Breastfeeding can however be re-established. A woman who has stopped breastfeeding her child, recently or in the past, can resume the production of breastmilk for her own or an adopted infant, even without a further pregnancy. This potentially life-saving measure is called relactation. Many women who relactate can produce enough milk to breastfeed an infant exclusively. A woman who has never been pregnant can also establish lactation, although the amount of milk produced is less often adequate for
exclusive breastfeeding. This is called induced lactation. In the past relactation and induced lactation were considered exceptional experiences and were not well researched. However, there are now sufficient reports to show that most women can relactate if they are motivated and have adequate information and support. Effective techniques have been learned empirically and enough is known to provide practical guidelines to enable mothers to relactate. It is the purpose of this review to make relevant information available to health workers caring for women and children who may be in need of such help.