Dear Mommy 2 three,
What most mothers in your situation do is follow the accelerated protocol for a full 30 days without pumping. The medications recommended by Dr. Jack Newman and the doctors at our breastfeeding clinic are Ortho 1/35 (once daily, only active pills, no sugar pills, no periods) and domperidone (10 mg 4 times per day for the first week and then increase to 20 mg 4 times per day).
Once you have completed at least 30 days on the combination of Ortho 1/35 (once a day, note these days we prefer Ortho 1/35 to Yasmin) and domperidone (20 mg 4 times a day) and have experienced significant breast changes you can stop the Ortho 1/35, maintain the domperidone and begin pumping with a double electric breast pump. A hand pump is just not up to the job. The double electric pump fools your body into thinking you have a really hungry set of twins at the breast and is the fastest way to increase your milk supply. The pumps most moms seem to be using are the Medela Pump n Style (buy) and the Medela Lactina Select (rent). A new pump has become available recently that many mothers have started using with excellent results. It's the PJ junior by Limerick. It has flexible breast shields that compress the breast while suction is applied, acting very much like a baby at the breast. It's available through
[email protected] but I hear the price is about to go up so you may need to hurry.
You?ll need to pump every 3 hours and once during the night. Once you?ve started pumping you can add the herbs Blessed Thistle herb (approx 390 mg per capsule) and Fenugreek seed (approx 610 mg per capsule). Most mothers take 3 capsules of each 3 times a day with their meals and their domperidone 1/2 hour before meals for best absorption.
They also try to eat oatmeal for breakfast at least 3 times a week and drink 6 glasses of water a day but it's important that you don?t make yourself sick.
You can expect clear drops, which become more opaque. Then spray, then stream. It may take a few days, a week, or two, or more for you milk supply to come in. Everyone is different.
If your baby arrives before you have completed the acelerated protocol you simply maintain your medications, and put your baby to the breast with the help of a supplemental feeding tube device such as a Lact-aid
www.lact-aid.com or Medela SNS filled with either donor breastmilk or formula. Once the 30 days are complete, you would stop the Ortho 1/35, maintain the domperidone, add the herbs and continue to breastfeed but try to pump for about 10 minutes after most feeds to build your milk supply.
Please discuss all of this with your doctor so that you can be monitored and educate at the same time.
Keep us posted on your progress. Good luck!
Best, Lenore
