Most clients find once they have a plan for relactation customized to fit their health and fertility history, circumstances and preferences they continue to benefit from support along the way.  Questions come up.  Adjustments to the plan are needed.  Trying to fit everything into one consultation can be overwhelming!

However, if you think that you may not need any more than an initial consultation to get your customized protocol then consider the payment plan.  Simply cancel your payments after the first payment if you just require the first consultation and no additional follow up.

It might seem strange that 1 consultation is half the price of 4 consultations.  That is because the package price is deeply discounted from the regular price of 4 consultations.  I offer this deep discount because I know the benefit of ongoing support, but I also understand you are experiencing a lot of expenses with a baby on board.

If you prefer to do the research on your own, the information is available.  Or you could take advantage of the last 15 years of research and experience I have to save you the time.

There is always the chance that you will not be able to resume milk production and/or transition baby from bottle to breast.  But there is a good chance you will, especially with expert support.

Relactation is likely to require an investment in your time, and working with in an experienced lactation consultant is likely to help you to make more milk more quickly. 

It can be difficult to impossible to be reimbursed out-of-network for lactation services. Instead, I have decided to ease the financial burden by offering a package price that is deeply discounted off the cost of individual consultations.

Relactation is likely to require a financial investment, and investing in an experienced lactation consultant is likely to not only result in more milk production (a money-saver right there) but less money spent on items that are not helpful.  

For example, when parents don't know what herbs might be helpful they often take more than they need.  I usually suggest 3 bottles at most.  Some parents are taking double that.  If each bottle costs about $15 (Nature's Way Fenugreek) - $60 (Legendairy), then that is a savings of $45-$180 per month. 

A relactation plan takes into account the individual health history of each client.  That means that recommendations are made to support health and well-being, and no herbs or off-label medications are suggested that may pose a health risk.

You know yourself best.  If realctation will be a challenge to your well-being, then it might not be right for you.  This does NOT mean you cannot breastfeed.  You certainly can breastfeed without making any milk.  An IBCLC can help with this as well!

Having in-person support is always ideal.  A local lactation consultant can provide hands-on help, may have supplies, and can direct you to other local resources.  If you are not able to find a local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)* with experience in relactation, I am glad to help.

*Note:  It is essential to work with an IBCLC:  "International Board Certified Lactation Consultants are the only health care professionals certified in lactation care."  - US Surgeon General

You have a couple of options.  You can choose to relactate using a breast pump and continue to bottle-feed, or you can gradually and lovingly transition baby to breast.  I have developed a "building blocks" approach to help babies make this transition.  

In general, the longer it has been since you last made milk or since baby's birth if you never initiated lactation, the longer it will take to relactate.  However, it is never too late!  Parents who have never been pregnant can induce lactation, so you can relactate even if it has been several months.

If you experienced low milk production when you had originally breastfed, then it will be key to understand the reason for that.  If it was due to a difficult start, lack of support, or poor information then the support of an experienced IBCLC should make a big difference!  However, if there are underlying breast or hormonal issues that caused your milk production to be low, those same issues are likely to continue to be at play when you relactate.  You may not know what caused your low milk production -- that's okay!  Your IBCLC can help you figure that out.

The primary method of bringing in milk without pregnancy is stimulation and emptying of the breasts/chest.  Adding galactogogues (pharmaceutical medications, herbs, foods, etc.) can boost the effectiveness of the breast/chest stimulation and emptying.  Using pharmaceutical medications can result in significantly more milk production but is not necessary.

Simply pumping is a very valid approach!  Your International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) can help you to pump most effectively -- there are tons of tips and tricks to maximizing pump output.  Your IBCLC can also help you with latching, or adding herbs or medications to enhance the effectiveness of pumping or breastfeeding.

Depending upon where you live and the amount of time you are able to invest, using donor milk may or may not be an easier alternative to relactation.  It can also be used in combination with relactation.