By Kelly O.
The following is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2010 in New Beginnings magazine.
Editor’s Note: The first issue of La Leche League News, a bimonthly publication for members, was published in 1958. The name was changed to New Beginnings in 1985. New Beginnings was acquired by La Leche League USA in 2010 and continued to be published as a magazine until 2014, when it was switched to its current weekly blog format at www.lllusa.org/blog/
I had stopped breastfeeding early in my son’s life–not because I didn’t want to breastfeed–but because of an array of issues. In fact, I had dreamed of nursing my baby since the moment I knew I was pregnant. My son was born six weeks premature via cesarean section due to risks with my pregnancy. All of the problems made for a very stressful pregnancy.
After he was born, I pumped constantly while my son was in the NICU. I also made sure I did as much skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) as they would let me. The problem was that I wasn’t getting much milk. But I was determined to ensure that Braeden had my milk. With the help of a lactation consultant, I tried constant pumping, medication, and many other tricks to improve my milk supply, but I felt frustrated at the minimal increases.
I was exhausted. Plus, once I left the hospital for the day, I had another son at home waiting to see me. During this time I also began having difficulty with my cesarean section incision. It became infected and required a lot of care. Because I could not stand to have my son in the NICU alone, I continued my long days there, with my stomach bandaged and so sore that I could barely walk.
I became so overwhelmed with the issues surrounding my incision, the physical pain, and the fact that I wasn’t seeing enough results from all my work to increase my milk supply. I stopped pumping on day 12 and asked the nurse to start bottle-feeding Braeden. I think it’s important to note that I also realized that the sooner Braeden was eating on his own, the faster he would come home. I wanted my baby to come home!
Braeden slowly learned to feed from a bottle and was finally discharged on November 23, after 16 days in the NICU. I realized later that I regretted the decision to stop lactation. I yearned for that closeness to my baby and for me to provide his food.
I told a friend of mine how I wished I had been able to breastfeed, and she informed me of a process called relactation. She had the faith and belief in me that I didn’t have in myself back then and guided me back into a wonderful and fulfilling breastfeeding relationship with my Braeden. Much to my surprise, I learned that although I had not breastfed in about seven weeks and my breasts weren’t producing very much, I could work toward bringing my milk back in.
I was so tired and worn out from the NICU experience and issues with the incision, though, that I questioned if I had the energy. I decided that since my baby was premature and had so many struggles in his first days here on earth, I really wanted him to have the very best he could have– my milk. So with my friend’s support, I began latching Braeden onto my breast again and pumping.
To my surprise, he latched like a champ, as if he had always been at the breast! This was the first step to a beautiful nursing relationship with my son. I continued latching and pumping, began taking medication to increase my supply, and added herbs to my routine as well. My milk supply came back. At first, it was small amounts, but it gradually started to increase.
Braeden initially used my breast to soothe himself to sleep. This was great, because any amount of suckling at the breast stimulated milk production. So, as often as I could, I put my son to the breast, and he would suckle like a champ!
I tried an at-breast supplementer. I didn’t have a lot of luck with this, but I know it is helpful for some. My friend informed me of a support group called La Leche League. I received great support from the LLL Leader and my friend as much as I could. She made herself available to me almost constantly, and I never felt like I would be judged if I didn’t continue. What a true friend!
I got the strong encouragement and positive reinforcement that I needed. I surrounded myself with a network of support and, looking back, I truly could not have done it without each and every one of the people who supported me.
Over time, my milk supply increased to the point that I was almost able to exclusively breastfeed my son. I had to supplement every other day with about three ounces of formula, but the rest of Braeden’s diet was breastmilk! I couldn’t believe the progress I had made and was thrilled that my son could reap the benefits.
I love the close and nurturing relationship Braeden and I have, and I love being his source of food and comfort. There truly is nothing like the bond of a nursing relationship with your little one. I wanted to write my story for every parent struggling with milk supply or contemplating relactation. It is a lot of work, I won’t deny that, but it is a truly rewarding and worthwhile experience.
We’d love to hear your breastfeeding and human milk feeding experiences. Please send your stories to Kylie at [email protected]
Resources from topics in this story:
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
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Posted: July 15, 2025 by Yael Breimer
A Relactation Story: Taking a Look Back
By Kelly O.
The following is an excerpt from an article originally published in 2010 in New Beginnings magazine.
Editor’s Note: The first issue of La Leche League News, a bimonthly publication for members, was published in 1958. The name was changed to New Beginnings in 1985. New Beginnings was acquired by La Leche League USA in 2010 and continued to be published as a magazine until 2014, when it was switched to its current weekly blog format at www.lllusa.org/blog/
After he was born, I pumped constantly while my son was in the NICU. I also made sure I did as much skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) as they would let me. The problem was that I wasn’t getting much milk. But I was determined to ensure that Braeden had my milk. With the help of a lactation consultant, I tried constant pumping, medication, and many other tricks to improve my milk supply, but I felt frustrated at the minimal increases.
I was exhausted. Plus, once I left the hospital for the day, I had another son at home waiting to see me. During this time I also began having difficulty with my cesarean section incision. It became infected and required a lot of care. Because I could not stand to have my son in the NICU alone, I continued my long days there, with my stomach bandaged and so sore that I could barely walk.
I became so overwhelmed with the issues surrounding my incision, the physical pain, and the fact that I wasn’t seeing enough results from all my work to increase my milk supply. I stopped pumping on day 12 and asked the nurse to start bottle-feeding Braeden. I think it’s important to note that I also realized that the sooner Braeden was eating on his own, the faster he would come home. I wanted my baby to come home!
Braeden slowly learned to feed from a bottle and was finally discharged on November 23, after 16 days in the NICU. I realized later that I regretted the decision to stop lactation. I yearned for that closeness to my baby and for me to provide his food.
I told a friend of mine how I wished I had been able to breastfeed, and she informed me of a process called relactation. She had the faith and belief in me that I didn’t have in myself back then and guided me back into a wonderful and fulfilling breastfeeding relationship with my Braeden. Much to my surprise, I learned that although I had not breastfed in about seven weeks and my breasts weren’t producing very much, I could work toward bringing my milk back in.
I was so tired and worn out from the NICU experience and issues with the incision, though, that I questioned if I had the energy. I decided that since my baby was premature and had so many struggles in his first days here on earth, I really wanted him to have the very best he could have– my milk. So with my friend’s support, I began latching Braeden onto my breast again and pumping.
To my surprise, he latched like a champ, as if he had always been at the breast! This was the first step to a beautiful nursing relationship with my son. I continued latching and pumping, began taking medication to increase my supply, and added herbs to my routine as well. My milk supply came back. At first, it was small amounts, but it gradually started to increase.
Braeden initially used my breast to soothe himself to sleep. This was great, because any amount of suckling at the breast stimulated milk production. So, as often as I could, I put my son to the breast, and he would suckle like a champ!
I tried an at-breast supplementer. I didn’t have a lot of luck with this, but I know it is helpful for some. My friend informed me of a support group called La Leche League. I received great support from the LLL Leader and my friend as much as I could. She made herself available to me almost constantly, and I never felt like I would be judged if I didn’t continue. What a true friend!
I got the strong encouragement and positive reinforcement that I needed. I surrounded myself with a network of support and, looking back, I truly could not have done it without each and every one of the people who supported me.
Over time, my milk supply increased to the point that I was almost able to exclusively breastfeed my son. I had to supplement every other day with about three ounces of formula, but the rest of Braeden’s diet was breastmilk! I couldn’t believe the progress I had made and was thrilled that my son could reap the benefits.
I love the close and nurturing relationship Braeden and I have, and I love being his source of food and comfort. There truly is nothing like the bond of a nursing relationship with your little one. I wanted to write my story for every parent struggling with milk supply or contemplating relactation. It is a lot of work, I won’t deny that, but it is a truly rewarding and worthwhile experience.
We’d love to hear your breastfeeding and human milk feeding experiences. Please send your stories to Kylie at [email protected]
Resources from topics in this story:
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
Follow us on:
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Category: Breastfeeding Support, Grateful For LLL USA, Looking Back, Relactation
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