Hey everyone! I see that I still need to practice posting. I typed one out last week, and I can't find it anywhere on the board, so I must have hit delete instead of entre once again...bummer <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Last week I was concerned because my right breast was developing so much nicer than my left. I was concerned that perhaps it may need and estrogen patch that I have read about in other protocols. But I continued with my 'massage therapy' and it seems to be catching up now. I'm on day six of the regular protocol and, in spite of needing a power nap every day at 1:30 and feeling like I'm trapped on a canoe in the middle of a very rough ocean, things are going well.
Have any of you been trying breast massage? I started about three months ago with my nipples - they're normally very tiny and I was worried they would be to small to get a hold of. I have the La Leche League adoptive breast feeding book and they really promote massage. First to lenghthen the sinus inside the nipple, then to stimulate duct development. It definitely worked on the nipples and it seems to not hurt my development, that's for sure. Most of all I'm finding that it really helps with the discomfort. It hurts a little at first, but I'm gently persuasive, and the ouchieness dissipates. My book says to start from the shoulder and go under and around in smaller and smaller circles...try it! I think it works!
My question is to adoptive moms out there. A lot of you seem to have adopted at birth - lucky you - but we went the international route and it doesn't quite work that way. Our child will be about six months when it's placed in my arms. I know, it breaks my heart to be missing the newborn part and to think of the space of time our child will have to eat from a bottle. I'm trying very hard not to think about it and stay focused on what I'm committed to do - breastfeed and make up for those first six months. I want to know if any of you moms out there have adopted an infant about the same age. I have lucked out and discovered our lactation consultant in town (it's a small town) has assisted two adoptive moms before me. One of the women she helped adopted from China (daughter was just a year) and it worked beautifully. Just need to be committed and patient...both of which I definitely am. Anyone else out there had this kind of experience? Another question is: do you think that because our child will be bottle fed with a huge hole nipple the first six months of it's life that I should just assume that we will need a Lact-Aid? I need some help in experience here...is there anyone out there that has any? Help?
LJ
