Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Is this normal?

My husband and I are planning on adopting our first baby in Mid - November and I'm doing the protocol so that I can breastfeed. So, never lactated before. I took bcp for 3 months (and started the domp.) and just started pumping and herbs a little over a week ago. I'm getting over a tsp each day but it's been like that for about a week now. And I can still hand express a few milk drops from each side after every pumping session. Is this normal? Or should I look at getting a better pump? I'm using the Avent Isis Duo electric pump and the suction seems strong enough (I can only pump on high if I work up to it on each session - can't start there). But I do not want to waste time if I need a better pump.

The hospital pumps available to rent in our city are mostly the Ameda elite and I think there is one Medela, (symphony or lactina). Any preference between these two? I've also posted on the buy/sell forum for a used limerick.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't used it, but others have said the Avent isn't enough for induced lactation. I use the Limerick and a medela pump in style and I like them both and have had good luck with them. Pump in styles are usually easy to buy used.

I started slowly when pumping this time. I didn't get anything for 3 days. Then it was drops for a few days. But by about 10 days I was making about 2-3 oz a day. I increased from there. We adopted our daughter after about 12 days of pumping, so then I started bf first and then pumping after. When she was about 2.5 weeks old I was ebf her and we have been since. She is now 2.5 months old.

Good luck to you!
Jennifer

Thanks!

I also used the Medela symphony and then switched to the pump in style. I found the symphony to be better but way more expensive and I was able to borrow a p.i.s. so I used that one instead. Good luck!

Thanks!

I think I'm going to rent a Symphony after the week-end. I find I'm getting a steady set of drops (and the occasional spray)everytime I pump but I can still express more by hand afterwards. Cross fingers and toes this does the trick!

Lenore told me to use either a Medela or Limerick. I'm at least two months from pumping so I haven't asked her which Medela to use, but she said to steer clear of the Ameda one I have...