What is Relactation and How is the Relactation Method Applied?

Relactation (Re-secretion of milk) /Stimulated Lactation

Supporting parents to breastfeed

Recently, there has been an increased interest in the subject of relactation. We have researched for you how to apply relactation and whether the mother can do it.

Relactation is the process of restarting breastfeeding so that the mother can resume breastfeeding after a period of stopping. It is not always easy and requires determination and commitment from the mother and support from those around her, but it is possible.

Why does a mother want to produce milk again?

There are many reasons for resuming breastfeeding after a break.

• She mayhave been separated from her baby (she may not have been able to breastfeed during the hospitalization)
• She mayhave had difficulty breastfeeding and stopped, but wants to try again.
• A problem that made breastfeeding difficult or impossible (such as a partially retained placenta in the mother, tongue tie or cleft palate in the baby) may now be resolved.
• The baby is allergic or intolerant to alternative milks.
• The mother had to stop breastfeeding for a period of time because she was taking medication or undergoing medical treatment that made breastfeeding unsafe.

Whatever the reason, resuming breastfeeding is a highly personal and often emotional decision. It is important to discuss expectations and goals, especially during the first two or three weeks, including other tasks available for mother and baby (such as housework, work/income and baby care). Mothers should be prepared for the physical changes they will notice in themselves, such as breasts feeling fuller or firmer or milk leaking. It is also important that mothers have support to alleviate any doubts they may have. They need to be encouraged to rest and perform well.

How is relactation done?

There are2 phases of contact:

• Teaching a woman’s body to produce milk.
• Teaching a baby to latch on to the breast and feed

Both can be challenging and time-consuming and may not happen at the same time. Before the baby learns to latch on to the breast, breast milk expressed by the mother should be given to the baby with a syringe, cup or bottle.

Breastfeeding, expressing milk or pressing the breast with the hand sends hormonal signals to the pituitary gland in the brain to release prolactin, the milk-producing hormone. For lactation to occur, these signals need to be sent at least eight times a day. This means expressing milk or breastfeeding every two to three hours. Prolactin levels are highest at night. Therefore, ideally at least one milking or breastfeeding session should take place between 01:00 and 04:00.

The other hormone essential for successful breastfeeding is oxytocin , which causes the milk ejection reflex that pushes milk through the ducts and from the nipple. nicknamed the“cuddle chemical“, oxytocin levels rise when a mother feels securely bonded, loved, calmed and relaxed with her baby. This is why close physical contact between mother and baby, as well as support from the mother’s partner, family and friends, is so important in any attempt to restart or stimulate breast milk production.

Once a woman’s breasts begin to produce milk, breastfeeding, her body works on the basis of supply and demand, replenishing the milk extracted through breastfeeding or milking. The more milk that is removed from the mother’s breasts, the more her body produces to replace it.

How long does the lactation process take?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most mothers who start lactation are able to produce breast milk drops within a week and roughly P can breastfeed within just one month. While every mother-infant match is different and there is no guarantee of success or failure, success rates are higher for smaller babies (under three to four months) and for mothers and babies who have breastfed before. They can vary greatly in older babies who have never been breastfed and in women who have never been pregnant. Scientific studies suggest that a mother who initiates breastfeeding can produce up to u% of her baby’s nutritional needs. It is worth remembering that any amount of breast milk has enormous health benefits for both mother and baby. Mothers should be encouraged to breast feed as much as possible and supported with regular breastfeeding reviews or follow-ups.

Relactation can be time-consuming and difficult, but it is possible with the right support. Introducing women to other mothers who have started breastfeeding again is a positive way to build trust and confidence.

Info: Just 5 ml of breast milk contains 3 million germicidal cells, so a teaspoon a day gives a baby’s immune system a big boost.

Many women have found that additional breast stimulation during expressing milk helps breast milk to flow. The more the breasts empty, the stronger the message they receive to make more milk.

Techniques that can help increase the amount of milk production:

• Massaging the breast during breast pump use helps the breast to empty completely.
• Breastfeeding from one breast while milking from the other breast.
• Using warm compresses, flannels or showering beforehand encourages the blood vessels in the breast to open, making it easier for the milk to flow.
• Massaging the breast with the hand after milking can release the remaining milk even after the pump has stopped flowing.

mimicking ‘cluster feeding’ is common with young babies in the first weeks of breastfeeding. This is another method that some mothers find helps them build their milk supply quickly. “Known as‘power pumping‘, it involves pumping for 20 minutes each day and resting for 10 minutes, then pumping for 10 minutes and resting for 10 minutes, then pumping for another 10 minutes.

Tore-accustom a baby to the breast, it is important to remind the baby that the breast is a safe place. Skin-to-skin contact improves the baby’s breastfeeding skills and releases oxytocin in the mother. If the baby is unsure about latching on, it is important for the mother to keep trying to breastfeed gently to ensure that the baby can latch on when they are both comfortable.

Reassurance and support for the mother is essential. Breastfeeding again takes time and as a mother’s milk supply increases, the baby is likely to rediscover the joy in breastfeeding.

What else can help?

Which equipment is useful?

Complementary nursing is when a mother feeds her baby with a thin, flexible feeding tube fixed to her nipple to provide her baby with additional formula milk while breastfeeding. This tube means that the mother receives the all-important breast stimulation and her baby can apply latch to the breast while receiving a reliable supply of alternative milk.

Anipple shield can be a useful aid for a baby who is used to getting milk from a bottle because the mother covers the nipple with an artificial teat. The nipple shield is designed as a short-term solution used under the supervision of a breastfeeding professional to ensure that the baby has a good, deep latch.

Can Galactagogues help?

Galactagogues (also known as lactogenics) are substances taken to increase breast milk supply. Certain foods and dietary supplements are culturally or anecdotally recommended to mothers who want to increase breast milk production. These include fenugreek, milk, milk thistle and brewer’s yeast, as well as whole foods such as oats, oatmeal, fennel and raw seeds.
There is no solid scientific evidence that any of these are effective in increasing milk supply. Talk to a lactation specialist before you start using (galactagogues or a specific food).

If a woman breastfeeds or initiates breastfeeding, does she have the same type of breast milk as other breastfeeding mothers?

Yes! Breast milk from lactation-modifying or stimulating mothers has the same composition and properties as breast milk from mothers who are able to breastfeed after the birth of the baby. The only significant difference is the absence of colostrum, the yellowish first milk produced during the first few days after birth, as this is triggered by the detachment of the placenta.

Top ten tips for moms who want to restart or promote breastfeeding

1. Research: Mothers need to learn about useful techniques and tools related to lactation or lactation stimulation to understand the likelihood of success.
2. Mothers can join a support group or online forum for mothers in a similar situation.
3. Above all, you should be prepared to spend two to three weeks focusing on breastfeeding. Family support is needed to help with housework, meals and caring for other children.
4. The more milk extracted, the more the body will produce. To make milking sessions as efficient as possible, mothers should buy a double electric breast pump. Breast massage, manual breast stimulation and power pump methods should be tried to help increase milk production.
5. Skin-to-skin contact with the baby should be practiced as much as possible. Lie on the couch, take a bath together, have your baby close to you, touching your skin.
6. You should be careful not to make yourself or your baby anxious, nervous or distressed by attempts to breastfeed. If the current attempt to breastfeed again has not been successful, stop calmly and try again later. Focus on feeling safe and comfortable, whether you are breastfeeding your baby or not.
7. When improving breast milk supply, mothers should ensure that their babies get enough nutrition by gradually reducing any supplements or milk. Make sure your baby has at least five heavy wet diapers a day.
8. Avoid using artificial pacifiers if you are encouraging the baby to breastfeed.
9. If your baby uses a bottle and cannot get used to breastfeeding, you can continue with bottle feeding. A bottle like the Lansinoh bottle allows babies to control their feedings in the same way as at the breast.
10. Since every journey is unique, try not to have fixed expectations about breastfeeding again. There will be triumphs and setbacks along the way and focusing on enjoying this time of closeness with your baby will be beneficial for both you and your baby.

REFERENCES

1. Infant and Young Child Feeding: Model Chapter for Textbooks for Medical Students and Allied Health Professionals. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. SESSION

2. The physiological basis of breastfeeding. 2. WHO. Relactation: Review of experience and recommendations for practice. 1998

3. Robertson, B, Breastfeeding Without Birthing. Clinical Lactation. 2016. Volume 7, Issue 1

4. https://kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/ immunefactors/ 5. Szucs KA, Axline SE, Rosenman MB. Induced lactation and exclusive breast milk feeding of adopted premature twins. J Hum Lact. 2010;26(3):309-313. 6. Reisman, Tamar. Goldstein, Zil. Transgender Health. Induced Lactation in a Transgender Woman. 2018 7. Prime, D. K., Garbin, C. P., Hartmann, P. E., & Kent, J. C. Simultaneous breast expression in breastfeeding women is more efficacious than sequential breast expression. Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine 2012. 7(6), 442- 447. 8. Bazzano, A. N., Hofer, R., Thibeau, S., Gillispie, V., Jacobs, M., & Theall, K. P. A Review of Herbal and Pharmaceutical Galactagogues for Breast-Feeding. The Ochsner journal, 2016. 16(4), 511-524.