[TraceyW]

Hi all, I am a newbie here, and am hoping someone can give me some positive advice and stories on relactation. I'll explain, my second son was born with a cleft lip and palate, the lip was repaired when he was 9wks old, the palate is due to be operated on in early Feb. As he had a bilateral cleft palate I was misinformed that he could not be BF as he had no suction, and I was given drugs to dry up my milk while I was still in a drug-induced stupor after a c/sec birth. So after 8mths of wishing every day that he was on the breast, and finding out recently that he could have been all along with some specialist equipment (just like the damn special bottles I had to buy to feed him with anyway), I am now keen to attempt relactation in the hope of feeding him after his surgery when he should be (hopefully) able to achieve normal suction. So, as you can see, I can't actually use him sucking to promote milk production at the moment, he does not have the ability, and so far I have been attempting manual stimulation but wonder if I am getting anywhere! I successfully BF my first son for 4.5mths before severe reflux led to weaning him, again misinformed, but I so desperately miss that connection with my second, and knowing he didn't get the "good stuff" that he should have.

Any thoughts, stories or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Trace.

 

[Joey'smom]

I don't have much to offer, but do you have a pump? Can you get one?
And the stories I've heard when people went on the drugs to dry up have mostly said that it's hard to restimulate the milk without the help of other drugs like domperidone. Would you be willing to try something like that?
And don't lose hope, I know how you feel, we lost the nursing due to reflux too (although my ds went on strike and wouldn't come back once we realized that reflux was the culprit.)
I know that there are a lot more moms here with more/better advice than me, but I know how hard it can be to wait for an answer too.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

 

[rainbowmoon]

have you checked out the lact-aid (www.lact-aid.com ) good luck to you

 

[mum2 4]

YOu willl find lots of support and information about relactating at fourfrienbds.com/abrw. there is even a Breastfeeding Boot camp program for Moms in your predicament. its an at home-time out to help build a milk supply and get babyb to breast. The weekend Mini-camp is posted on the
message board under Boot Camp. There is also an info sheet, Better Late Than Never, which has some ideas for getting started. They will e-mail you a copy.
The urge to bf is very powerful and as you see does not go away even when circumstances are putting up lots of road blocks. Follow your dream and with determination you will succeed...

 

[TraceyW]

Thanks for the responses and information, I will look into all of it. As for taking drugs, I really hope that it is not necessary, because I have a bad history with most prescription medications. I am hoping that perhaps seeing as the drug to dry up my milk didn't work as quickly and effectively as it was supposed to, and my milk came in within 24hrs of both c/secs, my body is really good at milk supply and nature will fight to regain control - lol! I will start doing more research now, and will keep you posted with my progress.