Even try?

[2lilsweetfoxes]

I weaned my baby to formula last month because I was deploying for six months. Now I'm going home in less than 2 weeks. . She will be just shy of her first birthday. Should I even try to get her back on the breast? I wanted to nurse at least 2 years. However, I've been on doxycycline for the last month and need to continue for another month (antimalarial prophylaxis). How would I go about relactating and encouraging my baby to nurse again?

[Llyra]

So she's been weaned for only a month? I'd say after only a month, yeah, I'd go ahead and try it. The milk production itself shouldn't be an issue-- you may still have a tiny bit of milk, and if you didn't, you should relactate very easily.

The stickier issue is whether she'll still be willing. I'd try stopping any bottles she's getting-- give her her formula in a cup until you're sure she's getting breastmilk again-- so that her only sucking is done at the breast. Then spend lots of time cuddling with your breasts easily accessible, or even topless if that's practical for you, and try to tempt her into trying. Try different positions, and different situations. The middle of the night might be a good time to try, when she's tired and feeling cozy. Don't push her if she resists. You don't want to get into a struggle about it. Just give up trying for a bit, and try again a half hour later. I would guess that the memory of breastfeeding is still pretty strong in her, and that it won't take long.

If she's reluctant at first, you might try pumping every few hours, to try and stimulate milk production-- she may be more eager if there's more milk there.

You might not ever get back to full-time breastfeeding, but even a few times a day lets her keep so many of the benefits of breastfeeding.

As far as the med-- you can try looking on kellymom.com, or post here with "Hale's lookup" in the subject line, so that a mama here who has a copy of Hale's can look it up for you.