Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Advice needed - newbie in early stages of protocol

Hi ladies!

I have recently started the Newman-Goldfarb regular protocol to induce lactation for my surrogate baby due mid June 2004. This is Day 32 on the protocol and so far it's been a wonderful straightforward experience!

At the beginning I noticed breast changes after the first week and they felt tender, full and a bit sore. I went up a bra size and bought a nursing bra which is very comfortable. After the 2nd week things calmed down and although they remained full they no longer hurt. Great stuff!

I have had a little spotting on occasions, but only minor. However on 3 continuous days this week I woke up with muscle cramps on the back of my lower legs. I was a little alarmed in case it was something to do with the meds. I suffer mildly with lower back trouble (sciatica) and it could possibly be that. However, for the last 4 evenings, I have been feeling extremely cold, feverish symptoms.

Has anyone of you experienced anything like this or similar during your protocols?

In an ideal world, I?d like to continue the meds up to the beginning of May (that?ll be 140 days in total on Yasmin & Domperidone together). Then I plan to start pumping and add the herbs. That?ll give me about 4-6 weeks to build up my milk supply before my baby is born...!

Since I started meds I've also been feeling a bit bloated so I'm hoping to see my Chinese Herbalist for help.

Should I be doing anything else? Do you suggest that I start on baby aspirin in case the muscle cramps were due to blood thickening or poor blood circulation? Should I also get any blood tests done to check my Prolactin levels?

Best wishes to you all ladies out there and keep up the good work!

Love
Andria

You can email me directly if you prefer: andria.christophi@tesco.net

Andria, Have you email Lenore? I think she is the one to help you out with these questions. There is a link to her email at the bottom of the page.
Leg cramps can be a sign of a need for potassium, add a banana to your diet each day and see if that helps. Leg cramps can also be very common in pregnancy but I don't know if the protocol would cause them for that reason of mimicing a pregnancy. Definitely get in touch with Lenore.

Hi Lalle

Thank you very much for reading & replying to my post. I was concerned and I emailed Lenore a few days ago, she was fab and spoke with Dr Newman and got back to me really quickly. I have booked an appointment to see my GP next week to check me out just to tule out DVT, which I know tends to be rare anyway.

The trouble is that because I'm doing the G-N protocol and self-medicating (with a lot of guidance obviously from Lenore) my GP has refused to support me through my decision to induce lactation in this way and therefore I cannot go to her to receive any support on this. She just doesn't want the responsibility in case something goes wrong and the finger is pointed at her. I rang the La Leche League and National Childbirth Trust in the UK, they've all heard of inducing lactation but nobody had hands on experience on the protocol or was willing to go through it with me. I also tried getting a specialist breastfeeding consultant at my local maternity hospital to support me and she to has refused too until I come off the drugs and start pumping. I think (hope!) she'll be able to support me once my baby arrives, she has to!

Lenore suggested baby aspirin to help thin the blood as I'm on Yasmin, which makes total sense. I've been on it now for the last 2 days and feel fine, back to my usual self! No leg cramps or shivering symptoms either! A bonus! Perhaps is was just a cold/flu or muscle aches...

Have you had blood tests during your protocol and do you think you could let me know (just out of interest) roughly what your results were? I read that Lenore had her levels of Estrogen, Progesterone and Prolactin measured at different times and I'll probably get the same done, but don't know what the results will mean if I haven't got approx fiures to go by!? Does that make sense? <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" />

I will definitely add a banana to my diet too, I love them! Thanks for your advice and for reading. Good luck with your journey too...

Love
Andria
xxxx

Andria, I am so excited for you. You are to be commended for what you are doing for your child in the face of skepticism and adversity. You are a pioneer there in the UK. The people who are watching you now will forever be changed when they see what your body can do. <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> We spent half a year in Ireland and breastfeeding is not very popular there, I don't know what it is like where you are but it seemed everywhere I went all the babies had bottles.

I did the old protocol with the Diane 35 which they have changed due to DVT. I didn't have any levels checked and I did the accelerated protocol I think I was on it 44 days. My daughter is adopted and I was already nursing her. She was over a year when I did the protocol and up to that point we were using the lact-aid and dom. along with some herbs. She had a lot of digestive issues so I wanted to provide more milk for her and the protocol worked. I went off the Diane and started pumping in January of 2001 and nursing Rebekah without the lact-aid, then "Surprise" I got pregnant with my son in April. My daughter nursed up until I was about 6 months along. It was a sweet sweet time and she weaned on her own. My little guy is still nursing and we are cherishing this time.

Wow Lalle! That's amazing! Congratulations on doing so well with breastfeeding your children and I hope one day to be able to do the same. A lot of people tend to say that breastfeeding makes all the difference, milk is an added bonus, if you can produce it. I certainly aim high on this one and I hope to produce enough milk for my baby to feed solely. I have also requested from our lovely surrogate mother to give us her colostrum and any milk she wants to pump so that at least I know that our baby will get her immunity as well as mine. That's such a bonus I think! I am so happy I found out about the N-G protocols and I hope I am as successful in producing milk as all you gorgeous ladies! Well done to you all!

I have blood tests done this morning for Serum Prolactin, Estrogen and Progestrogen. My GP was asking me lots of questions about the protocol and about our surrogate. All this is fairly new over in the UK, not many people know much about Surrogacy and some think it's illegal! We've been doing a bit of publicity to help "Surrogacy UK" the organisation we are with, who have helped and supported us enormously. It's time for people here to be a bit more openminded!

I am so excited about expecting, we're almost coming up to 20 weeks this Sunday 25th Jan and it's an amazing feeling!!! I grin from cheek to cheek every time I think of the baby!!!

Love to you all
Andria
xxxxxx

Hi Andria,

Congrats on your baby, and starting your protocol. I think you are doing everything possible to induce lactation, and so sorry your local medical community is more supportive.

I'm also having a baby via surrogacy, he's due any day now and if he doesn't show up this weekend, they will induce on Monday (she'll be 39 weeks on Tuesday).

I folllowed Lenore's protocol and when I started pumping I got milk right away, but it has been slow to come in:
week 1 - 10 ml
2 - 20 ml
3 - 30 ml
4 - 45 ml

But I just ran into a snag, and my milk supply is going down. I had 2 days in a row where I could only pump about 3 times. and one of those days I could only use the portable pumper, and not the hospital grade one. My suggestion is as you get close to the birth of your child, don't let all the last minute things keep you from pumping. I feel so sad right now that my milk production is between 20-39ml and my son will be born any day.

I do have the lact-aid and will use that when I breast feed, hopefully his cries will trigger my brain to make more milk.

hugs, Jean

A few pieces of advices -- Yasmin can affect the potassium level, and your GP should check the potassium after 4 -6 weeks on the protocol. All BCP's can cause DVT's -- so you should pay attention to any warning signs. BCP's also change the cholesterol levels and your GP should check those as well. I brought a copy of the protocol to my physician so that she could familiarize herself with it. Good luck.

Hi everyone!

Thanks very much Jean and MTR for your responses and advice! I have added a banana a day in my diet to ensure my potassium levels remain normal. I will check my potassium level and cholesterol at my next round of blood tests. Thanks for the advice.

Jean, hope all is well and by the time you get to read this you will have your little bundle of joy in your arms! Don't worry about your milk quantity dropping a little, I'm sure it'll be up in no time as soon as your baby son starts to breastfeed. You will be amazed by what your body can do! <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif" alt="" /> I wish you the best of luck and please keep up all up to date! <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Currently Day 44 on the regular protocol. I am hoping to continue this until beginning of May when I intend to (God willing of course) stop the pill and start the herbs and pump. I'll have been on the Yasmin & Domperidone for 140 days by then. I hope the milk comes in easily though I understand that it can take a week or two to start. I'm allowing myself 4-6 weeks to build up my supply.

Love to you all
Andria
xxxxx

Hi Ladies

I visited my GP this morning and received my blood test results taken a couple of weeks ago (Day 39 of the protocol).

They are as follows:
Oestradiol: 93 pmol/L
Progesterone: <0.6 mIU/ml
Prolactin: 4,499 mU/l
Test Comment: No macroprolactin detected.

My GP commented at the high level of Prolactin and asked me to check with you Lenore if this was normal. She couldn't obviously advise me herself. She also commented that the Progesterone was lower than the reference levels. Is this normal?

I am going back in 2 weeks to get the same tests repeated together with Potassium and Cholesterol levels.

Kind regards
Andria

you might email Lenore personally about this..She will be quicker to respond I think.