PUMPING UP THE VOLUME
Moms who had been relying on formula as a backup now looking to increase their own milk production
Just as people have been panic-buying more toilet paper, bread and meat than they need, infant formula has been flying off retailers’ shelves since the coronavirus began spreading around the world earlier this year.
Now, it seems, anxiety about limited shelf supply of infant formula has sparked an increased interest in re-lactation — when a birth parent resumes production of breast milk after stopping.
Parents who may have been relying on formula as a backup are now looking to boost their own milk production to meet their babies’ needs as the formula industry struggles with supply-chain issues.
“No one considers the risk of formula feeding in times of extreme hardship like a pandemic such as we are in now. Some families are panicking to find formula, other families are stressed because they can’t find bottled water to prepare the formula they have,” says Tanefer Lumukanda Camara, an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) based in Oakland, Calif. “Breastfeeding is the best emergency preparedness plan there is — for an infant it can be life saving in times of hardship, war, famine or natural disasters.”
Lactation consultants and breastfeeding organizations say phone lines and emails are being flooded with re-lactation questions and that Facebook groups dedicated to re-lactation are seeing an increase in members as women try to resume breastfeeding their babies in the middle of the pandemic. Some are looking to exclusively breastfeed, while others are just hoping to pump enough to store as a backup to formula feeding, they say.
“We have seen an explosion of interest, both in the specialized Facebook group ‘to induce lactation or re-lactate’ as well as from those seeking support from La Leche League leaders,” says Rebecca Mccormick, president of La Leche League USA.
According to lactation consultants, even mothers who have had a long gap since breastfeeding may be able to re-initiate their milk supply.
Alyssa Schnell of St. Louis adopted a child five years after her last biological birth and was able to regain full milk supply. Schnell, an IBCLC, is the author of Breastfeeding Without Birthing, and through her practice works primarily with adoptive, surrogate and other non-birthing parents who want to lactate. “I tell people, if I can help someone who’s never given birth bring in milk, then there’s hope for anyone,” Schnell says. “But it will take commitment, time and effort.”
While the time commitment involved has deterred many from attempting re-lactating in the past, the pandemic has forced people to stay home and given them what lactation consultants say is the greatest asset in a re-lactation plan: time.
However, even with earnest effort, re-lactation may not be possible for everyone, particularly if there were underlying medical issues with lactation. “Someone with insufficient glandular tissue, for example, or hormonal issues that affect milk production may have more difficulty with re-lactation. Also if you’ve had breast surgeries and were never able to build an adequate milk supply it may be harder to establish,” says Camara, who advises parents on all infant feeding options in her practice.
Otherwise, Schnell says, someone who has stopped breastfeeding in the past three to six months may see results within two weeks, but that will require hand massage and pumping for 15-20 minutes eight times a day.
Drugs help, but are not without complications nor are they always available depending on your country’s drug restrictions.
Without trusted pharmaceuticals, lactation consultants often recommend a group of herbal galactagogues — substances that increase production of breast milk — but advise using them only after a consultation with a lactation professional.
If you are considering re-lactation, here’s how to start:
■ Get handsy. If it’s been just a few months since you stopped breastfeeding, Schnell suggests watching a few videos on breast massage and hand expression and doing it, after thoroughly washing your hands, three or four times a day. “Even if you get a few droplets, that shows your body is still producing milk and that’s a great start,” says Schnell, noting that hand expression is more efficient than a breast pump so even if you are not getting anything out with a pump, try hand expression.
■ Be prepared to commit. The re-lactation process is simple but not easy. It will require, at least, pumping for 15-20 minutes, up to eight times a day, for at least three to four weeks. It could take several months to achieve enough milk for exclusive breastfeeding. Educate yourself using resources from La Leche League and Kellymom.
■ Consider the cost. The type of quality breast pump needed to re-lactate costs at least $100. Then there’s the time and potential emotional toll. “We can’t guarantee results. I always explain to mothers that re-lactation is a bit of an experiment,” says Lucy Ruddle. She runs a popular re-lactation Facebook group in Britain that has seen a recent spike in membership.
“The time commitment involved makes it inherently risky for moms who are already feeling vulnerable and carrying a sense of guilt or failure about their previous breastfeeding experience,” says Ruddle, who also wrote a book on re-lactation.
■ Get a lactation professional. Use the La Leche League leader locator to find local support.
■ Get ongoing support. La Leche League has an Inducing Lactation & Relactation Facebook group and Camara hosts the Midnight Milk Club, a private late-night breastfeeding and infant feeding support group.
■ Think beyond your own breasts. “It’s an important time to open our minds to informal milk sharing with friends and family that we know well,” says Schnell. “Milk sharing used to be something we practised, even breastfeeding each others’ babies when necessary. This is a connection we lost as formula became more prevalent,” notes Camara, who adds milk sharing should be encouraged with caution and to be sure to know the health status of the donor, including if they are on medication and what their diet is in case the baby has any allergies.
I tell people, if I can help someone who’s never given birth bring in milk, then there’s hope for anyone. But it will take commitment, time and effort.