August 08, 2025

All Things Breastfeeding Episode 98: Relactation and Induced Lactation

26 minutes

In this episode Nancy and Barbara discuss the latest findings on relacation and induced lactation.

According to University of Western Australia’s LactaPedia, an online comprehensive glossary of human lactation terms freely available to professionals and parents (https://lactapedia.com/lactapedia-site/homee), relactation is defined as the re-establishment of lactation after the immediate post-birth period. This restricts relactation only to mothers and other birthing parents who delivered the current baby. This differs from the broader definition used in the 2020 Breastfeeding Answers and other lactation textbooks, which includes anyone who had ever given birth to any baby. Due to the breast-tissue growth during pregnancy, this previous definition assumed those who had ever given birth had an advantage in bringing in milk. Now, establishing milk production by anyone who did not give birth to the current baby is defined as induced lactation.

Bringing in full milk production for a baby the parent did not birth is not easy but it can be done. However, thinking of nursing in terms of “all or nothing” is particularly unhelpful. Any nursing can be beneficial for the parent and the baby. Any human milk the baby receives is positive.

At the end of this Module, you will find many induced lactation resources. One of the best is Breastfeeding Without Birthing, a book by Alyssa Schnell, an easy read and loaded with information.

Here are some possible strategies for inducing lactation.

Before the baby arrives

One option is an induced lactation protocol using birth control pills and other medications and/or herbs, although these protocols have not been formally studied https://www.asklenore.info/breastfeeding/induced-lactation

Another option is taking galactagogues during the month before the baby is due

Consider improving gut health to improve milk production

Consider beginning a pumping schedule to maximize milk production.

For the adopted babies, breastfeeding more than just something nice to do http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/content/pdf/1746-4358-1-5.pdf

Once the baby arrives, have the baby’s overall weight checked once a week to ensure proper gain and consider pre and post weights until milk supple is fully established and baby is exclusively nursing.

Spend lots of time with the baby skin to skin as soon as possible. Get comfy in a starter position and enjoy! It will help remind the babies about breastfeeding and trigger inborn feeding behaviours. https://vimeo.com/user64721573

Make sure the baby latches deeply. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GvA-nXVp0esv3Y0TmZ-Q87Amv-4Ylbda/view

If the baby is nursing, consider supplementing the babies at the breast using a supplemental nursing system or a Lactaid https://youtu.be/-mDeRb_iGD4

If using bottles, consider paced bottle feeding. See Module VII.A.1 for more on this.

Until baby is nursing, consider finger feeding.

Induced lactation websites and resources:

Alyssa Schnell- Best one in our opinion https://alyssaschnellibclc.mykajabi.com/

Podcast (45 min.) hour) with Alyssa Schnell, Getting Off to a Good Start with Inducing Lactation/Relactation: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/042-getting-started-with-inducing-lactation-relactation/id1078526428?i=1000429588067

Podcast with Alyssa Schnell about her book https://bfcaa.com/all-things-breastfeeding-episode-13-breastfeeding-without-birthing-with-alyssa-schnell/

The biology of the induced lactation in a nutshell https://www.asklenore.info/breastfeeding/induced-lactation/an-introduction-to-induced-lactation/biology-of-induced-lactation

https://kellymom.com/ages/adopt-relactate/relactation-resources/

https://www.canadianbreastfeedingfoundation.org/induced/accelerated_protocol.shtml

https://breastfeedingusa.org/breastfeeding-your-adopted-baby/

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/relactation-and-induced-lactation

Nice blog on Re-lactation http://lactationmatters.org/2012/11/29/providing-support-for-mothers-who-wish-to-relactate/

The post All Things Breastfeeding Episode 98: Relactation and Induced Lactation appeared first on The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

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By Barbara D. Robertson, IBCLC; Barbara Demske RN, BSN

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