Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Natural Methods to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Nursing my 6-Week Old - Is there hope for me??

I would appreciate any encouragement or advice given.

My daughter is 6 weeks old and was born via cesarean section, due to her not dropping. At the end of the 1st week, my milk was not coming in, and she began to refuse nursing.

We started finger-feeding her forumula with the hope of reintroducing the breast, but then she began getting too much air and had terrible gas pain. Much to my disappointment, we were told to bottle feed her to reduce the air she'd been getting. (I didn't know about supplemental feeding systems at the time.)

Since then, I've tried unsuccessfully several times to reintroduce my breast - even using a supplemental feeding system. (We did have one successful attempt at the lacation consultant's office - but she didn't nurse for long.)

Now my daughter has also developed colic, and I feel like it's all I can do to get her bottle fed and keep my head above water, but I really want to breastfeed her.

We've been taking her to a chiropractor, and finally, her colic seems to be improving. When we have it under control, I'd like to try again to breastfeed, using the SFS to help build my milk supply. I have an electric pump, but haven't pumped regularly for a week or so just b/c of stress and lack of time and energy.

Any suggestions? I tried using Fenugreek and Milk Thistle and Reglan with no real results. I can't get Domperidone since I'm in the U.S. Do Fenugreek and Milk Thistle vary in quality? Should I try them again - using a different source??

Please - any help would be appreciated!

I am in the U.S., and I've always gotten my dom from www.globaldrug.tv

Have you gotten a local doctor to cooperate with you on this -either overseeing your care or writing the prescription for you? If so, how have you been able to do it?

Thanks,

Katie's Mom

Katies Mom you do not need a perscription to buy your dom from the above website. You only need one if you are going to get it in the US through a compounding pharmacy which is very expensive.
Have you printed off hte protocls in their entirety for your doctor to read? Sometimes (mostly) they are not familiar with adoptive breastfeeding or relactating. It becomes our job to educate.

Thanks for your reply. While I know I don't need a prescription from that website, my understanding of the FDA's approach to such things is that if they would question my getting Domperidone, I need to be able to give them a doctor who is overseeing my treatment.

No, I have not had a chance to show my doctor the protocal. I am sure all they have read is that huge red flag FDA warning about importing Domperidone, so they are steering clear. I'm trying to see if I can get help from our local Le Leche League. All I want is the chance to nurse my baby! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Katie's Mom

I just reread your original post. Are you still taking herbs? The suggested herbs are Blessed Thistle (not Milk Thistle) and Fenugreek. 3 caps 3x daily.
You say you were on Reglan, I am assuming this same doctor prescribed that? I would print of all the info on domperidone and go back to him with that. The FDA warning was for IV use of domperidone I believe. Domperidone is so much safer than Reglan and you can stay on dom long term where as you aren't supposed to take Reglan longer than 2 weeks.
Good Luck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I would suggest you take those two herbs feed your baby with the SNS and pump after feeds Make sure you are staying well hydrated and eat oatmeal everyday if you can.

I was taking Fenugreek and Milk Thistle and Reglan and did not see any increase - only producing about 1 oz total when pumping both breasts for 20 minutes. Should I try again and add the Blessed Thistle instead of Milk Thistle? Can the quality of the Fenugreek affect its effectiveness? I was also taking Brewer's Yeast. I felt like I was taking all these every meal but seeing not increase - that's why I stopped.

Katie's Mom

And could granola (made with rolled oats) count for oatmeal intake? I have eaten that almost every day since I got home with the baby.

Katie's Mom

So right now you are not taking anything?
If yes, then definitely start back on the right herbs. Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek 3caps 3x daily.
Are you nursing with the SNS? She should be getting every meal from you this way. If you are finger feeding then pumping every 3 hours throughout the day is essential to bringing in your supply. Without stimulation your milk will not come in. What pump do you have? Is it a double pump?
Getting your oats that way is fine. Trying to maybe eat oatmeal once a week would be helpful.

I went through 200 capsules of Fenugreek, taking 3 with each meal and was pumping every 3 hours and producing 1/2 to 1 oz.

I had stopped the finger feeding b/c we had used a syringe (didn't know about SFS at that time) and was told to give Katie a bottle b/c she was getting too much air and having terrible gas pain. Now I am trying to at least get her back to finger feeding with the hope of then moving her to breast. Tried on Friday and she was patient through 1/2 oz and then got impatient. Should I try larger tubing? I am using the medium size right now and it is a Medela SFS.

Katie's Mom