Re-Establishment of Milk Secretion After Complete Cessation in a Relactation Program and the Differences in...

Relactation is the process of re-establishing a breast milk supply that has diminished or ceased.

This study aimed to determine the effects of a relactation support program on milk secretion among mothers who had ceased any milk production, mother-infant attachment, and maternal roles.

This single-group quasi-experimental study was conducted with 34 mothers who had 1-4-month-old infants, and who had stopped breastfeeding for at least 15 days and, at most, 3 months with complete cessation of milk secretion. The relactation support program consisted of eight home visits and seven telephone support sessions over 15 days. Mothers were taught relactation techniques, including nipple stimulation, skin-to-skin contact, and the finger feeding method. Data were assessed using the Mother-Infant Monitoring Form, Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI), and the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF).

Milk secretion returned in 64.7% (n = 22) of the participants, with first milk secretion occurring on Day 6 (mean first secretion: 8.95, SD = 2.17 days). Overall, study activities including daily nipple stimulation (χ² = 42.087, p < 0.001) and frequency of putting the baby to the breast (χ² = 134.93, p < 0.001) increased, as did milk secretion (χ² = 303.604, p < 0.001). A shorter weaning period increased the chance of re-lactation (U = 24.00, z = -4.011, p < 0.001). Both maternal function (BIMF; z = -5.088, p < 0.001) and maternal attachment (MAI; z = -5.013, p < 0.001) scores increased significantly over the study period. Participants who were able to relactate had better maternal functions (U = 44.50, z = -3.160, p = 0.002) and higher maternal attachment levels than those who did not (U = 73.50, z = -2.110, p = 0.034).

This study demonstrates that relactation can be achieved and has maternal benefits beyond simply the return of milk secretion.