Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply First day of pumping

OK the day finally arrived and I took my last Yasmin BC yesterday. I started the herbs and eating oatmeal. Is it normal to have nothing happen after the first day of pumping? Need some advice on what to expect and when. I would like to know what others experienced in their first week.

Thanks, Tracy

Hi Tracy,

My experience is going to be a little different from yours because I did not take the birth control pill. Instead, I started pumping with the dom, herbs, and goats rue. I did not have anything happen my first couple of days pumping. By day 7 I was having drops appear that did not fall and by day 10 I had about a tsp of milk from each breast at each pumping. From my past experience, once the milk starts to flow it increases more rapidly from there.

I know it can get frustrating but just hang in there. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Are you doing breast compressions while you pump? When I pump I use my thumbs to help gently push the breast tissue up against the breast shield all around my breast. This help push out the drops.

How often are you pumping? What kind of pump are you using?

Also have you tried hand expressing after each pumping session?

Yes, I am using the marmet technique before and after pumping. I have an Avnet pump and am pumping every 3 hours for 10 to 20 minutes. Today is my 2nd day and our baby is due in 4 weeks. I am drinking plenty and am drinking tea that is supposed to help. Maybe I will see some changes after a few more days. I sure hope so!

Thanks,
Tracy

The other ladies will have to chime in regarding your pump. I know that the Medela Pump In Style is what a lot of women use. A lot of the pumps on the market aren't strong enough for the inducing process (from what I have read here on the message boards). I would pump for the full 20 minutes every three hours. You want your body to know that you require more milk than you are making.

Keep up the good work!!

I did the same protocol as you and I would say that on my first.. four days.. I didn't see anything. Then after that I saw a couple of drops and it increased from there. I would agree with Claudia to pump for 20 minutes every three hours. Soon you won't even notice the time and you will adjust to the feeling of the pump.
Good luck!

I just pumped and noticed I must have had a few drops of milk come out of one breast. I guess my silly body skipped the clear discharge partor it was so small I didn;t notice. This is encouraging, I will make sure I get the full 20 minutes.

Thanks for the encouragement,
Tracy

YAY! Milk! I don't know which protocol you did. I did the regular one (BCP/Dom for 10 months prior to pumping) and had a couple of drops the first pumping session. Over the next few days I was measuring in milliliters. At the end of the first week I was up to 3 oz per day. I went a little overboard with pumping in the beginning and got sore nipples. I mean excruciatingly sore nipples. So I know there's a temptation to pump for a long time, but be careful!!

Hi there.

I started pumping about 5 weeks ago. I did the regular protocol for 3 months prior to pumping. I do not do the herbs because it upsets my stomach but you can add the Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek 3 pills 3 times a day with food to help.

My first day of pumping, I got about 1/2 ounce, then my second day through my second week I was only pumping about 1 ounce every 3 days. It felt so discouraing! Sometimes nothing would come out. 5 weeks later, I am pumping about 2.5 ounces a day. Our baby is due in 2 weeks.

I pump 8 times a day for nearly 30 minutes each time - I wait until there is absolutely nothing coming out and then I wait another 2 mintues before turning the pump off. I pump about every 2-3 hours during the day and I get up once in the middle of the night.

I use the Medela Syphony that I rent - it is a hospital grade pump. I pay $75 a month. I tried the Medala Pump In Style and it did not work as effectively for me.

The first couple of weeks were definitely the hardest but your milk WILL increase especially since you already have some drops. That is great!

I didn't get more than drops the first few days this time inducing. I was really frustrated, because I induced before and got more quicker. I realized it might be psychological and I started to look at pictures of babies and I started making some milk right away. That might help you. Last time I already had the baby with us when I started pumping. I've been pumping for 2 weeks and nursing for 5 days. I think I'm making about 1 oz each session.
Jennifer