Restart Breastfeeding: Yes, You Can Start Again!

Hey mumma! Did you know that you can restart breastfeeding after stopping? If you’re a mum who’s stopped breastfeeding but you’re having second thoughts and want to start again, you’re not alone. Lots of mums wonder if it’s possible, and the good news is—it absolutely is! In this post, I’ll share why restarting breastfeeding is possible, why it matters, and give you some tips on how to make it happen.

What You Need to Know About Restarting Breastfeeding

First things first, it’s important to understand that relactation—the process of bringing back your milk supply after it’s decreased or stopped—is possible. Whether you’ve stopped breastfeeding for a few days, weeks, or even months, your body can often make milk again. This isn’t just a theory; it’s something many mums have successfully done. Breastfeeding is a supply-and-demand system, so with the right techniques and consistency, your milk can come back. Even if it seems like your supply has dried up, there’s still hope.

It’s also possible to start breastfeeding if you’ve never been pregnant or breastfed before. This is called inducing lactation and follows a similar process. It can take a bit longer because your breasts have not gone through the changes of pregnancy but is definitely still possible.

Why Restarting Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding has a big impact on both you and your baby’s health. Breastmilk is packed with nutrients that formula can’t match, and it provides immune protection that’s especially important if your baby is young or if you’ve been sick.

Plus, breastfeeding is about more than just the milk. It’s a special bond between you and your baby, offering comfort and security. Restarting breastfeeding can strengthen your connection even more, giving both you and bub the benefits of closeness and skin-to-skin contact. And let’s not forget the convenience—no bottles to prepare or clean, and milk that’s always at the right temperature!

How to Restart Breastfeeding: 3 Tips for Success

Ready to give it a go? Here are some tips to help you restart breastfeeding:

Offer the Breast Often

If your baby will suck at your breast, this is the best place to start. The more your baby sucks at the breast and empties your breasts, the more signals your body gets to make milk. Even if your baby isn’t latching well at first, keep offering (be careful bub doesn’t damage your nipples though. Get some latching tips to avoid nipple damage in my free “How To Get A Good Latch” guide.

If your baby won’t latch on, don’t give up, but don’t force them either! Babies respond to milk flow, so if there’s no milk there (or very little), your baby might get cranky and frustrated. In this case, you might find using a breastfeeding supplementer helpful or using a breast pump to build up your milk supply and offering bub the breast once there is more milk there.

Use a Breast Pump

Using a breast pump to stimulate your breasts every few hours will help to stimulate your breasts to make milk. Pumping often, especially after trying a breastfeed or in place of a baby feeding at your breast, signals your breasts to produce more milk. Power pumping, which mimics baby cluster feeding, can be helpful in increasing milk supply too.

Surround Yourself with Support

This process of relactation is a lot of work and can take up a lot of time, so it’s important to have good support around you, like your partner, family or friends that can help with around-the-house jobs and caring for baby while you’re pumping for example. Extra support is especially important if you’ve tried breastfeeding before and had trouble. Working with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in this case can help you figure out the best way of starting to breastfeed again while avoiding the problems you had last time. Book a home visit or video call with me here if you’d like my help on your journey of restarting breastfeeding.

Relactation After Sickness

If you’ve stopped breastfeeding because you’ve been sick, you can still restart once you’re feeling better. Your milk supply might be lower, but with the tips above—especially offering the breast often and pumping—you can build it back up. It’s normal for your supply to dip when you’re sick, but with patience and consistency, your breasts can start producing more milk again.

How Long Does It Take to Relactate?

Relactating can take some time, and it’s different for every mum. For some, it might take a few days to see a small increase in milk, while for others, it could take a few weeks. It’s very normal to only see a few drops at first and over time your milk will increase. The key is to be patient and keep trying. The more often you pump or breastfeed, the quicker your body will get the message to start making more milk. Stick with it, and you’ll see results soon.

Restarting Breastfeeding: You Can Do It!

It is definitely possible to restart breastfeeding after stopping, and many mums have done it successfully. Whether you’re relactating after stopping or trying to bring back your milk supply after an illness, it’s all about being patient and consistent. Remember, your body can respond to the signals you and your baby give it, so keep offering the breast and pumping regularly. If you have any questions or want to share what you took away from this post, feel free to DM me on Instagram—I’d love to hear from you and help you on your breastfeeding journey!