Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply How am I doing so far? Supply questions inside

Hi there,

Here is my story. I have no children, so I am inducing lactation for the first time with no pregnancy history.

I am waiting to adopt a newborn, hopefully soon, as in by the end of 2010 or early 2011.

I began the accelerated protocol on May 18th 2010, and started pumping on July 26th 2010.

I take 3 dom 4x day and eat oatmeal 4-6 times per week. I only occasionally take blessed thistle and fenugreek only because I am bad at taking it/don't have the desire to take it. I just don't like taking 6 big pills at once. Plus I never noticed much of an increase from it. I do however notice a big increase when I eat oatmeal.

I am pumping 11-11.25 oz a day now and I am in week 12. I do not pump at night, but I will once we are matched.

I have 180 bags of milk in my freezer, most of them in 2 oz increments. I have over 2 1/2 gallons total in my freezer.

I also have a lact aid which I will use if I need to.

I want to know what you all think my chances of exclusively breastfeeding a baby might be? How much would I need to be pumping a day to consider it? My LC told me newborns eat 16-22 oz a day, so I have a ways to go huh?

Thanks

Erin

WOW Erin,

You are doing fantastic!
Once you have your baby at breast your milk production will increase. As the saying goes around here.., " breast pumps only pump you, babies milk you', Might sound weird to put it that way, but it is true. So much nicer to looking into your precious baby's face.

I think that your chances of EBF are super good. Hope you get a placement soon.
Newborns don't eat a whole lot and more than likely, your milk will increase with the stimulation of the baby's sucking.

I would be strongly encouraged if I were you.

good luck!

Erin,
I would also say you have a good chance.

A brand new newborn is only drinking abou 8-12 oz in the first few days so you should be supplying full amount at first. Then they slowly increase to an average of 24 oz from 1-6 months.

For DD1 I did the long protocol and didn't have notice so started pumping the day we were placed with her. I caught up in 2 weeks and exclusively breastfed (ebf) for 18 months.

For DD2 I had notice, but only started pumping 10 days before she arrived. I was pumping about 4 oz a day when she was born. I started nursing her at 2 days old when she came home from the hospital. I supplemented with frozen milk. She was a bigger eater than DD1 so it took me until she was 3 weeks to catch up with her need. She is now 2.5 months old and is ebf.

I think my supply increased so quickly because I had the babies with me. Part of it is psychological.

Good luck to you.
Jennifer

Looks like you are well on your way to being able to exclusively breastfeeding a newborn especially! Good for you! I was making between 9 and 10 ounces/day when my daughter was born 7 months ago. We got her at 12 days old and I only ever supplemented up to 8 ounces/ day. Sometimes a little more at night. There are people on this site who excludsively breastfeed so it is totally possible!