Attempting Relaction!!

[~girlsmum~]

I've been pumping for a couple of days now, I did LOTS of study and prep work, starting taking fenugreek, eating oatmeal, drinking an ocean of water, no more tea, just eating a lot more.

I'm looking for some encouragement of any success stories, those that really stuck with it, or other ways to induce lactation. I'm using the Medela Swing 2 phase pump, way better one than I used with my twins 21 months ago where I wound up with torn nipples. My girls has super weak sucking power so they never latched, had to pump exclusively so once the blood equalled the milk, I had to give it up.

Anyway, I learned about relacation which I always wondered about, now I need words of wisdom and encouragement. My local LLL leader has never seen anyone successfully relactate, she knows it happens but she has no one to refer me to for a share in our city.

Thanks for any advice!!

[avent]

I have not relactated but wanted to offer words of encouragement. MY LC has seen cases of relactation.

Are you using Domperidone?

[~girlsmum~]

I'm doing just the pumping between 6 and 8 times a day and using fenugreek for now and adding more natural supplements thru my homeopath......he's working with me to not shock my system with so many supplements all at once. I don't want to go the DOM route if I don't have to as there's not enough evidence that it won't alter my hormone balance. My local LLL leader was going to look into this drug for me to tell me more about it, but she said it could also be as easy to use hand compression to start lactation, I'm being more aggressive about it using the pump. Today is day 3 for me and I admit I do feel very crappy and tired. Not sure how to bring my energy back up, I know my body's going through some big changes so hope to see some bigger changes soon, like some drops through all of these dry pumps.

[BakerALM]

Have you seen these links?

DR Jack Newman's Guide to Induced Lactation

Kellymom.com, Relactation

I would recommend to just pump pump pump (and look into using dom)! I know it totally totally SUCKS (I EPumped for 22mths) especially since you are still pumping dry BUT set small goals, 1week, 2weeks, 1month, 2months. Don't go crazy with your goals. Find a system that works for you and stick with it no matter what, I would say 8 times a day for 20-30mins at least minimum in the beginning just as a new babe would do. Also join us over in the Exclusively pumping thread in this forum for tons of pumping advice and moral support! You are so great to be doing this for your children!