Relactation is a technique used to breastfeed in cases where mothers do not have milk or produce in small amounts, but can also be used when the baby is premature and can not hold the mother's nipple well.
In addition, relacting can also be done in infants who have stopped breastfeeding for a long time and in cases of adoptive mothers because suckling of the baby while breastfeeding stimulates milk production.
For this, the technique is made using a very thin tube that is placed near the nipple and, by which, the baby can suck the milk that is inside a syringe or own container.
Step-by-step for probe relaying
To make the homogenous reaction with probe, it is necessary to:
- Buy a pediatric nasogastric tube number 4 or 5, according to the indication of the pediatrician, in pharmacies or drugstores;
- Put the milk powder in the bottle, the cup or the syringe, according to the mother's preference;
- Place one tip of the probe in the chosen container and the other tip of the probe near the nipple, attached with tape, for example.
In this way, the baby, when placing the mouth on the breast, suckles the nipple and the tube simultaneously and sucking, despite drinking the milk powder, has the sensation of being suckled in the mother's womb. Here's how to choose the best artificial formula for your baby.
Another more practical solution to make the relationship is to buy a Mamatutti or Medela relacting kit, where the woman only has to put the powdered milk in the container and fix the probe tip near the nipple.
How to do kit relaying
For example, to place the kit with Mamatutti or Medela, simply place the artificial milk in the container and, if necessary, attach the tube to the mother.
The relacting material should be washed with soap and water to remove all traces of milk after each use and boiled for 15 minutes before each use to be sterilized. In addition, the nasogastric tube or probe kit should be changed after 2 or 3 weeks of use or when the baby has difficulty in suckling.
During the process of relacting it is essential not to give the baby bottle, so that it does not adapt to the tip of the bottle and give up the mother's breast. In addition, when the mother observes that she is already producing milk, she must slowly restrict the relay technique and introduce breastfeeding.
