking just lots of pumping, even power pumps, and drinking lots of water for the first week or two.

Any other suggestions? I've been reading AskLenore, KellyMom and other sites about how to do this. It seems like stimulation is the number one thing to do. I have no idea what to expect. I can't hand express even a drop now, which worries me a bit.

Do I have a good shot at getting much of anything back? Being almost a year later, no baby to latch on (just a pump).. ?

[buttercupmama]

Without a baby, a lot of it is going to depend on the pump. When I tried this before, I did use herbs, so I can't comment on just pumping, but after a week, I started getting milk. I was using the Medela Harmony which was okay.

[UberMama]

What herbs were you using?

I'm getting two today - Goat's Rue and More Milk Plus. I'm also getting Mothers Milk Tea.

I begin pumping this evening.

[sattygirl99]

I relactated for my son when he wsa 8 months old. I used herbs and pumping an after 2ish weeks, I was getting about 10 oz a day. I started dom an it doubled. I never got a full supply (partially because life happened and I had to stop) but I was satisfied with the results. def think about dom once you get some milk going.