Home Forums Breastfeeding Breastfeeding When do I start Hormones for Induced Lactation?

Hi,
My husband and I are expecting a baby through Host Surrogacy and I would love to be able Breast Feed, or at least give it a good shot?

Our lovely Surrogate is 15 weeks and 3 days...yes I'm counting!

I was wondering when is best to start the process of producing milk? What will I need to take? Also do I need to stop alcohol and caffeine whilst producing the milk?

Thank you for any advice.
Julie

I would suggest starting the protocol right now. With surrogacy you have a much better timeline than those of us who adopted have.

You can read about the protocols on this website under the breastfeeding header.

You will need domperidone which you can get through inhousepharmacy.biz and birth control pills (I am not sure what is recommended now - Yasmin or Ortho or something else). You start taking the BCP's continuously (no sugar pills). You also start taking the dom building up to 80 mg a day. You take that until you are ready to start pumping. Usually around 4-6 weeks before the baby is due. Then you stop the bcp's and start pumping while continuing on the dom and adding in the herbs fenugreek and blessed thistle.

You should limit alcohol (no more than a glass a day) while pumping and limit caffeine too.

Let us know if you have more questions.

Jennifer

Hi Jenmarko,

Thank you I've had a reply from Lenore after I emailed her and she's explained it all! I have some Provera and Domperidone now ready! I just need to wait and see if I start 16 days after my period like the leaflet says? Or to just start them now?!

xx

Just start them now, you need as much time as possible especially because you are doing Provera and not BCP's. I did the same protocol. I started them as soon as we saw the baby's heartbeat on u/s. Good luck!!

Michele,
Is there a big difference between taking the Provera and BCP's? Does it take longer on the Provera to get a good milk supply like with the BCP's?

Thanks,
Kim

I don't know how much of a difference there is because I can't take the BCP's because of the estrogens. But because what you are trying to do is simulate pregnancy, taking BCP's, which contain both progesterone and estrogen, are the best way to do that. I didn't produce more than 3 oz/day, but I have never been pregnant.

I was able to find donors so my son has never had formula and at almost 11 mo we are still nursing for all his feedings using a Lact-aid. He is my little boobie boy!!

Good luck!