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

I have been breast pumping every three hours for 11 days now, having stopped taking Yasmin, still taking domperidone 4 times a day and started taking Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle three times a day. I am becoming dispondent as I still only have tiny drops of milk, not enough to save any. I did read that it could take a couple of days or a week or so - should I just continue as I am or is there anything else I could do. I realise that everyone is different but am beginning to feel a real failure! Please help! Many thanks in advance.

Tracey how long were you on the protocol? Don't give up. You can pump every two hours during the day. How long are you pumping for and what kind of a pump are you using. Hang in there! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hi Tracey,

I'll bet if you save those drops over a 24 hour period you would be surprised at how much you accumulate. Start saving them today. Also, some moms use the smaller 2 oz graduated bottles by Medela that measure their milk in millimiters. It's discouraging to try to cover the bottom of the large bottles in the beginning. You can find the smaller ones here: http://www.milkworks.org/supplies.htm Scroll down the page to find them and then call Milk Works and ask what their current price is. They sell them for about $2 per bottle I think. They will ship. This is what I pump with now that I'm weaning.

Best,

Many thanks for your advice and support. I am using a Pump in Style Medela breast pump and started the Protocol in August last year. I will stick at it and try not to give up. I will order some of the 2oz bottles, that sounds like a good idea. Many many thanks for the support. I will let you know how I get on.

Its me again! I have been pumping for nearly a month now and still only have drops, about 2 ml every 24 hours - if I'm lucky! I have not taken any herbs for over 10 days as the company I ordered them from were waiting for a shipment in and I have been waiting for 3 weeks! Do you think that this is the reason and once I receive the herbs do you think I will be able to "catch up"? I am very dispondent now as our baby is due in 3-4 weeks time! Do you think I should give up and just concentrate on bottle feeding, although this seems such a last result as I have been on the protocol since August 2005. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Hi Tracey -
Don't give up and try not to let it get you down. Try to relax when you're pumping and someone once told me to close my eyes and picture my baby in my head - picture myself holding her and taking baths with her, etc. Sometimes that will help stimulate your body (some believe, at least). I figured it was worth a try <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Also - some people have better success when they eat oatmeal in some form or another at least once a day and make sure you drink lots of water and limit your caffeine intake, if possible.

As for the drops - I think that's great! Honestly - when I was first pumping I got just little drops, but when we finally traveled to get our baby, they started spraying like crazy. It's true that pumping doesn't really imitate a baby's suck - so when the baby arrives and begins to suck, your milk supply will most likely increase significantly.

So keep trying and keep your spirits up as much as you can. Do you have a lact-aid or sns for supplementing when your baby arrives? And do you know how to use it? It will help a lot, as it will allow your baby to eat and stimulate your milk supply while doing so.

Hang in there!

I didn't make much milk at all with my first dd, but we exclusively breastfed for almost three years (when I started the protocal for dc #2). Milk is not the most important part of the whole process. BTW - I didn't do the protocal first time around and herbs only make me smell like syrup <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Hi Tracey,

Some moms have difficulty letting down to a pump which is why I was suggesting the Limerick for you. It's got flexible breast shields and seems to elicit a let-down faster than most other pumps.

That said, baby's are the best pumps. Once your little one is here, your milk supply should build and build. There's a lot more to breastfeeding than the milk. There's teeth and jaw formation, antibodies that are created on the surface of the breast, not to mention the bonding and nurturing that goes on. Also, breastfeeding is great for hand-eye coordination because most bottle feeding goes on one side with baby looking at the bottle cross eyed. When you breastfeed, baby looks at you and when you switch sides, baby is still looking at you.

You can breastfeed with the help of a supplementary feeding tube device such as a Lact-aid www.lact-aid.com filled with either donor milk or formula until your own milk comes in.

Nona Davis may be able to set you up with a donor mrsmalady@yahoo.com

And don't forget to get in touch with a board certified lactation consultant to assist you. You can find one here: www.iblce.org Just click on the "About IBLCE" button and the US and international registry pops up.

Best,

Don't give up! It is so much more then producing milk to breast feed our long awaited children.

I also used the smaller collection bottles, it encouraged me when I saw it cover the bottom of the bottle.

The bond that comes from b/f in AMAZING!!! It is just the greatest joy. My daughter is now 6-1/2 month and nurising like a champ. When she was born I was producing about five oz in a 24 hour period. She had surgery at three month and I could not hold her for two days, so I pumped. To my delight, I was producing about 16 oz. Baby really is the best pump.

Even if you produce nothing-the greatest reward is to watch and be watched by the new little love in your arms. I am the happiest mommy around to experience this joy. Please don't stop, you are almost there. Get the Lact-aid and use it. It may be a little awkward at first but will become easier as you use it.

We are all here for you-You can do it!!!!


Vicki
Wife to Carl of 18 years.
Mommy to the most beautiful little girl Naomi via TS ~ born 8/11/05 and still happily nursing!