Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Recently started pumping.

Hi all! I am new to this. I never even knew you could induce lactation until I began this surrogacy process. My babies will be born in December. I started the lactation induction process in June and began pumping on the eve of Oct 7. The first few days I got nothing. After about 72 hours I began to see drops. By Saturday of the same week I had accumulated 1 oz of breast milk over a 24 hour period. Is this normal for the process? I haven't had any "squirting" or steady flows, just droplets. I have been pumping every two hours for 15 minutes at a time (as recommended by my lactation consultant). When will I get to the point that I will get more of a flow? I realize it has only been slightly over a week but it's easy to get discouraged. Is it possible to start saving what I have? Can I add small amounts to a frozen bag as I go or what it a proper and safe protocol for saving and storing? Thanks for any help you may be able to offer me!

First off, don't get discouraged. It's a lot of work but it will pay off. A lot of people start off a slow and the amount gets larger every couple of days. It took me a little while to get from drops to sprays. Especially while pumping. I hand expressed after pumping which helped and it was when I was hand expressing that I got sprays for the first time. I would also recommend hand compression during pumping which helped me.

I have tried to do the hand compression during pumping but find it difficult as I am double pumping with a hospital grade pump (renting) and when I try hand compression I seem to always lose suction on the machine. I will try some hand expression between pumping. I also do some breast massaging too but even though it's only been a week my breasts just feel beat up. I don't want to give up as this means the world to me to do this. I just didn't realize how hard it would be and I hate to complain. Thanks for the advice!

I don't know if you have done this, but looking at pictures of crying babies really helped me. I think it sounds like you are doing great!

Are you pumping at least once during the middle of the night? That can be helpful.

I pumped for 15-20 minutes each time and stopped halfway through and did jiggle massage. I didn't do hand compression after, but I have heard that is really helpful and there are videos out there that show you how. Do you have a bra that can hold the pumps in place? That might help too. As for the soreness, you can rub a little olive oil on the nipples to lubricate them before pumping.

I would start saving now. An ounce a day is great. It is actually best to start storing in 2 oz portions. Then do some that are 4 oz and then you can do some 6 oz. If you are having twins, you can probably do more bigger bags. I liked the lansinoh storage bags. Lay them flat for freezing and then put them in a ziplock. You can save in your fridge for a couple of days and then freeze. You can also add to a frozen bag as long as you add milk that has been refridgerated first (to cool it down).

What level of dom are you taking each day?

Good luck!
Jennifer

I actually did try the picture of the crying baby yesterday but didn't know if that would really help. I pump every two hours (including during the night) and when I pump I do it for 15 minutes (I set a timer). I tried the bra but that didn't work. So what you're saying is I can refrigerate what I am making during the day as I get it and then freeze it all at night when I have my 1 oz? And then add to that 1 oz bag (as I would like to make it 2 oz) as long as what I add is cold? I am also going to go get inserts tonight from my lactation consultant for my breast shields on the pump. I am using the Medela Symphony and I checked the Medela website and I believe the breast shields I am currently using are too big as they pull quite a bit of the areola through too, not just nipple. That may be affecting my pumping too - as per the Medela website. Love the tips and encouragement! Thanks all! I also forgot to add, I am taking 20 mgs of dom 4 x a day.

Wow! You are dedicated. I don't know if I could do it every 2 hours even at night. Sleep is important too. I think I would go for every 4 hours at night, but if you can do it every 2 then great job.

The crying baby pics really worked for me. I wasn't getting even drops until I started lookin at them (they were of my older kids crying as babies). I also envisioned hearing them cry and that would help me have a letdown.

I never had a bra, but I did use two elastic hair ties twisted together in a figure 8. I then hooked one to my nursing bra hook and one to around the breast shield. That at least allowed me to let go of the shields while I was pumping.

If you are making 1 oz a day, I think you could even save all of it for two days and then freeze at one time. Fresh BM can be saved in a fridge for up to 7 days. If you are going to freeze, it is better not to wait that long, but 2 days you should be fine.

Checking the size of the breast shields is a great idea.

At some point, you might consider increasing your dom to 30 mg 4 x a day. I did that and saw a nice increase. You might want to wait until closer to the date to give you a boost if needed.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
Jennifer

Without trying to hijack the thread, I have a related question: does everyone get squirts? I'm getting 3 ounces a day (or pretty close to it), but only drops every time. I've been pumping for about 6 weeks. I feel like I'm falling behind!

It takes a lot to get them during pumping but ill guarantee if you hand express you would have them.

Randnmom... When I was pumping for my bio kids, I did find the massage to be incredibly helpful... I got sprays and it really sped up my pumping sessions at work. You can definitely do massage while using a double pump. While massaging the right side, support the left "pumper" in the crook of your left elbow while pushing against your breast a little to keep it well attached and pumping. This frees up your left hand to hold the right pumper/bottle. Then use the right had to massage. If you're losing suction then you're probably getting too close to your areola and breaking the seal. Massage from the top of the breast only to about halfway down. Also, when the baby latches on, it will take a large portion of your areola into its mouth, not just the nipple. So you actually want bigger cones to pull more of the whole nipple-areola combo into the action. Of course if its too much, I suppose you could actually constrict the ducts and prevent the milk from coming out. Play around with the different sizes and see which works best, but I always found the bigger ones to be more effective (and I actually have pretty small nipples). I hope you don't find this condescending, like you couldn't figure this out yourself, I just know it took me some time to figure out how to coordinate the hands, pump, bottles, etc. and I would have liked some input!!

Not condescending at all. Actually very helpful. I appreciate any and all advice.