Home Forums Breastfeeding Breastfeeding how do you know how much you're getting?

Hello - I've been on the modified induction protocol for about 2.5 months (6 weeks bcp, pumping 2x/day for 3 weeks)and baby is due August 1st, via GS).
I am getting about .5 -1 oz from most pumpings. I am also very lucky to have received colustrum from friend who just had a 4 week early baby, and didn't want to save it (???) for when the baby can bf. She was fine with it, so I now have it in the freezer. Also have another friend who has over 120 oz in the freezer from her now 6 month old, who wants to donate to me. She has been donating to the local breast milk bank, but knows I'm using a surrogate, and may not have enough on this protocol.

My question is, how will I know how much I'm producing myself, once the baby is at the breast? How can one tell - by weighing the diaper? Will I feel it? I'm not clear on that point
Thanks for your help!
Robin

Robin trying to understand the above statement Are you meaning you did the accelerated protocol, taking the bcp for 6 weeks? are you taking dom and the herbs? Are you still only pumping 2x a day? At this point you really need to up the pumpings. A breastfed baby nurses every 2-3 hours so your pumping schedule should try to match that. As for how you will know how much you are making you can weigh baby before and after a feed. But most people don't You just nurse until baby is satisfied whether that is all you or some supplement at the breast. Good for you that you have a friend pumping for you. Do you have a lact-aid?

Hi Lalle
I invented my own protocol, because I had only 3 months before the baby was born, so I've been doing what I can.
Yes, I have a supplementer. I was hoping to avoid using formula, so the milk is a real gift. Thanks for the info.
Robin

you will know if your producing enough if your baby is satisfied at the breast. IF it is still fussy you will need to supliment

Robin I understand 3 months is not a long time. Adding the dom if you haven't will certainly help as well as the herbs. I did the accelerated protocol for 42 days when my DD was about 15 months old. After that I didn't need to supplement at all. She had cowsmilk issues and needed me to provide all of her nutrition. So it can be done no matter how little time you have. Prior to that I was nursing with a supplementer and taking dom and herbs.

Hi Robin,

If you are not comfortable with the use of domperidone then perhaps you would consider the herbs Fenugreek and blessed thistle which also increase prolactin and help milk supply. Pumping while on the birth control pill can be frustrating because the estrogen/progesterone hinders milk synthesis. When used in combination with the domperidone, the milk making apparatus of the breasts is developed. Then the bcp is stopped, the domperidone is maintained, the herbs added and pumping begun.

We recommend pumping at least 8 times in 24 hours to bring in a substantial milk supply. .5 to 1.0 oz is excellent progress. If you step up the pumping, you can expect to increase your milk supply....not right away....takes a few days to notice a difference.

3 months is generally ample time to do the modified accelerated protocol with either Ortho 1/35 or Yasmin together with domperidone. But with .5 to 1.0 ounces at this point, you're definitely on your way.

And nurturing your baby at the breast has its own benefits and supplementing at the breast with a supply line (Lact-aid or SNS) can help to bring in your milk supply as well.

Kindly talk all of this over with your doctor.

Keep up the great work you're doing and when your baby arrives, enjoy!

Best, Lenore