Relactation is a technique widely used to feed the baby when breastfeeding is not possible, and the baby is then given formula, animal milk or pasteurized human milk through a tube or using a relactation kit.
This technique is indicated in cases where mothers do not have milk or produce little of it, but it can also be used when the baby is premature and cannot hold the mother’s nipple well. Furthermore, relactation can also be done in babies who have stopped breastfeeding for a long time and in cases of adoptive mothers because the baby’s sucking when breastfeeding stimulates milk production.
When to do
Relactation can be indicated in situations related to the mother or the newborn, and is mainly indicated in cases where the woman does not have milk or has a small amount of milk, not enough to nourish the baby. Furthermore, relactation may be indicated soon after birth, when the woman uses medications that make lactation difficult, when she has one breast smaller than the other or when the newborn is adopted.
In the case of babies, some situations in which relactation is indicated are premature babies, when they cannot hold the mother’s nipple well or when they have a condition that prevents them from exerting themselves, such as Down syndrome or neurological diseases.
How relactation is done
Relactation can be done either with a probe or with a relactation kit:
1. Intercourse with a probe
To perform home relactation with a probe you must:
- Buy a number 4 or 5 pediatric nasogastric tube, as recommended by the pediatrician, in pharmacies or drugstores;
- Put powdered milk in a bottle, cup or syringe, depending on the mother’s preference;
- Place one end of the probe in the chosen container and the other end of the probe near the nipple, secured with adhesive tape, for example.
In this way, the baby, when placing his mouth on the breast, grasps the nipple and the tube simultaneously and when sucking, despite drinking the powdered milk, he has the sensation of being suckled at the mother’s breast. See how to choose the best artificial formula for your baby.
2. Relationship with kit
To carry out relactation with a kit from Mamatutti or Medela, for example, simply place the artificial milk in the container and, if necessary, attach the probe to the mother’s breast.
The relactation material must be washed with soap and water to remove all traces of milk after each use and boiled for 15 minutes before each use to remain sterilized. Furthermore, the nasogastric tube or the tube in the kit must be changed after 2 or 3 weeks of use or when the baby has difficulty breastfeeding.
During the relactation process, it is essential not to give the baby a bottle, so that he does not adapt to the bottle nipple and gives up on his mother’s breast. Furthermore, when the mother notices that she is already producing milk, she should slowly restrict the relactation technique and introduce breastfeeding.
