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

Hello I am new here and was wondering if I can get some help from the experienced people here. I started on the yasmin and Dom protocol (Menopause Protocol) and was wondering what kind of changes you had when you all started on the protocol? Breast changes?? Headaches ect...

I have been having aching in my breasts like when I get ready for bed and take my bra off or accidently getting smacked or something like that is it normal? I have been on the protocol for 4 weeks now and i know I need to be on it for 60 days.

Any one?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I had surgical menopause and been on hormones to induce lactation and Dom for about 2 months now. Here is what I have been experiencing:

1. Breasts increased in size, more to the sides (strange?) and cup size. I was a 36C, now am a 38D.

2. HAve been on crutches, and feel the tenderness/heaviness in breast while I walk. Most heavy feeling when I suddenly get up in the middle of the night to walk to the bathroom. The heaviness feeling is not constant, but have incidents throught the day / night.

3. Pangs in my breasts like burning sensations / electric shocks. These sometimes hurt but thankfully last for a short duration, like 5 - 10 seconds.

4. White residue at my nipples which my doctor thinks is dry milk.

My doc thinks I am on the right track, but I am openminded and shall try not to be too heartbroken if it fails.

Hi and welcome, Shelley.
You will enjoy this board. It is very informative.
I'm in my 4th month of the menopausal protocol. I noticed headaches and stomachaches. They subsided during the 3rd month. My breasts increased in cup-size from a B to a C, then went back down to a B+, then went back up and stayed at a C. They are full and heavy but not tender. I haven't seen any drops of milk. I also experience moodiness and breakthrough bleeding from the Yasmin BCPs.

I will be on the BCPs for two more months and then I start pumping at the end of July.

Looking forward to sharing the experience with you.

Shelley,
Do you have a comfortable, all cotton, no underwire nursing bra? If not, get one now, a size larger than what you are now, and start wearing it. This may help some of the discomforts you are describing. Don't wear any synthetic or underwire bras in the meantime. I've got a bra that I love ... it's the only one I'll wear now ... it has snaps and I can open and close it with one hand ... helfpful with a baby that is increasingly wiggly!
Aloha,
Christina

On the bra note..... I just got one of the new zip bras and I love it! It opens from the center all the way over via a zipper that goes all the way around the bottom of the cup. The bra is stretchy and quite comfortable. It is called the second nature easy zip bra, if anyone is interested I will look up the website and pass it on.
Joni

Thank you everyone who responded. I guess maybe my bra could be part of the problem, I do wear a underwire, I guess I always thought that in order to have enough support to carry a 38C that I needed one for the support so I wasnt carrying them on my hip -lol I will try that and see if it helps!

I guess I just didnt know if it was normal for them to be sore to the touch, when I got up from bed, or when I removed my bra for the night. I was not sure, it almost felt like I was going through puberty again or something (ha ha). I do believe that they maybe getting bigger in the cup size kinda to the side like one of you said..... But I have only been on it a little over a month and I was unsure what was normal and I have a couple months left. So any other advise or normalcy would be great!!

Thanks for allllll your help!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

mine were extremely sore. I could NOT take off my bra. It did not matter what kind it was. My breasts felt bruised. And they
also ached alot. Bumping could bring tears in my eyes

That is exactly what it feels like when you are newly pregnant and then it subsides just like on the protocol. That tells me it is having the exact effect we are hoping for. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Mimicing!

Good question, Shelley. When I first started pumping, I was VERY sore too. Now my nipples seem pretty durable! If you are a 38 C, you might also look into getting a larger "horn" / "suction cup" for your pump. The better it fits you, the more likely you will have a pleasant initial pumping experience. I did this and now use the one of each (the standard size and the larger size) and switch during my pumping to get more areas. This also helps with washing to have two sets.

Hang in there and keep us posted on any more changes ... hopefully less discomfort and more changes towards making milk for your baby!

Aloha,
Christina

Whoops! Forgot to login again!

Aloha,
Christina