Medical questions about Breastfeeding

Dr. Ruth Lawrence, professor, author and researcher, serves on Breastfeeding.com's medical advisory board. Dr. Lawrence is a professor of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Rochester. She is also director of the university's Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Study Center. Dr. Lawrence has answered many of your medical questions about breastfeeding

Dr. Lawrence is the author of "Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession," the standard medical reference book for breastfeeding. She was one of eight doctors who helped the American Academy of Pediatrics draft its 1997 policy statement supporting breastfeeding.

Can I re-lactate?

NAME:	Suzanne
BABY'S NAME:	Jamie Lee
BABY'S AGE:	8.5 weeks
BIRTH WEIGHT:	7 lbs, 6 oz
CURRENT WEIGHT:	10 lbs, 2 oz

Jamie Lee had lack of oxygen at birth and spent 24 days in the NICU. At first they were worried about her sucking reflex and thought she may not be able to take a bottle at all. I am happy to say she is home and takes a bottle very well. I have been pumping since she was born and we did try breastfeeding when she came home. I was so worried about her eating enough that I didn't push the breastfeeding. My supply has slowed down to almost nothing but partly because I have not been as good about pumping as I should be. My question is this: Can I start to produce milk again if I have slacked off of breastfeeding her and pumping. My OB/GYN suggests that I breastfeed and I would like to give it another try but I don't want to upset or frustrate Jamie if it is too late.

The best way to get your milk supply back is to use a lactation supplementer. This will help train your baby back to the breast, now that she is used to the bottle. A lactation supplementer is a device that holds fluid and has a small capillary tube so that when the baby suckles at the breast, she receives milk from the supplementer. This stimulates the breast and provides an immediate reward for the baby for her efforts. The baby is the best pump that there is, so you want to encourage your baby to be at the breast as much as possible. You should ask your doctor for a referral to a lactation consultant, who can help you get the baby latched on and suckling correctly and can help you use a lactation supplementer to get Jamie Lee to nurse again.

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