Relactation
Chaturvedi, P.
Indian Pediatrics 31(7): 858-860
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 7890356 Document Number: 426754
The study examined the parameters of relactation among a small group of women (8 mothers and their babies) admitted to the Pediatric Ward of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in India. All mothers had no breast secretions (6 mothers) or few breast secretions (2 mothers). Support was given to the mothers to motivate and to inspire confidence in their ability to produce milk. Babies were put to the breast every 2-3 hours. When babies rejected the breast, mothers were given a lact-aid supplement in order to stimulate milk production. Outcomes were determined as complete or partial, depending upon the reliance on other feeds. Failure was determined by failure to increase milk secretions and by increased need for other feeds. Infant weights were taken every 4 weeks for 3 months. Adequate growth was considered to be a weight gain of 125 g or more each week. This was the first birth for 6 mothers; the other two mothers had prior births. The mean age of mothers was 23.5 years. The mean age of infants was 50.7 days. The mean number of days between stopping breast feeding and the attempt at relactation was 27.8 days. Maternal illness was the cause of lactational delay for 3 of the mothers. All 5 of the mothers with complete lactational failure were given lact-aid supplements for a period of 10-14 days. First breast secretions appeared within 7-10 days; the mean was 9.3 days. Relactation varied from 22-35 days; the mean was 29.3 days. Complete relactation was possible in 4 out of the 8 cases. Partial relactation occurred among 2 cases. Babies with partial relactation tended to be older, but the sample sizes were too small to show statistically significant differences. The oldest baby was 90 days and failed to relactate. Relactation requires persistent and prolonged management, but health personnel should continue, for the sake of the health of the infant, to try relactation, particularly when infants are under 6 weeks old.