Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Supply increase

I have been pumping nearly three months 6 to eight times aday and once a night and have only reached 5 ounces one time. The rest of the time I make 3 to 4 ounces and that is it. Our twins will be delivered c-section the 16th, that is this thursday. Will my milk increase with their nursing? I will use a lactaid but was hoping that my supply would increase on its own. My left breast is a much lower producer then my right. I feel like maybe I should have been on the protocol longer. I was on Yasmin for two months. Thanks for answering my question. Becky

Your milk supply should increase with the babies nursing. Babies are much more effective nursers than a breastpump is.
And my left produces less than my right, also. Yet, my left has a faster letdown than my right. So it varies not just from person to person, but even from breast to breast.

Thanks Dawn. My left breast also lets down quicker, so much that I think when I pump I will get lots, but not so. Good luck with the new babe you are pursuing. My husband and I adopted three and it was an emotional rollercoaster but so worth it. Becky

Dawn, Wow! 30 ounces a day is such a dream for me. What is your secret? I've been pumping now for almost 2 months and only get 2 ounces a day. I am furious that I wasted an entire month using the new Medela Symphoy pump. After 30 days, I was only getting 1/2 an ounce. I then switched to the Lactina and have increased my supply by almost 1/2 ounce each week. I'd love to know what pump you are using and how many months it took you to reach 30 ounces a day. Thanks - Kim

Hi, Kim!
What's my secret? I've been pumping since mid-January! <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif" alt="" /> It took me awhile to get where I am. I remember I was at about 25-28 ounces by the end of April, and that was over 3 months of pumping. I have been using the Medela Pump In Style the whole time. It has worked wonderfully for me, and I don't have one negative thing to say about it. I started out with a used one, and then bought a new one. I just thought with as much use out of it as I was getting, I deserved a brand-new one, and I don't regret it. The new one even came with a battery pack, so I can pump anywhere, and that made it really convenient over the Fourth of July, when we camped out it my in-laws pasture. I could just pump in the tent, no problem, and no one but dh and dd knew what I was up to.
I am sorry you started out with a pump that didn't work as well for you. Were you on the protocol? I was on the protocol for 8.5 months before I started pumping, so that really helped me a lot, too. I have always pumped 6 times a day. The last few months I sometimes can only do 4 or 5 times, but even now I always try to get in 6 sessions. How often per day are you pumping? And do you have a baby in sight yet? If my supply was less than what it is, I would be pumping at night now, too, as we are matched with a baby due 10/31.
Be patient, and your supply will increase. Especially since you are using a better pump now. Good Luck!

Thank you for your prompt response Dawn! Congratulations on your recent match! From reading your posts, your enthusiasm and commitment are evident. My situation is a bit different than most I've read here. I gave birth to my little Ruby on Feb. 19th. On March 3rd I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. By the end of the month I was taking chemotherapy. My final treatment was at the end of August. During that time, Ruby was primarily bottle fed donated breastmilk. The few days before my treatments I would feed her using a lact-aid or SNS. Now, I continue to nurse Ruby with the SNS ( the lact-aid doesn't flow fast enough for her after becoming accustomed to the fast flow of a bottle for so long). Because of concerns about the chemotherapy affecting my alveoli cells if they were metobolically active from nursing and/or pumping, I had to delay pumping until the first part of September. I also had some complications with my treatment that prohibited me from following the protocol for the recommended time. I took the Yasmin and began the Dom about a month before pumping. I try to pump 6 times a day. It is very difficult to pump that often as I also have a 5 and 2 1/2 year old at home. Sometimes I feel like I am either nursing or pumping and they are getting neglected. In the beginning I told myself that this is just short term, soon I will make enough milk that I won't have to pump as often. I know there is no crystal ball that will tell me when this day will come...but I would like a general idea of how long it takes to build a 30 ounce supply! I am frustrated because my breasts feel full and I know I can produce more milk than I am pumping. I appreciate the time you spent responding to my questions. Thank you and congratulations again! Kim