Translactation is a technique that consists of placing the baby at the breast to suckle the mother’s own milk previously removed through a probe that is placed close to the nipple. This technique is widely used in cases of premature babies, who do not have enough strength to suck breast milk or who need to stay in incubators in the hospital.
Additionally, translactation can be done to stimulate breast milk production, which typically takes about 2 weeks.
Translactation and relactation are similar techniques, however, the difference is that translactation uses only breast milk and relactation uses artificial milk. Understand what relactation is and how to do it.
How to do the translation
Translactation can be done at home, manually using a bottle, for example, or using a translactation kit available in some pharmacies and baby products stores.
Manual translation
Manual translactation must be carried out in accordance with the pediatrician’s instructions, following the steps below:
- Remove the milk manually, or with the help of manual or electrical devices, and store it in a bottle, syringe or cup;
- Place one end of the nasogastric tube number 4 or 5 (according to the pediatrician’s instructions) in the container in which the milk was stored and the other end of the tube close to the nipple, securing it with masking tape;
- Place the baby close to the breast to feed through the tube.
It is important to pay attention to the baby’s position during translactation to ensure that the baby has control over the flow of milk, and it is recommended that it be positioned lower than the breast.
Babies do not usually show resistance to translactation and after a few weeks, it is possible to make them breastfeed, and it is recommended not to give the baby a bottle during the process.
Translation with kit
The translactation kit can be found in pharmacies or baby products stores and consists of manually expressing the milk, or with the help of manual or electrical devices, which must be stored in the container provided by the kit. If necessary, you should also attach the kit probe to the breast and place the baby to breastfeed through the probe.
When is it indicated
Translactation is indicated when the baby cannot perform the sucking movement efficiently, and is mainly carried out in the case of premature babies or those who have a disease that prevents them from making much effort, such as genetic, cardiac or neurological changes, for example.
Furthermore, translactation is recommended if the woman presents late let-down of milk, postpartum, in the case of adopted newborns or when the woman uses medications that interfere with milk production.
Translactation care
Whichever translactation method is chosen, the mother must take some precautions, such as:
- Place the container with milk higher than the breast, so the milk flows better;
- Boil the translation material 15 minutes before using it;
- Wash the material with soap and water after use;
- Change the probe every 2 to 3 weeks of use.
Furthermore, the mother can express the milk and preserve it to give to the baby later, however, she must be aware of where and how long the milk is stored. Learn how to store breast milk correctly.
