He didn't wean!!!!! SO HAPPY - need help.

[Super~Single~Mama]

I need some help. I went away for a week, and couldn't pump, and only hand expressed for comfort (since I didn't know if he would wean or not, and b/c I was super busy with work while I was away).

So I'm SO HAPPY that he didn't wean!!! I love nursing him, he loves nursing, its great! BUT - how do I get my milk back??? I still have some, my breasts felt sorta full when he nursed this morning, but I didn't feel let down (for the first time since he was born 21months ago). I could hear him swallowing some, but needless to say, after a week of no pumping my milk supply is going to need some help.

Ideas??? Thanks!!!

[daisymommy]

I just posted the exact same question in Breastfeeding Challenges, so I'll be interested to hear what others have to say!

[tibeca]

Likely at this point, your best line of action is to nurse on demand. Doing so should eventually get your supply back up. It can take a week or more to get back to where you were, but as long as all is going well just keep nursing.

By 21 months, breastmilk is usually NOT the main source of nutrition, so allowing your child to nurse first and then supplement with water/juice/cow's milk after (if needed/wanted) should be sufficient.

[lifeguard]

Just let him nurse as much as he wants - it'll slowly increase.

Congrats!

[Super~Single~Mama]

Thanks all! We've just been nursing when and how long he wants to (within reason, there are times when I think he'd stay latched for HOURS!). I think my milk is coming back a little bit, but like a PP said, BM isn't his main source of food, so I'm not too worried. He does get cow milk alot, so he's getting milk, just not as much of mine!