Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply My story - need input

My husband and I are working with an adoption agency to adopt a newborn. I am attempting to induce lactation. I have been pregnant before, but have never had a live birth and have never breastfed before.

I was getting ready to start on the protocol in October. Just before I was going to start on bcps, I found out that I was pregnant. We learned rather quickly that the pregnancy was not a viable one (blighted ovum). I chose to not have a d&c and to miscarry naturally. When all of this was going on, we found out that a birthmom selected us. She had a c-section scheduled on December 10th. Because of the short timeframe, I started taking domperidone at that time. I figured that I would use my elevated hormone levels for some good. I stayed on the domperidone and started pumping in mid-November. As of today (after 3ish weeks of pumping), I am getting 5-6 ounces of milk a day. My supply seems to be slowing creeping upward. I did add in fenugreek, goat's rue, and marshmallow to my regimen.

The pumping is kind of strange though. I stop seeing milk after pumping for 4 to 5 minutes. I can stop, jiggle and massage, and then see a little more milk. I pump for a full five minutes after I stop seeing milk. The weird thing is that, after I stop pumping, I can still hand express a lot more milk. Is that normal? Is it true that the baby will be able to get more milk out than the pump?

Back to the birthmom - she did give birth. She gave birth early and changed her mind and kept her baby. We were pretty upset, but we understand that it was her right to do so. So, because she changed her mind, I have more time. Is the progress that I have made over the last month good? Should I stop pumping and go on the pill for a while? (I did miscarry last week at 10+ weeks.) Or should I just continue what I am doing?

Thanks in advance for any advice that you can offer.

Bellaluna, I am so sorry about your miscarriage and the failed adoption. You seem to be doing great with the milk supply. Yes it is true that a baby will be able to get more milk out. I guess the biggest thing would be how long are you willing to keep up this pumping schedule? Is there any chance you will be matched again quickly? If it looks like a baby will be added to your family soon I would just keep doing what you are.

The adoption agency has an average wait time of 6 months for a newborn. We have been waiting for almost 2 months now. I guess that I will just keep doing what I am doing. I don't really mind the pumping. I am freezing what I pump every day. I wasn't sure if my progress was good or not. I thought that, if I went on the pill for a while, that it might help me produce more milk?

Thanks for the input!

How many times a day are you pumping? Hand expressing after pumping is fine too. What type of pump are you using?

I am pumping 6 times a day. I work full time right now and that's all I can manage. I am using a Medela PISA.

Well if you do the protocol you would stop pumping and then about 6 weeks before baby is due to arrive you would start pumping again and drop the birth control. Doesn't seem like that gives you much time on it. So I think I would just stick with what you are doing and when you get notice on a baby about a 4 weeks prior try to add in more pumping so that you are not letting more than 3 hours go by during the day without a pumping. Basically a newborn feeding schedule. I am sure you will just see your supply go up between now and then. You are already doing great.

Thanks for the input. It makes me feel a little better about all this.

It's been 3.5 weeks since I posted this thread. Over the last 3.5 weeks, my supply has increased from 5ish ounces a day to 15ish ounces a day. Is this good progress? I am so unsure about all of this. I don't know anyone who's actually done this. I actually don't even know anyone who has breastfed at all. I am still pumping 6 times a day. I am only pumping for about 10 minutes at a time though. I will increase pumping when we get matched again (which I am really hoping will be soon *crosses fingers*)

You are doing great!!!!

That is great progress! When you are matched I would up the pumping sessions to 8 times a day (including at least once at night) and 20 minutes per session.
Jennifer