Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply The Mother of all cases

Hi;
I'm Sierra and I'm new here. I am pregnant with no. 5 due in March (14 weeks 1 day). Am planning 2nd home birth. I have had the most difficult past breastfeeding experiences. With no.1 things went pretty well. I am very small busted <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> and was looking forward to getting a nice bustline but that really never happened, I probably got maybe 1 cup size to be generous. No. 1 was born without problem and I nursed him and even though her nursed All the time! I never thought much of it. I never felt letdown or felt very full but he gained weight (when I nursed I always leaked at least a silver dollar amt. and would drip from the opposite side that the baby was nursing on), but still felt like he wasn't getting much or enough. No. 2 came 3 1/2 years later and just would lick at the breast but not cry, at 3 weeks I went to a LC who told me he was not transferring milk (he didn't lose any weight, go figure) so we started with the SNS nightmare, I will never go through that again! Most of my pumped breastmilk shot out of his mough because the tube kept going everywhere. I pumped for 7 mos. until I just couldn't stand it anymore! My sister who could pump 1-2 liters a day would frequently give me her milk for him, thank God!!! But I was depressed to give him formula! No. 3 was also uneventful, natural in a hospital and she would nurse but would not gain weight. I nursed constantly in a panic and she kept losing so I started pumping after feeds and supplementing 1-2 oz. after feeds. I could never pump much maybe 15cc to 1 oz. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Compared to my sister I wanted to sit down and cry. No. 4 I knew there was a problem so as soon as she was born (at home) I started to nurse and tried as much as possible. At 3 days she would just scream at the breast. She started to lose weight and I started to fingerfeed and pump every 2 hours, still could only get out 1-2 oz. at most. AT 3 weeks I started the domperidone according to Jack Newman's protocol I think 20 mg as well as the herbs fenugreek and blessed thistle and alfalfa. I can't remember but I took it 3 times a day. I got maybe an extra 5 oz. total a day. After 5 mos. of pumping I got sick with a fever and my milk supply dropped drastically so I got depressed and stopped. I have used hosptial grade pumps, the double ones. I have used fenugreek, blessed thistle, goats rue the tintuctures from Motherlove herbal co. and the pills till I smelled like a maple syrup pancake and had diarrhea out the door! Not much help. The only thing that may have been an issue is that my mother in law is mediterranean and has brought me gobs of tabouli a parsley salad after I have had all of my kids. I have eaten a lot of it, and have read that it is an anti galactagogue. Ouch <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I am now going to stay clear of this and see what happens. I currently have not had any breast changes with this pregnancy 14 weeks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I am very worried. I have hired an IBCLC who will come to my house after delivery. No more hospital LC's with appt.s and waiting on them in their office! I am extremely uplifted when I read Lenore's story, a link from my IBCLC's site to this site! I have noticed that I have felt my milk come in with all of my babies but subsequently felt it dry up. Could the parsley be an issue? Even though I am staying clear of the parsley this time should I start on the domperidone immediately after birth! Should I take the tincture immediately? Or the blessed thistle and fenugreeK? I eat lot of oatmeal but am petrified this time. I do not want my baby to get formula. I am one of those people who would breastfeed for however it takes, sling, you name it, stand on my head, it is so important to me. I watch people like my sister sit and pump out 24 oz. at a sitting and I want to just sit down and cry! I just don' t know what to do at this time, should I take the herbs along with the mothers milk tea, the domperidone, why haven't my breasts changed at all, no tenderness, nothing??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
I just don't get it. I don't think I have hypoplastic breasts, I am not a BFAR and I don't have POCS. I have gotten pregnant so easily these 5 times sometimes I think I am like a rabbit and ovulate everytime I have intercourse1 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I am seeing a naturopath, have had my thyroid checked in the past although she wants to do a full hormone profile on me, she said she cannot do it until after delivery for accuracy. She thinks I may have hyperthyroid! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I won't know until we can check, I guess. I only drink one cup of caffeine a day and then only water after that, I am trying to go to green tea only and totally cut out coffee! My diet is good my supplements are great, I just feel like the mother of all cases! I am so inspired by mothers who adoptive breastfeed it makes me want to do my utmost to make this successful. I have so little confidence when I breastfeed, I am so worried!! Does anyone have a similar experience or have an advice??? I am hoping for a gratifying breastfeeding experience for this little one! Thank you for listening to this long story!
Sierra
wife to dh Maurice
mama to Brandon 8, Justin 5, Shannon 3, Kayla 15 mos. and baby bean??? due March 14, 2005

Hi Sierra,

CONGRATULATIONS on your impending arrival!!!

You're doing all the right things. Hiring an IBCLC to help you is the BEST thing you can do. She will be able to make sure that your baby is latching well. Domperidone is a big help as are the herbs and oatmeal.

Now about the parsley....STAY AWAY....parsley and sage are milk supply killers. That could very well be your problem right there. If you bled a lot after your pregnancies you very well may have had a little bit of retained placenta which can cause milk supply issues. If you bled a lot during your deliveries, or even hemorraged at another time in your life, this can affect the pituitary which can in turn affect your milk supply.

Don't beat yourself up if you have to supplement. We are lucky to have on these boards a wonderful member, Nona Davis who runs the Mother to Mother milk donation program so if you do need to supplement, she can help. She matched me with a donor who has been shipping milk to me since February for my ENORMOUS son Ethan who is in the 90th percentile for height and weight.

The important thing to remember is that breastfeeding is not all about the milk. There are a host of other benefits for both you and your baby. All you need is about 1/2 ounce per feeding for your baby to get all the immune benefits and many other goodies like teeth and jaw development, cognitive boost and of course the bonding and nurturing that your baby receives while at the breast.

Fondly,

Thank you so much for all of the great information! Would you suggest I start dom and herbs directly after delivery? or should I see if the parsley is truly the culprit (what I am thinking) and see how my supply goes at that point? I will definitely start the herbs but am debating on whether to start the dom immediately after delivery or should I wait until 2 day's after delivery? I have never hemorrhaged that I would consider a hemorrhage in the past so I don't think that is an issue. Are you saying that a past hemorrhage in some how damages the pituitary and compromises your milk supply for all future pregnancies?
Sierra

Sierra I hemorraged with my first and had problems with supply with him. My second I had no problems, my third is adopted and I succesfully induced lactation, my 4th is biologically and I am currently nursing him with no problems. I hope that helps with your question.
I think your idea on taking the herbs and seeing how it goes is a good one. You may want to have some dom on hand just in case you need it, that way you won't have to wait for a shipment to arrive. You can always sell it later if you find you didn't need it.