Just wanted to give a little update to everyone. I started the regular protocol in February and stayed on it for 5 months. I began pumping in July and pumped for 3 1/2 months before we brought our baby girl home through adoption from Uganda.
By two months of pumping I was producing 30+ ounces a day and was hovering right around 35 ounces a day by the time we brought our baby home in October!!! I couldn't believe I was able to bring in a full supply!
Our baby was 5 months old when she came home. She had been bottle fed her whole life and wanted nothing to do with nursing at first. For two weeks I fed her with my shirt off and my breast up next to her bottle, let her lay on my chest skin to skin, and kept offering my breast to her. She cried every time and would not even attempt to suck. Even though it had only been two weeks I was getting discouraged and was sure she would never latch. Finally, after much research, I weighed the pros and cons of using a nipple shield and decided to go for it. The first time I put on the nipple shield baby girl latched and nursed for over 30 minutes without letting go. I cried!!
I nursed with the shield for 3 days and then one night, when she was sleepy, I offered without it. She resisted at first but was hungry so took it and nursed just me! She's been nursing like a pro ever since. She has a great latch, I have a great supply with no need to supplement, and we are both loving our nursing relationship!
It is so amazing to be nursing my adopted baby! I had doubts that this day would ever come. For those of you still in the process, don't give up. It is worth every second of the time and effort you are putting into it. All this pill taking and pumping will pay off!! Keep up the good work!!
Amber
