Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply 3 weeks pumping and getting discouraged

I was on the regular protocol, taking bcp and dom for about 6 months, then stopped the bcp and started the puming and dom 3 weeks ago. I pump about 9 times a day, twice at night and then every 2-3 hours during the day.

I got drops at my first pumping, and I am now getting about an oz per day, and was happy with my progress until I read on this forum that many other women are getting an oz or more PER PUMPING SESSION after 3 weeks.

Is my rate of increase normal? Is there any way to increase faster? Is there any hope that I can build up to an oz per pumping within a couple of weeks?

My babies are already born, but they're preemies and can't really suck yet. They should learn to suck in a couple of weeks, but once they do, they will be home from the hospital. I don't think I will be able to maintain the pumping schedule once I have twins to care for.

I'm starting to worry that this isn't going to work out for me.

thanks for any advice you can offer.

Nicole

I'm taking 120 dom per day,

Nicole I think you are doing fine. Just keep it up and once the babies get home and can suckle your milk will jump right up their. You will not need to pump when you are nursing two babies unless you want to pump a bit after nursing. Do you have a lact-aid set up so you can feed them at the breast while supplementing in the beginning?

Also, I'm not getting sprays yet -- still just drops. Once or twice, I think I've gotten an isolated spray, but it's definitely not a regular occurrence. When can I expect to start getting sprays? Anything I can do to encourage it?

I have an SNS, but not a Lact-Aid. I will order one tomorrow.

Nicole - One thing that helped me to get sprays was hand expression. I first got sprays with hand expression way before I was able to get them with a pump. Also, I know that pumping both breasts at once helps production, but sometimes I would pump one breast at a time and use the other hand to massage my breast and use compression. Once I used compression I was able to get sprays but it took a while to get sprays without compression. I would recommend experimenting a little with this and see if you get sprays. I would also recommend hand expressing after you pump to completely drain your breasts. I was amazed at how much I was able to hand express afterwards. Good luck and stay positive!!

are you taking the recommended herbs too?


Herbs

In addition to the medications described above, the following herbs have been found to be helpful in increasing milk supply for women on the protocols:

Fenugreek seed
3 capsules (580-610 mg each) 3 times a day with food
Blessed Thistle herb
3 capsules (325-390 mg each) 3 times a day with food

I don't know if it will help at all since I don't know what the other woman do. I've never been to the pumping point myself.

Great advice in the last 2 posts.

Nicole, I have been pumping for 4 weeks and in the last few days have gotten anywhere from 20-77 ML per pumping session. It largely depends on how long it's been between pumping, and how much manual stimulation I have before pumping, and time of day. The morning I got 77 ML I had a 5 minute double breast massage administered by my husband. I closed my eyes and relaxed and he massaged, then I pumped. I was VERY surprised to see the output! Normally I pump 25-35 ML per session. I also use compression during pumping, and manually express afterward.

I also first got sprays during manual expression and only get them while pumping if I have the suction turned way up which I don't tolerate well, so rarely do. Mostly the milk comes out in drops, one right after another, or in a very very small flow.

I take 20mg of Dom every 6 hours, and 3 capsules each of fenugreek and blessed thistle every 8 hours.

Hope that helps,
Jenny