Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Feeling very discouraged

Hi,
I need some encouragement and some advice, please. As I posted below, I was on the protocol for 3-4 months prior to pumping, and I began pumping about 3 weeks ago. I am only getting 2-3 ounces a day and no sprays from my breasts. When I was on the bcps, my breasts only increased by about a half a cup size, and now I am wondering if I should stop pumping and go back on the bcps and add progesterone. My GS is 32 and a half weeks pregnant with our triplets and is having occasional contractions, so I don't know how much time I have before they are born. What do y'all think?

Thanks,
Michelle

Michelle, I think you are doing fine. 2-3 ounces is great at this point. Once you have babies at your breast your production should go up. They are much more efficient than a pump. You can up your pumping, that may help. Do you have a milk donor lined up? I would contact Nona about that as you will need to supplement since youa re having triplets. Is your GS willing to pump for you? Your life is going to pretty much revolve around feeding babies round the clock. Make sure you have lots to drink and plenty of healthy meals to eat. Keeping up your nutrition and calories will be very important to your milk supply and health. Have you contacted a board certified lactation consultant? (Sorry I don't have the other thread open to refer to) Happy milk thoughts being sent your way. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Michelle I see you are pumping every 2 hours as it is. Have you tried to pump for longer time frames as lenore suggested in the other post? The pump schedule you are on right now is to mimic one baby and you will be feeding 3 babies. So normally with one baby they nurse 10 -20 minutes each side. I think pumping for a longer period will at least help prepare your breasts for the babies.

I have started pumping for 20-30 minutes every 2 hours as Lenore suggested, and I rented a hospital grade pump (Medella Symphony). I have just done all of this for about a day, so I guess I need to be patient. I just would like to get 12 ounces a day, so my babies will each get 4 ounces a day for the immune and other benefits. When should I expect sprays to come from my breasts?

Thanks,
Michelle

Don't worry about sprays. Even when I was pumping after I gave birth to my son, I didn't really spray milk. It was more like a steady stream of milk. Like a little mik river that would flow down the horns. It sounds like you are well on your way to producing what you would like for your little ones. Just hang in there. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Do you know if the babies are boys or girls???? I am so exctied for you. You are going to be nursing those precious babies any day now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hi Michelle,

Lalle's right about the sprays. Even when I was producing 30 oz per day I didn't spray...more like big drops and streams than spray. The important thing is to keep up the good work and your milk supply should build and build. And remember, ANY amount of breastmilk is a precious gift. It doesn't all have to come from you. Do the best you can and then enjoy your babies.

Warmest regards,

Thank you all for your help and encouragement. I have had some problems for the last few days. I got too enthusiastic with the pressure on my pump and hurt myself pretty badly. I'm healing now, so things are getting back to the way they were. I have now learned to be happy with what I do get and not unhappy with what I don't. A lesson learned the hard way.

We had a bout of preterm labor this weekend, too. Everyone is ok, and my GS should probably be going home today. Our three girls are still cooking and will be at 33 weeks tomorrow. We hope to hold out a little while longer.

Thanks again for all the help!
Michelle

It would be helpful for those of us who are about to start pumping (with the medela pis) to know the recommendations for the settings on the pump. I know many of you have tons of experience, so please reiterate the best settings for starting the pumping and then how you adjust the settings as the session continues. I'd certainly benefit! Thanks so much,

Beth

Michelle, how are things going? It has been about a week since you said your surrogate was at 33 weeks. Please pop in here when you can and let us know how things are. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hey Lalle,

Thanks for asking! We are 34 weeks tomorrow and scheduled for a C-section at 8:00 tomorrow morning! My production went way down after I hurt myself using too much pressure on the pump. I couldn't pump really for about a week, so now I'm down to about 1-2 ounces a day. I feel much better now, though, so it's ok. I'll see how it goes after the girls are here.

Thanks for all your support!
Michelle