Question for lactating ladies

[Jane]

I found a wonderful anr partner on one of these websites and I’m curious, once my milk is in, how often do we need to nurse daily? I mean, like could we sustain milk flow at just nursing two-three times a day after my milk has come in? We are currently dry nursing but wonder if we could even support lactation with me working full time and having other responsibilities. We love the dry nursing and the connection we have but would really love to induce lactation and keep it going.

[Yogi]

I would recommend 6-8 nursings per day to induce full lactation to engorgement. This can take anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks. It is important to have a night time nursing while inducing (3am). Typically, maintaining that schedule for a minimum of 6 weeks after engorgement would stabilize your milk flow. After that, the demand/supply principle takes over. You and your partner will have to determine the optimal number of nursings per day that your schedules/times allow. The more suckling—>the more milk. If your milk flow decreases on a reduced schedule, you can always increase your nursing sessions or you can always pump/hand express when you are at work in order to keep your milk flowing, too.

[Vee]

Hi Jane, I’m in very similar situation lol. Have also found a wonderful partner, dry nursing currently & trying to induce/re-lactate. I’m thinking of getting a pump and or herbs/dom to get things going Perhaps we can chat?

[Anonymous]

After lactation is very well established, I’ve found that the number of feeding sessions is quite flexible. In my experience, the best way to accomodate tight schedules is to cluster feeds around sleeping. Before bed, perhaps overnight, in the morning. And the odd suckling when you get home from work and lunch on the weekends. This has been enough to maintain a milk supply for me. But as mentioned above because of less feeds and demand the milk isn’t gushing or high in volume.
Keeping it at low volumes when time is tight though, allows you the flexibility to increase it during long holidays etc when you can have leisure for frequent feeds. I love how it adapts with us and our needs.

[Author]

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