Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply getting started

HI all,

I posted couple months ago, thought I was about to get started, but I had all kinds of problems getting my meds. I started Yasmin a week ago and had a couple of questions for the experienced persons here.

So far I haven't noticed any changes in my breasts; none of the soreness, pains, or changes in my nipples and areolae, veins or nothing. Is it too early to see the changes?

I HAVE noticed I'm getting a little moody, more depressed than irritated. Any advice on if this is all normal? I'll keep posting any my progress. Looking for your responses. Thanks everyone

Laura

Laura,
The moodiness is normal. I had to talk Zoloft while I was on the bcps. And I took the Yasmin for 2 months of my 5 1/2 month protocol. Also several woman did not feel any changes in there breasts but went on to have good milk supplies.

Hello,
I was on Diane for 4 months and Yasmin for the last 1.5 months. I had slight swelling on the Diane but no soreness, tingling etc...now on the Yasmin, the slight breast swelling is gone , I occasionally have a little tingling. I am definately more moody and have gained more weight on the Yasmin than I did the whole 4 months on the Diane. As Nona said, several women stayed in the same bra size during the protocol and went on to make full milk supplies. Everyone is different. Keep us posted on your progress. Take care, Cathy

Thanks for the encouragement. I guess I'm trying to relate to what I experienced with my DS was born. I went from a 34B to a 40D from before pregnancy to the first few months nursing. (And gained more weight through preg than I should have.) After weaning I've kinda settled to a 38B that's loose. I have noticed the last couple of days I've almost removed the wrinkles in my bra again. I guess I was expecting the kind of significant changes I had, but I don't how if this premature menopause has affected me either.

I'll keep you all posted.
Laura

Just an update and (as always) more questions,

I've bee on Yasmin a month now, and dom for 2 weeks. I'm beginning to see some increase in breast size. Not a full cup, but I'll keep watching. And no real other changes yet, visible or sensitivity like when I was preg.

SInce I went into early menopause 3 yrs ago, I've had some of the symptoms (vaginal dryness, etc.) Does taking the bcp relieve that and some of the symptoms of meno? I'm noticing some changes, particularly that. Can anyone tell me if that's normal?

Thanks to all of you for the advice.

yes the bcps will relieve your symptoms.. because you are getting estrogen. You will see quite a bit of an increase in lubercation as well as a halt to hot flashes.

Hi,

Wow, did I get a surprise today. It's been over a year since I was diagnosed menopausal. Then today, surprise, Aunt Flo returned. I've been on Yasmin for 5 weeks now. Dom, 3 weeks. Is this normal while on the protocols? Or should I be visiting my obgyn? Maybe someone has some experience here.

Thanks.

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I'd pop in and mention that all the side effects mentioned here are pretty typical of the protocols. Remember they are designed to mimic what happens in pregnancy. So breast changes, moodiness and even breakthrough bleeding are all pretty common.

I personally tend to bleed all through the protocol. Last time I had breakthrough bleeding on and off for 5 months but once I started breastfeeding I didn't see "aunt flow" for a year. I've been bleeding now on and off since day 20 on the protocols. Today was probably my heaviest day. It leaves me a bit tired. I handle cramping with Evening Primrose Oil by Jameson, 500 mg. Needless to say, reduced libido goes with the territory which is also very common in pregnancy and when prolactin levels increase.

Laura, the return of menses is not surprising considering that the birth control pill is supplying you with estrogen and progesterone. In fact I know of at least 4 cases where women previously diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Disease and told that they would never become pregnant all found themselves expecting after breastfeeding their adopted babies with the help of the protocols. In theses cases, all followed by the same OB, the doctor suggested that the protocols had somehow "reset" the women so that their fertility was returned. So in light of this it's not surprising that you would experience a return of your fertility.

I personally had high FSH at 39 and tremendous difficulty with egg production. Then I did the protocol, breastfed my son and once weaned and I was off the meds, I managed at the age of 41 to produce 8 eggs, 5 of which fertilized enabling us to do two frozen transfers, one of which resulted in our current pregnancy.

I wanted to pass on a couple of other tips. I noticed in a few posts the question of the Atkins Diet has come up. I've been on this diet now since the end of January. I lost 18 pounds on it before I started the protocol. Cathy warned me that it's difficult to lose weight while on the medications but I noticed that by restricting carbohydrates I was able to maintain my weight following a 2 pound initial gain when I started the meds.

Over Passover I was "bad" and had some Matza and over the course of the week experienced another 2 pound weight gain. I went right back on Atkins and intend to stay exactly where I am. I've also been testing my urine for lipolysis. I noticed that there is a small window towards the end of the 24 hours when I'm due to take my birth control pill where my body is actually in moderate lipolysis, the test strip turns redish, not purple or brown. So I think that's why I'm able to maintain the weight. Although I'm not in lipolysis 24 hours a day, it seems to be just enough to ward off serious weight gain.

Now Dr. Atkins mentions in his book that his diet is not for pregnant or lactating women but for those of us on the protocols who are not lactating "yet", it's not an issue. We can in fact do this diet.

Ok, now for moodiness. I have to say that for the first couple of weeks on the protocols I was irritable, short tempered, and that switch in my head that helps me to hold my tongue was definitely OFF. I was also quite "speedy", not sleeping well, and generally quite kooky.

Then I got hold of some St. John's Wort by Jameson. I took one 1000mg tablet before bed, 3 nights in a row and it fixed me up, evened me out, helped me to sleep and put me back to normal. I haven't needed it for over a week but tonight I took 1/2 tab because I was having a little trouble sleeping as you can see by the hour of this post.

I'm currently on day 28 of the protocol. I plan to have a blood test tomorrow and based on the results will most likely increase my domperidone to 20 mg 4 times per day and stay there until I start pumping in October.

I know that my experience is unique to me but if it can help the rest of us, great. I'm willing to be the guinea pig.

Hope this helps. Fondly,

Laura,
As Lenore said, breakthrough bleeding is common on the protocols. I have to say, I have been lucky. The only bleeding I had was for 3-4 days when I switched from the Diane to the Yasmin. Otherwise, absolutely no bleeding, period, cramping etc..for the entire 6 months. I have a nice break from my endometriosis pain with the protocol also.
Lenore, I am glad the Atkins is working so well for you. I know before I start to pump I should go back on it to at least lose a few lbs. I am feeling so fat and bloated I can hardlly stand it. I am trying to fight the intense cravings. I go in spurts,, a few weeks ago,,I had to have sardines every day,,,prior to that,,,,Chef Boy R De ravioli and spagetti,,,,now its Calamata olives every couple of days etc...and I never used to eat sweets, now I want them really badly, and,,the low carb bars etc...just are not cutting it.
Should I switch to the Necon and possibly 1/2 of a Provera for my final month? The Yasmin so far seems to produce very slow results after the pumping starts. I will only have at the most six weeks of pumping before we leave for Guatemala. Thanks, Cathy

Hey,
Thanks for the info Lenore and others. It gets a little frightening not knowing what's going on.
Lenore, my FSH levels came in in the mid 70's the two times I was tested. So, I kinda have doubts about my fertility getting jumpstarted again. But is so, .....who knows.

I still haven't noticed much as far as other symtoms the protocols are working, maybe a half cup increase in size, not much as far as darkened nipples, blue veins etc. maybe later I guess.

I'll keep in touch.
Laura