Re-lactation, Induced Lactation & The Myths We’re Seeing Online
Re-lactation is everywhere in the media right now — and in this episode, Katie and Joh slow the conversation down.
They talk through what re-lactation actually is, who it’s most likely to work for, and why a woman’s early breastfeeding history matters far more than social media makes it seem.
Katie describes scenarios where a breastfeeding mum has built and maintained a full milk supply, stopped feeding, and later wants to bring breast milk back into her baby’s life — and why, in those cases, re-lactation can be very achievable. They contrast this with situations where a mum never reached a full milk supply in the early weeks, and why restarting later may still be possible, but with different expectations.
Joh shares real-world stories, including working with a woman whose milk supply was medically suppressed during a vulnerable postpartum period, and the importance of first holding space before talking protocols. Together, they emphasise how re-lactation is intensive work, similar in effort to triple feeding, and why sustainability, mental health and daily life must be part of the conversation.
The episode also explores goals beyond milk volume — including feeding at the breast, comfort, connection and at-breast supplementation. They discuss how even small amounts of milk, or feeding at the breast with additional milk, can be deeply meaningful for some mothers.
Finally, they clearly distinguish re-lactation from induced lactation, explaining when induced lactation might be considered, what it involves at a high level, and why these two processes should not be lumped together.
Throughout, the focus remains on nuance, realistic expectations, and listening carefully to what each mother actually wants.
Key Takeaways:
- Relactation outcomes depend heavily on what happened in the first 2–4 weeks postpartum.
- Women who built and maintained a full milk supply before stopping often have the clearest path back to milk production.
- Women who never reached a full supply may still relactate, but expectations need careful, honest discussion.
- Relactation is intensive and demanding, similar in workload to triple feeding.
- Goals may be about connection and feeding at the breast, not just milk volume.
- At-breast supplementation can be a valuable option many mums have never been told about.
- Relactation and induced lactation are different processes and should not be confused.
- Sitting with the mum, understanding her life, and exploring what feels sustainable is essential.
Keywords:
relactation, induced lactation, breastfeeding after stopping, milk supply restart, breastfeeding goals, at-breast supplementation, breastfeeding support, lactation physiology, realistic breastfeeding expectations, feeding at the breast
Want to go deeper?
Head to The Latch Revolution to learn more about Decoding the Suck: Gentle support for babies with sucking difficulties.
Resources & Courses: katiejames.site
- Breastfeeding & Lactation: The Fundamentals
- The Feeding Couch
- Decoding the Suck: Gentle support for babies with sucking difficulties
Instagram: @katiejameslactation
YouTube: The Latch Revolution
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Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should always seek the guidance of their own healthcare provider, midwife, or lactation consultant with any questions they may have regarding their own situation or that of their clients. Katie James and Johanna Sargeant do not accept responsibility for any decisions made based on this content.
