Hello! I’m looking for encouragement and support from our amazing community. I started my relactation journey at 12 weeks postpartum. This community has been one of my motivating factors for trying again, so I hope you can cheer me on!
You can ready my story here:
Please help me succeed by sending love and positive thoughts my way! Also any of your experiences, mantras, and tips.
I’ll be posting every week in /breastfeedingsupport. Let’s do this together! Love you all!!
——
Progress!
Weekly Averages (in Total Daily Output)
Week 1 = 3 ml
Week 2 = 8 ml (166% increase),
Week 3 = 16 ml (200% increase),
Week 4 = 20 ml (25% increase),
Week 5 = 24 ml (20% increase)
Week 5 update: Hello! It’s me, still trying to relactate.
Last week, my goals were to increase my pump frequency (including power pumps) and learn how to hand express. I’ve been successful with the first part, and I think that’s why I saw an increase in my weekly average output. A small but mighty 4 ml increase! This and also perhaps because I’m pumping for 30 mins (instead of 10-20 mins), I’m getting in 1-3 power pumps a day, and pumping 8-9x daily (vs. 7) are the likely sources of the increase. I’ve noticed that I’m getting more milk into the bottles faster than ever when I pump. Woo hoo!
Does anyone know if we should look to stick to a consistent pump schedule? I have a great evening routine when I do my 10 pm, 12 am, and 2 am pumps - but other than that I pump when I can in 2-3 hour increments. It’s hard to keep to a schedule when watching my daughter while my husband works, so I tell myself I’m doing the best I can. (And shout out to companies with robust parental leave policies - I have six months off, without which there would be no way I’d be doing this.)
I’ve had no luck with hand expression. There’s something wrong with me, ha! My breasts are larger (38D) and shaped more like flapjacks than globes. They definitely aren’t small and perky like most YT tutorials show (remember the crocheted boob?). Or maybe I’m not trying long enough? Or are my breasts just not used to the sensation? My goal for this coming week is to make hand expression work. Please send resources if you have them!
I tried BabyMotion flanges but couldn’t get anything much into the bottle. I feel like there wasn’t enough suction when using them. Does anyone have any tips on using BM flanges?
I started taking a brewers yeast supplement, but I’d say it’s too early to tell if it’s making a difference.
My breastfeeding doctor appointment was postponed, so I’m still not sure if medications would help me or not.
Wild idea: Strapping on wearable pumps and just letting them run as much as humanly possible between Spectra pumping sessions. I know there’s a risk of nipple damage, but hey I’m up for anything!
My motivation this week has been provided by Jessica Urlichs’ beautiful book of poetry about motherhood: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0473551187/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1605291722&sr=8-2 She frickin nails how I’ve been feeling. Guaranteed to make you ugly cry.
——
Week 1 progress:
Week 2 progress:
Week 3 progress:
Week 4 progress:
——
Routine
I’m aiming for 8x daily pump sessions trying to stick to 2-3 hours between pumping sessions. I don’t have a set schedule. I pump 30 minutes during each session, and incorporate massage, heat, and hands on pumping as much as possible. I try to include a power pump once a day, depending on when I can find 50 minutes to make it happen. I’m using a Spectra S1 pump with Nuliie flange inserts, with the Momcozy hands free pumping bra and coconut oil as lubricant. I clean my breasts after pump sessions with a baby wipe.
I use the Lact-Aid SNS at least twice a day during daytime feedings. I use 3M first aid tape to keep the tube in place.
I’m supplementing with Motherlove Goat’s Rue tincture (6 ml daily = 1 ml 1:1 tincture taken at 3 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm, and 10:30 pm), Mary Ruth’s Milk Thistle Seed tincture (0.5 ml taken at 6 am), and Solgar brewers yeast (3,000 mg). Also taking my regular daily routine of vitamins: New daily prenatal vitamin, iron supplement, Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, and Sunflower Lecithin.
I’m trying to keep up my hydration and calories. I eat Purely Elizabeth Superfood oatmeal every morning for breakfast - it has oatmeal, flax, chia, and almonds (all supposedly supportive breastfeeding foods).
I’m using Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter to keep the nips happy.
And letting my daughter nurse as much as she’d like.
You can ready my story here:
Please help me succeed by sending love and positive thoughts my way! Also any of your experiences, mantras, and tips.
I’ll be posting every week in /breastfeedingsupport. Let’s do this together! Love you all!!
——
Progress!
Weekly Averages (in Total Daily Output)
Week 1 = 3 ml
Week 2 = 8 ml (166% increase),
Week 3 = 16 ml (200% increase),
Week 4 = 20 ml (25% increase),
Week 5 = 24 ml (20% increase)
Week 5 update: Hello! It’s me, still trying to relactate.
Last week, my goals were to increase my pump frequency (including power pumps) and learn how to hand express. I’ve been successful with the first part, and I think that’s why I saw an increase in my weekly average output. A small but mighty 4 ml increase! This and also perhaps because I’m pumping for 30 mins (instead of 10-20 mins), I’m getting in 1-3 power pumps a day, and pumping 8-9x daily (vs. 7) are the likely sources of the increase. I’ve noticed that I’m getting more milk into the bottles faster than ever when I pump. Woo hoo!Does anyone know if we should look to stick to a consistent pump schedule? I have a great evening routine when I do my 10 pm, 12 am, and 2 am pumps - but other than that I pump when I can in 2-3 hour increments. It’s hard to keep to a schedule when watching my daughter while my husband works, so I tell myself I’m doing the best I can. (And shout out to companies with robust parental leave policies - I have six months off, without which there would be no way I’d be doing this.)
I’ve had no luck with hand expression. There’s something wrong with me, ha! My breasts are larger (38D) and shaped more like flapjacks than globes. They definitely aren’t small and perky like most YT tutorials show (remember the crocheted boob?). Or maybe I’m not trying long enough? Or are my breasts just not used to the sensation? My goal for this coming week is to make hand expression work. Please send resources if you have them!
I tried BabyMotion flanges but couldn’t get anything much into the bottle. I feel like there wasn’t enough suction when using them. Does anyone have any tips on using BM flanges?
I started taking a brewers yeast supplement, but I’d say it’s too early to tell if it’s making a difference.
My breastfeeding doctor appointment was postponed, so I’m still not sure if medications would help me or not.
Wild idea: Strapping on wearable pumps and just letting them run as much as humanly possible between Spectra pumping sessions. I know there’s a risk of nipple damage, but hey I’m up for anything!
My motivation this week has been provided by Jessica Urlichs’ beautiful book of poetry about motherhood: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0473551187/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1605291722&sr=8-2 She frickin nails how I’ve been feeling. Guaranteed to make you ugly cry.
——
Week 1 progress:
Week 2 progress:
Week 3 progress:
Week 4 progress:
——
Routine
I’m aiming for 8x daily pump sessions trying to stick to 2-3 hours between pumping sessions. I don’t have a set schedule. I pump 30 minutes during each session, and incorporate massage, heat, and hands on pumping as much as possible. I try to include a power pump once a day, depending on when I can find 50 minutes to make it happen. I’m using a Spectra S1 pump with Nuliie flange inserts, with the Momcozy hands free pumping bra and coconut oil as lubricant. I clean my breasts after pump sessions with a baby wipe.
I use the Lact-Aid SNS at least twice a day during daytime feedings. I use 3M first aid tape to keep the tube in place.
I’m supplementing with Motherlove Goat’s Rue tincture (6 ml daily = 1 ml 1:1 tincture taken at 3 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm, and 10:30 pm), Mary Ruth’s Milk Thistle Seed tincture (0.5 ml taken at 6 am), and Solgar brewers yeast (3,000 mg). Also taking my regular daily routine of vitamins: New daily prenatal vitamin, iron supplement, Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, and Sunflower Lecithin.
I’m trying to keep up my hydration and calories. I eat Purely Elizabeth Superfood oatmeal every morning for breakfast - it has oatmeal, flax, chia, and almonds (all supposedly supportive breastfeeding foods).
I’m using Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter to keep the nips happy.
And letting my daughter nurse as much as she’d like.