We know that exclusive breastfeeding is the best for the baby during the first six months, but sometimes it is not achieved. If for any reason breastfeeding has been interrupted in the first days or months of the baby's life, you can try a relationship.
The relationship is defined as the restoration of breast milk production by a woman who has interrupted breastfeeding. If the baby stops taking the maternal food, the chances of disease (and in some countries, of malnutrition and death) increase.
That is why it is important for women to know that they can relate, if they wish, to breastfeed their own child or an adopted one, even if there has been no other pregnancy.
Regarding adopted children, women who have never been pregnant can also establish breastfeeding in what is called "Induced breastfeeding". In these cases the amount of milk produced is sometimes more limited.
In Babies and more Myths about breastfeeding: “If you have stopped breastfeeding you cannot go back”In relactation, the first milk appears between the second and sixth day. According to WHO, the time it takes for breast milk production to begin varies between a few days and a few weeks, but it is difficult to predict. Approximately half of the mothers they relate are able to breastfeed their children exclusively within a month.
Tips for relating
According to specialists in the field, there are two essential requirements for relactation: a strong desire on the part of the biological or adoptive mother to feed the child and nipple stimulation. Even so, there are factors that affect the success of the relationship. Let's see some recommendations to get the relationship:
That the mother is very motivated and has support from family, friends or experts in breastfeeding.
To stimulate the nipple and chest will be done by sucking the infant, manual or mechanical removal, skin-to-skin contact.
The breast will be offered to the child as is done with any other child. The more times the better and in the first days at least eight-ten times a day. Sometimes children get better when they are sleepy.
Frequent skin-to-mother contact with the child helps relactation.
The first days, until the mother begins to have milk, the child will be supplemented, but the milk (donated artificial or maternal) will be given with a glass, spoon or syringe, never with a bottle. Breastfeeding supplements are designed to provide the infant with a continuous flow of supplementary food while breastfeeding and stimulating the breast and nipple.
When the mother starts to produce milk, the 50cc milk supplement can be reduced by 50cc every three days, controlling the child's weight gain.
In Babies and more My baby rejects the breast: possible causes and solutions- There are children who do not cling to the chest, to achieve this they can provide them with milk with a supplement or go pouring milk droplets into the child's mouth (the technique of "dripping and dripping"), in this way you will get milk when sucking and Most likely, he will gradually accept his chest. The mother can also be stimulated, as we noted earlier, with a breast pump.
Even if drugs are used, which are not routinely recommended, full breast stimulation is necessary
- If the physiological methods are not effective or the child does not gain weight, the pharmacological methods should be considered. Drugs that help milk secretion are called galactogogues or lactogogues.. The drugs used are: hormonal preparations to simulate pregnancy and help induce breastfeeding; drugs that increase the release of prolactin (chlorpromazine, metoclopramide). However, routine use of galactogogues for several reasons is not recommended.
In any case, we cannot finish without pointing out that, if mothers receive good support that allows them to breastfeed optimally from birth by health and community services, relactation should rarely be necessary. But as it happens, this support must be reviewed.
If breastfeeding has been misdirected or interrupted, the mother has been absent or ill, the relactation It can be indicated. There are several circumstances that may suggest the possibility of relactation or induced breastfeeding (the management of sick or low birth weight infants, emergency situations ...).
The relactation, breastfeeding again after weaningIt is possible for almost any woman if she is adequately motivated and supported. Age, the number of children he has had, the experience of previous breastfeeding and the breastfeeding interval are less important factors. Ask for support in your health center and breastfeeding associations in your environment.
