Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Announcement & questions

Hello & Happy New Year to all. I'm writing to announce the birth of our beautiful baby boy, Hunter, on Dec. 23rd. We are, needless to say, besotted. I was able to put him to my breast within a few minutes of his birth and have been breastfeeding him since using the lact-aid with milk from my SM.

Although we're settling in nicely and getting to know each other more and more, I'm very confused about what I should be seeing/expecting as far as my milk production.

I met with a lactation consultant a couple of times and she weighed Hunter before and after feeding and it seems that he wasn't getting anything from me. I sometimes pump after feeding him and find that I'm producing around 10 - 20ml (total). I'm disappointed and confused because I had read so many times that the baby is more efficient than the pump at getting the milk out. Why am I able to pump milk just after feeding him? His latch, according to the lactation consultant is very good and she says I have "good" nipples.

Also, in addition to around 8 feedings/day, I'm putting him on my breast often just to comfort him and am keeping him close to me most of the time - co-sleeping, etc.

Should I keep pumping? if so, how often? I feel like my milk supply is decreasing since I haven't been pumping as often. But I thought it would be enough having my baby feed. Confused!

I so want this to work. Any info/suggestions would be so appreciated.

Also, my husband and I will be flying from California to North Carolina and plan to bring a cooler with frozen breastmilk from my SM. Does anyone have experience of dealing with security? Are they going to let us through with the cooler or will they make us check it? My husband thinks they may not let it through. Do you think if I had a letter from my lactation consultant it would make a difference?
Thanks! Shirley

P.S. I used dom & pumped 4-5 times a day for 3 months to prepare getting around 2oz right before he came.

Shirley, First let me say congratulations on your new son!!!Other than the dom and pumping did you do any protocol? If your son is latching and nursing with you using the lact-aid as well as comfort nursing, you are on the right track. The baby is more efficient than the pump. If you want to keep pumping just make sure you do 5-10 minutes after a feed. But don't wear yourself out. The best thing is to focus on loving your little guy. Your supply should increase as time goes on. I did the accelerated protocol when my daughter was 15 months, before that it was just formula in the lact-aid and whatever she was getting from me. We figured about 1/3 -1/2supply before the protocol and after the protocol we nursed with out the lact-aid for another 8 months.

As for the transport of frozen breastmilk I would call the airline and ask them what would be the best way to do that.

Hi Shirely,

Congratulations on your bundle of joy!!!

Are you also taking the herbs, Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle? I went back and re-read the protocol and found that I wasn't taking enough of these herbs. According to Lenore's protocol you need to take 3 capules of each, 3 times a day (or 9 capsules of each a day). I was only taking 3 capules of each per day, and have just upped my intake. I'm hoping this will help with my milk supply.

Good luck,
Jean
(pumping 5-6 times a day and getting a little over 10ml total - been pumping for 9 days.)

Shirley, Congratulations! I would encourage you to keep doing what you are doing. Nurse frequently and long-- on BOTH sides at each feeding. Keep taking your dom. Pump once or twice a day. Do all this for at least another month without getting too focused on guessing how much you are producing. It often can take some time to get your milk going well. With my adopted son I felt I did not hit my max milk production til he had been nursing well for a couple months. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using the supplementer during all your nursing experience---sure, it can be a bit of a hassle, but you will still be giving your baby all the benefits of nursing. I really think that getting too hung up on amounts produced once baby arrives can backfire and make a woman feel like a failure when she is actually a great success. So keep up the good work. You are doing a great job of nurturing your child!
PS-- Also remember you may FEEL like your supply is diminishing simply because the baby is emptying your breast better and oftener than the pump so your breasts never get full-feeling. And don't stress too much about the test-weigh. That is a really high-pressure situation to put yourself in-- very inhibiting to milk flow....

oops-- previous post was from me

Thanks to all who responded. It has stressed me out to think that the small supply that I managed to build could be dwindling since I'm unable to fit in the amount of pumping that I was doing prior to Hunter's birth. I am enjoying simply being able to put him on my breast whenever or whereever - even if it's only to comfort and bond. I really don't want to stress about the "amount", although I would like to be doing all that I can to maximize the output. For the next 10 days, my surrogate will continue to pump for us. so at least he will have been fed exclusively on breast milk for the first days of his life.

Thanks to all.

Shirley

P.S. I did on the dom, herbs and pumping to prepare.

Hi Shirley,

I'm reading "A Mother's Companion to Breast Feeding" and there was a part in there that made me think of you and Hunter. The book says that sometimes the baby, even though he is latched on correctly, will "play with his tounge" and not get down to business (at least this is how I remember what was written). It's something he learned in-utero, and you need to help him unlearn this. This book is really quite good, and come highly recommend from my lactation consultants, so you may want to check it out from your local library.

hugs to Hunter! Jean

Hi Shirley,

I have a question...Is your lactation consultant board certified? Please make sure. You can find a board certified lactation consultant here www.iblce.org. Just click on the US or International registry depending on where you are located.

Doing pre and post weights is pretty much a thing of the past. If you are able to pump milk, your baby should be able to latch on and do an even better job and extracting it. But it all depends on how well latched your baby is. Being able to pump milk after a feed indicates one of two things. 1) either the baby IS getting enough milk and you have leftovers OR 2) Your baby is not well latched and not adequately draining your breasts. A baby can "look" well latched to the untrained eye and actually be having problems. That's why it's so important that the LC be board certified.

Also, nipples have pretty much nothing to do with the latch. Nipples are just an exit. Your baby needs to be latched PAST the nipple and well and truly onto your breast. Breastfeeding should not hurt. Your nipple should look the same when it comes out as when it went into your baby's mouth. Have a look at this page on our site: http://www.asklenore.info/breastfeeding/latching_diagrams.html

Once you get the latch sorted out your situation should improve considerably. But remember, there's more to breastfeeding than the amount of milk a baby is getting. All your baby needs is a very tiny amount to get all the immune benefits and other goodies. It's the time with you at the breast that is most important....the nurturing, the bonding....

Hope this helps. Fondly,