Weaned 6 month old getting sick, can mom start breastfeeding after 4 month break?

My son was breastfed for 2 months after birth but was then weaned onto the bottle so as I could help out and my wife could get some sleep.

He has recently been ill with a cold, fever and is also teething badly. This was followed by diarrhea. During his illness he began to refuse to feed, we sought medical advice and were told to get fluids inside him whether it be juice or milk to keep him hydrated. The illness lasted approximately 5 days.

He has become increasingly reluctant to take formula, but we can manage to get some into him by using various tricks. This, coupled with juice has enabled us to get him his 20 ounces a day. He used to take about 25-30 oz's a day in conjunction with solids. Is it possible for my wife to start breastfeeding again after a 4-month break?




 

Dear Scott,

What you are asking about is called relactation, and yes it is possible after a 4-month break. But the chances are that your wife will not be able to get a full milk supply back. She should be able to get some milk, but it varies tremendously from woman to woman just how much. Even a small amount can benefit a baby, though.

What she would need to do is get a hospital grade electric pump with double pumping capability. Double pumping not only cuts the pumping time in half, but has been shown to help increase supply. While she is awake, she should be pumping on a very frequent schedule--every 2-3 hours--and at least once at night. If she is double pumping, she needs to pump 10-15 minutes each time. If she is single pumping, then she needs to pump 20-30 minutes.

Also, adding fenugreek to her diet can help. Fenugreek is an herb available at health food stores. The recommended dosage is 2-3 capsules with each meal (a total of 6-9 per day). I suggest starting out with 2 per meal. Later on, should she get to a plateau, she can increase to 3 and that will give her a little boost. Fenugreek is an herb that has been used for many years to help lower cholesterol and fight infections. The only women who need to check with their doctors before using it are those who are diabetics. Fenugreek can affect blood sugar levels in the mother, but is considered safe for breastfeeding within the recommended dosages.

Good luck! Let me know how things go.

Cher Sealy, RN, BSN, IBCLC, LLLL





 

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