Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Abreviated protocol - pump or meds?

Our surro-baby is due in late January, but I was not able to start the protocol until just before Thanksgiving. I am 35 and have previously nursed.

I started 100mg of prometrium and 20mg of domperidome 4x/day on 11/19 (due to the short lead time I didn't bother with a 1 week phase-in and I have not really had many negative side effects from the protocol). I am starting to see some breast changes (12 days on meds) now. My question is whether I should start pumping at 30 days (12/19), or stick with prometrium a bit longer. My family is going on vacation in early January and pumping might be difficult, so I thought staying on prometrium for 45 days might not be the end of the world. For ladies who have tried both, what is more effective at establishing a strong milk supply - longer pumping times or more days on meds? If I wait until we get back from vacation I would have about 15 days of pumping before the baby is born, but I will be on a plane one of those days.

Thank you!

I would recommend staying on the meds longer and getting a good base of the breast changes. I would also start pumping the day you get home (I wouldn't start pumping while traveling). You can supplement when the baby first arrives but you have a better chance of getting better results the longer you are on the protocol.

Thanks! That's what I was leaning toward (I also didn't really want to try to pump in Disney World), but it is nice to have it confirmed.

Have fun on vacation and good luck with everything!!

I agree. I would wait until you can commit to pumping, but with a surrogacy situation, I would also try to start pumping ahead if you can. In adoption, I think it is harder to pump ahead because there is a chance the birthmother may change her mind, but in your situation, it is your baby, so I would try to get my supply started before the baby arrives. So I think I would try to start pumping as soon as your vacation is done and bring the pump on the plane with you (even if it is a hand pump) when you travel to get the baby.

Good luck!
Jennifer

Nothing sounds so appealing as using a hand pump in an airplane bathroom! You are probably right though...with 15 days between the start of pumping and the due date every little bit helps.

Stupid question, but when exactly am I supposed to start pumping? Do I start the first day I skip provera (i.e. instead of having promtrium at breakfast I have oatmeal and 20 minutes with a breastpump) or do I have to give it a day for the milk to be produced? Also are herbs started the same day that prometrium is skipped or is there a lag for that as well? I don't have a lot of time to pump after I get back from my trip so I am trying to figure out what I am supposed to do.

Thanks.

My first time it was a stork drop. I had already taken the bcp the day we got the call. I didn't take it the next morning and started pumping late that afternoon about an hour before we were placed with our baby.

The second time, I think I started pumping on the first day I didn't take my bcp as well.

I started with the herbs a couple of days after, but I think you could start at the same time.

Good luck!
Jennifer

Jennifer