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

Hi Dawn,

Wow. Three days at a time. You were lucky too. I've been going through 2 super tampons per day. It's not great but I'm not bleeding to death either. I just make sure I eat my liver LOL

I'm seeing my MD on Monday about this. I've got a pretty nasty fibroid that's most likely causing this. Had the same problem last time. Should have had the darn thing out but never had the chance with all the ovum retrievals and then there's a clinic to run. It's true what they say, medical personnel make the worst patients. LOL.

Anyway, I'm going to try to get it looked after on Monday. I'm not looking forward to 5 months of bleeding like last time. But even if that happens at least I know that it will stop once I start pumping. As soon as I started breastfeeding last time I didn't see "aunt flow" for a year.

Fondly,

Hi Lenore,

I was away few days and just not got back to the board. Thanks so much everyone for the notes.

Lenroe, I did have a couple of follow-up questions from your long reply further back.

You mentioned that checking your breasts for drops of fluid (colostrum I would assume) and that it resulted in more noticeable bleeding. I remember from nursing my bio child that the initial weeks of breastfeeding did produce some contractions and flows of lochia.

More to this point, I also noticed that stimulating my nipples, especially when intimate with my husband (at orgasm), very often produced a strong letdown and milk spray (we both enjoyed it). Nipple stimulation also produced some contractions when we were intimate before the baby came, like when "checking" for colostrum.

I thought this was due to the release of oxytocin at climax that produced both the contractions of the milk cells and the uterus. I guess my questions are: (1) does nipple stimulation produce bleeding? (2) is it bad to stimulate my nipples at this time-7th wk of protocol? (3) Is this something that should be avoided at all times, including intimacy?

I don't mean to be inappropriate, so I'm sorry if I offend.

As always, looking for answers and guidance.

Laura

Hi Laura,

Inducing lactation generates clear fluid but not colostrom. Inducing mothers do not generally go through the colostral phase because in order to produce colostrum you need human placental lactogen which is only available with a placenta and a pregnancy. The inducing mother's milk when it comes in is mature milk similar to that of a birth mother at 10 days post partum.

It is not necessary to stimulate the breasts while on the protocols. However if you wish to do so as part of love play there is nothing wrong with that. The reason we don't advise pumping while on the birth control pill/domperidone portion of the protocols is that pumping/breast stimulation releases oxytocin which causes the let down reflex...sort of like retching on an empty stomach.

Oxytocin also causes contraction of the uterus which can lead to breakthrough bleeding. So I guess the best way to answer your questions is to say that you can do what you want during intimacy but be prepared for some bleeding and avoid pumping until you are through with the birth control pill portion of the protocols.

Warmest regards,