Can you get your breast milk back several months after weaning? Many people are successful in rebuilding a milk supply or inducing lactation. Here’s what you need to know about how to relactate using a breast pump, including relactation pumping schedules.
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What is Relactation, and What is Induced Lactation?
Relactation means re-developing your milk supply after weaning your baby from nursing (or weaning yourself from the breast pump).
Induced lactation is developing a milk supply if you did not give birth to a baby.
Why might you want to relactate or induce lactation? Some common reasons include:
- Choosing adoptive breastfeeding (or wanting to breastfeed a baby born via surrogate) – Many parents choose to induce lactation in order to have the experience of nursing or to provide their babies with their breast milk even when they did not give birth.
- Changing your mind after weaning – It’s not uncommon for nursing or pumping parents to decide to be done breastfeeding, and then change their mind later (sometimes a week later, sometimes months later).
- Wanting to provide breast milk despite a baby who didn’t or doesn’t want to nurse – Sometimes a baby self-weans, but the parent still wants to provide breast milk.
How to Relactate or Induce Lactation with a Breast Pump
The two keys to developing a milk supply are:
- Stimulation of your nipples – This can be any combination of pumping, your baby nursing, or hand expression.
- Removing milk from your breasts – Once you have some milk, removing it frequently helps you maintain and increase your supply.
You can remove milk and stimulate your nipples via nursing, pumping, or hand expression.
If you would like to nurse your baby, you can work on getting your baby to begin latching. Here is a great overview on getting back to breast.
In addition to that, you will most likely want to pump to build your milk supply.
Obviously, if you plan to exclusively pump or if your baby isn’t with you yet (due to a pending adoption or birth via surrogate), you’ll need to pump to begin relactating.
How often should you pump when relactating? And how long should you pump?
You will want to pump about as often you’d nurse a newborn, or as often as you would if you were exclusively pumping for a newborn.
From Tips for Relactation by Phillipa Pearson-Glaze:
Pump or hand express at least eight to twelve times per day for 20-30 minutes so that you’re pumping every two to three hours during the day and once or twice at night. The more often you can express, the quicker your milk supply will respond.
If you’re not able to pump that much (due to work or other commitments), I usually recommend pumping 7-10 times per day for 15-20 minutes when you are exclusively pumping for a newborn. If you could aim for that, you should be in good shape.
Some people do have success with less frequent pumping sessions; do the best you can and make sure to stay consistent.
Relactation Pumping Schedules
Here are some basic pumping schedules for relactation. Obviously, you can adjust these to fit your life – they are just a starting point!
Below is a sample relactation pumping schedule where you’re pumping 8 times per day, and waking up once at night to pump breast milk. The break between 10pm and 3am will hopefully give you enough time to get through one full sleep cycle in the beginning of the night, which can help with sleep deprivation.
6am, 8am, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm, 3am
If you’re very focused on relactation and don’t mind waking up twice at night to pump, here is a schedule with 11 pumping sessions:
6am, 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, 10pm, 2am, 4am
Finally, a schedule without a middle of the night wakeup (though this may be less effective):
5am, 7am, 10am, 12pm, 3pm, 5pm, 8pm, 11pm
Other Things That You Can Do to Aid in Relactation
There are a few other things that you can do to increase your chances of relactation success.
1. Skin-to-skin
If you’re with your baby, skin-to-skin contact can help stimulate and release two hormones – prolactin and oxytocin – that can help with milk production.
2. Get professional help
Relactation requires a huge time investment, so I would recommend talking to an IBCLC if possible.
She can give you tips on your particular situation and help you with any pitfalls you might face along the way.
3. Galactogogues/medication
Galactagogues are substances that increase milk supply in some people.
One combination that many people have seen success with is fenugreek and blessed thistle – these two herbs taken together has a positive effect on milk supply for some people. (More information including dosage here.)
Another common galactagogue is oatmeal – eating oatmeal for breakfast seems to result in a slightly higher milk output that day for some people.
There are also some medication options that require a prescription; these include domperidone and Reglan.
4. Breast compressions
After you start producing some breast milk, do breast compressions when you pump.
Breast compressions help push milk out of your milk ducts, and the more milk you can remove, the more success you’ll have at building a milk supply.
5. Hand expression
A lot of people don’t respond well to a breast pump but do have success with hand expression.
6. Use warm compresses or a lactation massager
Try warm compresses. Warmth seems to get breast milk flowing, so a warm compress like a warm washcloth, Booby Tubes (use PUMPING15 for 15% off), or a warming lactation massager can be helpful.
(*Note: LaVie makes two lactation massagers – a smaller one with just vibration and a warming massager that has heat AND vibration. They are both super helpful – use the code EPUMP on their website for 10% off!)
Relactation Experiences
Here is a relactation success story from J in the Facebook group:
I gave up breastfeeding when my baby was a week old because we had a lot of complications and pain related to birth. After I recovered, about two months later, I decided to try again.
The first week was difficult – I would get maybe two drops. After about a week, I started to get 5 ml, and it slowly increased from there. In the third week, I started to get 30 ml each session, then 50 ml. Now after two months, I get 120 ml each time I pump.
I pumped 5 times per day and took domperidone (20mg, taken 3 times per day) for the first two weeks. I have not nursed at all, as my baby wasn’t interested.
From another mom in the Facebook group:
My daughter was diagnosed with cancer, and I decided to relactate to provide her with antibodies as chemo would be hard on her immune system.
I started pumping every two hours for 20 minutes, and after a few days I got a few drops. The first day I fed it to her via syringe, and the next day was enough for a spoon. I’m keeping at it and seeing progress.
Have you had any experience with relactation? Let us know how it went in the comments (and share your relactation pumping schedules with us)!
References- Pearson-Glaze, Philippa, IBCLC. “Tips for Relactation.” https://breastfeeding.support/tips-for-relactation/
- Bonyata, Kelly, IBCLC. “Relactation and Adoptive Breastfeeding: The Basics.” https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/relactation/
Nice post! Thanks! I used domperidone (for relactation) for my first two boys ❤️. I was so happy 😊 I found ‘Getdom4bf’ in Google and got Dom. While I never had to supplement, I worked full time from two months and am not a great pumper. I saw results from the meds within a day or two, and stayed on it with my first for six moths. With my second, once my supply increased, I weaned myself off the meds and my supply stayed strong. I’d also recommend directly breastfeeding as much as you are able, as that works wonders as well!!!
Hi ,
My son three months old, He is premature boy, First one month I was not pumping any milk , I gave only formula milk , from second month I started pumping, Seven times every day and one power pumping session but am getting only 30 ml for each session , Is there any way to increase milk supply only with exclusive pumping. Please help me . I am trying more.
Hi Amanda… should have been more clear… it’s pain in the left breast just behind the nipple. The part of the areola that you press during hand expression. I saw a doctor today and have been asked to not hand express but I think I’ll just take a complete break!
I have unfortunately been blessed (!!!) with extremely low supply and it is really putting me under a lot of pressure as it was my dream to breastfeed even if it’s just by bottle.
However, I used to not get anything more than 40-60 ml per day (not per session). Now my supply has dropped further and I barely get 2 ml per day. On a good day I get 10 ml.
I’ve ordered Moringa and Shatavari. Will start those when I get them. Fenugreek had reduced my supply so I don’t want to try taking them again.
Lately I have immense pain and while it most likely is nothing (as per doctor), I have decided to heal first (physically and mentally) and then start pumping. Maybe give myself a month’s break.
What I want to know is will I be able to increase my supply if I take a month’s break considering I never had good supply to begin with?
Hi Arwa! I think at 2-10ml a day now, there isn’t much risk in trying it. Can I ask – is the pain breast-related? Or cramping or anything? I just want to make sure it’s not a retained placenta or anything like that.
My daughter is almost 2 months old. I haven’t pumped (she won’t latch) in over 6 weeks. Three days ago I decided to try it again. I was surprised I still had small amounts of milk. The first two days I only got about 10-15 drops a day!! Day three I got about 5ml each pumping session. I’m going to try some oatmeal and blue Gatorade. I wanted to try the fenugreek but I’ve heard it dries milk and now I’m scared to take any medication.
Hi Loretta! Fenugreek seems to help some people and hurt others. You could always try a fenugreek-free supplement?
Amanda, I’ve considered that but not sure what to try.
I don’t have personal experience with them, but a lot of people in the FB group seem to like the legendairy milk supplements.
Nabila, you can contact me at pkubetz@yahoo.com. I’d be happy to share what worked for me. We are all different, so it may not be the same for you, but I’ll help however I can! If you put “Nursing Baby” in the subject line, I’ll be sure to get it.
Hello! My son just turned 5 months old. I breastfed him with no pumping until about 4 months but he started not wanting to feed as much and eventually it got to where I just fed him only formula. I want to relactate and feed him for at least a year. I’m not a big water drinker and I’m not sure what I can do other then pumping to get my milk back.
Hi Brittnee! Maybe ask your doctor about domperidone or reglan? You could also try some herbal supplements like fenugreek and blessed thistle.
Nice post! Thanks! I used domperidone (for relactation) for my first two boys ❤️. I was so happy I found ‘getdom4bf’ in Google and got Dom so soon. While I never had to supplement, I worked full time from two months and am not a great pumper. I saw results from the meds within a day or two, and stayed on it with my first for six moths. With my second, once my supply increased, I weaned myself off the meds and my supply stayed strong. I’d also recommend directly breastfeeding as much as you are able, as that works wonders as well!!!
After my third miscarriage, and a procedure to save my life but prevent any more pregnancies, my husband suggested I look into relactating as a way to work through the depression I was experiencing. Our youngest child was 14.5 years old, and I hadn’t breastfed in over 13 years. After much research I decided to try. It took strict dedication, pumping energy 2-2.5 horses around the clock for about 2 months before I saw more than dogs. I decided to try domperidone and successfully relactated. I’m strictly a donor mom, and have seen one baby through a year on my milk alone, as well as helping a handful of moms who needed a freezer stash offer extra to supplement their supply. I’m going on my 2nd year of breast pumping and donating, and am weaning off the domperidone, causing my supply to decrease as well. I’ll do this as long as I’m able!
Pumping every 2- 2.5 hours, around the clock for about 2 months before I saw more than drops.
**not what it says in my message!
That’s amazing!!!
Hi patty! I was wondering if I can get in touch with you and ask abt your journey
My baby is currently 4 months old, I breastfed her with the supplemental nursing system thwn and never pumped since my LC told me not to. But then I suspected that I didn’t empty my breast properly bcs she would nurse 1 side for 2 hrs or 1, then rest then the other side. I tried pumping qhen she turned 3months but then I was in despair since Im just so sad of my inability to breastfeed. Now thats shes 4, im still pumping at work, but my output is still 1ml-5ml for both breast. I just don’t know what to do or my plans are anymore. I felt I wasted. And I was wondering how long it did take you to achieve full supply too. Also, did you also strictly pump 2-2.5 hr at night also?
I have been searching the internet for days and can’t seem to find anyone or any reference to the situation I’m in. I know this article is from April and here it is October, but I’m praying someone can help me. I breastfed by son until he was about 10 months old but pumped more than anything since my husband wanted so badly to be a part of feeding. I went along because I love my husband. My son was a preemie so I knew BM was best for him but due to some medical issues and pressure from my husband I stopped pumping and breastfeeding altogether when he turned 12 months. He has always been a small guy, my son, but once I stopped giving him BM and he went to formula and solids, he stopped putting on weight. He is now just shy of 20 months old (turning two in December) and he’s barely 20 lbs. He’s a picky eater and doesn’t eat much. We struggle to find any fatty/healthy food choices to
increase his calorie intake. So I decided to try to get my milk to come back in hopes of helping my little guy fatten up! Every now and again over the months since I stopped pumping I would hand express a few drops and even got
some squirts here and there. A large part of me truly missed BF’ing and pumping for him so I guess that’s why I
always checked to see if I still had milk. So it’s been well over 10 months since I last pumped and I’m wondering if I
am crazy to even attempt to get my milk back? Everything I have managed to find relates more to mothers of small
babies less than a year old and still willing to latch. That isn’t an option in my case as he has a full mouth of teeth! I
will say when I lay him on my chest sometimes he roots around for my nipple as if he still remembers breastfeeding.
I made the mistake of giving him my nipple and he bit me! So that’s a no go. Any advice? Am I crazy? Can this work?
Hi Shanna! I think the only way to know is to try. Lots of mom who haven’t given birth have had some amount of success with relactation, so I think you have a good shot if you try it. If you decide to go ahead I would just commit to sticking to a schedule for a few weeks and then reassess.
My situation is almost exactly like yours…today is day two with pumping I’ve eaten fenugreek and drank tons of water also have had my pump on ALOT! My first power pumping session yesturday yielded about a teaspoon out of my left breast I got maybe two drops out of my right breast today I have tablespoons out of both!!!
Did you have any luck? Your story is almost identical to mine.