Hi nimra, sounds like you guys have had a rough start! It is wonderful that you are considering returning to breast feeding - hopefully it will happen easily for you guys it is wonderful that he is happy to latch on and try to feed, some mums find that is the hardest part of the battle! Now to build up that supply!!

MadB has given some really good pointers above, as has BhoysGirl. Some of the best things you can do are:
- Give your LO free, unrestricted access to the breast. Can you spend a few days in bed together? Can you baby wear, skin to skin? This will encourage the good milk-producing hormones.
- Let him feed as often as possible. Let him suck as often as he is interested. Even after he's had a bottle, let him have a go at the breast as well. He might play, he might use it for comfort, he might just latch on and look at you, who knows? But every time he suckles, in any capacity, it will trigger the production of milk. Your breast milk supply is based on demand - the demand of your baby. So the more you can get him "demanding", the more you will begin to supply.
- Aim to get him to the breast every 1-2 hours, at least 8-12 times in 24 hours. Try and keep him on for a good 10-15 minutes per breast and offer each breast more than once.
- Ensure you are feeding lots overnight. Bed-share, if you can. The breast feeding hormone prolactin is released in higher amounts at night, so night feeds can be really helpful with relactating.
- see if you can find an LC to help you with a supplemental nursing system (SNS). MadB mentions it above. A fantastic way to encourage him to the breast by giving him milk while your supply is still building, but he is still at the breast suckling. As above, the more he suckles, the more you will begin to produce.
- Ask the LC about supplements to increase your milk.
- Try pumping when he is not feeding. Many mums find that expressing can really help build supply.
- Get yourself to an ABA meeting for support.

As for your question about how long it will take? It's a bit tricky to say. Some mums find their supply bounces back really quickly, within a few days, for some it can take a few weeks. Try and be patient - there's no deadline - and just enjoy the extra time you are spending with your little man

All the very best with it hun. Ask all the questions you need