Interview! Tamar’s Re-Lactation Story

To breastfeed or not to breastfeed – that was Tamar’s question. And she took some time to answer it.

In this podcast, Tamar shares her recent experience nursing her 4th child. Not only was this her first time breastfeeding, but she made it happen when her daughter was almost 1 month old!  Tamar tells us a bit about how this “re-lactation” story unfolded, and gives her nuanced perspective on both bottle and breastfeeding.

For more information on re-lactation, visit https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/relactation/ (and FYI KellyMom has my vote for being the most comprehensive user-friendly breastfeeding website out there!)

There are just two things I want to add to the podcast contents:

1. It’s SO IMPORTANT (read that as “critical”) to have a supportive pediatrician through the re-lactation process (and honestly, whenever breastfeeding isn’t going smoothly from the beginning!).  Tamar’s pediatrician didn’t freak out when her baby was still at birth weight three weeks after birth.  Generally it would indicate a problem, but because he was involved with and supportive of the re-lactation process, he “prescribed” supplementation by bottle (and Tamar was able to pump enough ounces of her own milk) as the baby strengthened her oral muscles to effectively take in enough nutrition at the breast. At no point did he suggest she should give it up, just that they would need to monitor her over the next month.
2. Establishing breastfeeding (for a first baby, a complicated baby, etc.) can be emotionally draining and time consuming.  “Where there’s a will there’s a way” does usually apply here too, but setting yourself up for success with resources (family, professionals, books, etc.) and committing to set aside the time can be what turns the tide towards reaching your goals.  In Tamar’s case, the Covid-19 shutdown and her husband’s transition to working from home were a tremendous help so she could spend the hours that she did pumping and nursing her sleepy baby (even if she did continue teaching by Zoom immediately postpartum!).

Oh – and PS: almost-7-month-old Zahava sleeps great now, bli ayin hara.

PPS: 1.5 year old Zahava is still devotedly (and demandingly) nursing! And we’ve begun to call Tamar Leah herself “Tamar Leche”. 😉 Hopefully we’ll be able to hear from her again soon.