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Any parent who has breastfed or chestfed knows that the process can come with challenges, from pain and soreness to milk supply issues. At some point, a breastfeeding parent will stop producing milk completely, whether this is through intentional weaning or something unplanned, such as a baby going on a “nursing strike,” where lack of removing milk causes milk supply to dry up.

Whether this milk supply cessation is intentional or not, there may come a time when a parent who formerly breastfed wants to relactate, or reestablish their milk supply. They may feel their breastfeeding journey isn’t complete, or they have other reasons for wanting to relactate, such as wanting to pass on antibodies or worrying about the formula shortage.

But how does relactation work, exactly, and what are the benefits and risks? Here’s everything you need to know.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), relactation is defined as “the process by which a parent reestablishes lactation after having stopped for some time (weeks or months).”[1]Supporting Families with Relactation. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Accessed 7/8/2022.

Relactation can also have another definition, says Jill Purdie, M.D., OB/GYN and medical director at Northside Women’s Specialists in Atlanta. “Relactation can also refer to a person who previously breastfed a biological child and now wishes to breastfeed an adoptive child, partner’s child or child born via surrogate,” she explains.

A parent may want to relactate for a handful of reasons. These include:

Wanting to give breastfeeding another shot. Sometimes, Dr. Purdie says, a parent may struggle to breastfeed in the hospital and want to try again at home. “A parent may have been separated from their infant due to illness or injury but still wants to breastfeed now that they or their infant are recovered,” she adds.

An intolerance to formula. A parent may decide to stop breastfeeding and make the switch to formula, only to find that their infant can’t tolerate it as well as they hoped. “In this case, a parent may want to reestablish breastfeeding,” says Dr. Purdie.

Wanting to breastfeed an adopted, surrogate or family member’s child. In some cases, a parent who has lactated in the past may want to relactate for a child they did not give birth to. “If a parent who lactated previously for another child is adopting, they might want to lactate to feed the adopted baby,” says Amy Roskin, M.D., J.D., board-certified OB/GYN and chief medical officer of Seven Starling, a maternal health digital platform. “Another instance would be a non-birth parent who previously lactated and wants to feed their baby, this could be in the context of a same-sex relationship, transgender or nonbinary parent.”

The formula shortage or cost of formula. Throughout 2022, there has been a formula shortage, and anxiety over an inability to feed their baby may make some parents want to relactate. “It could also come down to cost issues with the price of formula being high,” says Lisa Enger, registered nurse and lactation specialist at Tufts Medical Center.

Wanting to pass on antibodies. Breast milk is known to contain antibodies that fight infection, which is one reason why medical professionals encourage it, so a person might want to relactate to pass those antibodies on. Research has also shown that people who receive the COVID-19 vaccine may be able to pass on antibodies to those too young to be vaccinated, which could be an incentive for relactation[2]Gray, K. Bordt, E. Atyeo, C. Elovitz, M. Alter, G. Edlow, A. Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine response in pregnant and lactating women: a cohort study. AJOG. 2021; 225(3):303. .

As long as you have lactated in the past, yes, in theory you can relactate, but Enger notes that there are no guarantees around the volume of milk you will produce.

“ Lactation is driven by hormones that occur naturally in pregnancy,” adds Kiana Ayers, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, registered nurse, founder of Mamas and Tatas and lactation expert for Sweetie Pie Organics. “ You’re more likely to successfully stimulate those hormones again if your baby is younger, there has not been a great amount of time since you stopped expressing breastmilk, and you are committed to keeping a consistent schedule of milk expression.”

Relactation works in much the same way as regular lactation does—it’s a supply and demand process that requires both nipple stimulation and milk extraction, explains the CDC. This can be done with a breast pump, hand expression or infant nursing. Once the breasts begin making milk, removing the milk regularly will help establish supply.

Some parents jumpstart relactation by mimicking the hormone fluctuation that occurs during pregnancy. Estrogen via birth control pills mimics pregnancy; abruptly stopping estrogen mimics childbirth and the hormonal shift that occurs for lactation to occur. This, combined with frequent pumping, can support relactation.

If you want to relactate, the CDC recommends working with a lactation specialist to help come up with a plan for yourself and your baby’s caloric intake while milk supply is being established.

If you want to relactate, experts recommend the following tips to get the process started:

Work with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who specializes in relactation. Proper support is key when you’re looking to relactate, as it may not be as natural for your body as the original lactation process. A lactation consultant can also help troubleshoot any reasons that led to lactation stopping in the first place, notes  Ayers.

Make sure you’re properly stimulating the nipples. Relactation will only work with nipple stimulation, so make sure you either have an infant who can breastfeed to provide nipple stimulation regularly or the right breast pump. “Correct flange sizes for [your] nipples and the right type of breast pump are essential tools in this process,” says Ayers.

Be aware of milk inhibitors. Some hormonal birth control methods such as pills, IUDs or implants are known to negatively impact milk production. Decongestants can inhibit milk production as well. Your breasts are unlikely to respond to stimulation with inhibitors on board. Further, untreated medical conditions can also make relactating difficult, including thyroid imbalance, fertility issues, PCOS and more. An IBCLC can help you sort this out.

Load up on foods that are shown to increase milk supply. “The use of galactagogues— foods like whole grains and fennel and herbs like fenugreek and milk thistle that are thought to boost milk production—can all help with relactation,” Ayers says. Research has also found that foods like pumpkin, eggs, tofu, chicken, fish and seafood can help with lactation[3]Buntuchai, G., Pavadhgul, P., Kittipichai, W. Satheannoppakao, W. Traditional Galactagogue Foods and Their Connection to Human Milk Volume in Thai Breastfeeding Mothers. J. Hum. Lact. 2017; 33(3):552-559. .

Be patient. The relactation process isn’t easy, so committing to it and being patient is key. If it has only been a week or two since your breasts produced milk, you might find success quickly. But if it has been over six months, it will likely take more time. Relactation can be challenging for some, and the process often takes commitment and diligence, says Dr. Roskin. It’s also important to be patient with yourself, and to understand that relaction doesn’t always work for everyone, she continues. Family support, and utilizing the expertise of a lactation consultant, can be a big help.

Be prepared to settle. While some mothers are able to bring in a full milk supply, realistically you may only be able to produce part of your baby’s milk. There are still tremendous health benefits, and of course, cost benefits.

There are a handful of benefits to relactation, but in general, they are very similar to those of traditional breastfeeding. “There is increased bonding between the parent and child, and most infants digest breast milk more easily than formula,” says Dr. Purdie. “The parent is also able to pass along antibodies to the infant, which help protect them against illness.”

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), some of the other benefits of breastfeeding for the mother include slightly easier weight loss, lower rates of Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, and lower rates of breast and ovarian cancer. For the baby, benefits include getting the proper nutrients, a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and reducing the risk of short and long term health problems[4]Breastfeeding Benefits. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Accessed 7/8/2022. .

The biggest risk of relactation, according to Ayers, is an unintentional decrease in your baby’s daily caloric intake. “You might start to see breast milk flowing and assume that you can stop supplementing entirely, but that may not be the case,” she explains. “This is why it’s important to work with an IBCLC who can help you determine if the milk your body is now producing is truly enough for you to stop supplementing feedings with formula, and to confirm that your baby is getting enough nutrition in a 24-hour period.”

She adds that other risks include side effects from herbal or medicinal galactagogues (foods or herbs meant to increase milk supply), damage to nipples from improper pumping or latching and an increased risk of anxiety if it does not go as planned.

While difficult at times, relactation is a completely worthwhile journey for many people. Just remember to be kind and patient with yourself along the way, and do your best to work with a lactation consultant who can help. Need An Extra Hand? Find part-time sitters, full-time nannies, and one-time care on Care.com. Get Started For Free

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Leigh Weingus is a New York-based freelance writer and former senior editor at HuffPost, Elite Daily and Mindbodygreen. Her work has been featured in Well+Good, Glamour, Parade, Bustle, NBC News and more. When she's not writing, Leigh can be found taking a (virtual) yoga class, running in Central Park or whipping up her latest smoothie creation.