I was on this list last year as we attempted an American adoption.I have three bio kids aged 22, 19 (ds) and 13 (dd)and an adopted dd aged 5 who was adopted at age 10 months from Haiti. I just used dom and pumped and nursed her with a Lact Aid which was not much fun but I really believe in the valuable bonding and intimacy it created. She still occasionally comes and asks to nurse even though I have no milk.
Around September we experienced a financial crisis and had to stop attempting the adoption. Also dh had real problems with the whole "having a BM choose us" style after doing a Haitian adoption the first time where we were simply matched.
Anyway when I stopped the protocol last year i had been on it 7 months and just stopped without pumping or anything. We were kind of in shock with the finances (we had just built a house; long story) My breasts went back to normal although I did experience some weird symptoms like painful ovulation, emotional mood swings and some extra hair loss which I now attribute to the extreme stress we were under.
Now we are ok again and have decided to do a free adoption through our local Children's Services. We have requested an infant under one year and now have to do some prep courses as we live in a very picky province in terms of adoption rules.
If all goes well, we will be ready for a match in January but most probably be really ready by the spring of 09. I am thinking of going on the protocol very soon and staying on it 9 months and then pumping until we are matched.
I thought I should introduce myself again as I will be going on these boards to read and comment. I really appreciate Lenore's knowledge as well as the help of the other experienced members of this group.
Patience
