[KarynB]

Hello,

So - the tube I have now only works so-so, the problem is now that he is a bit older he is looking at everything - so every time I try to put it into his mouth he pulls off the breast and looks at me as if to say "I don't think so!'. Ah well, I'll keep trying!

Last week I did a "pumping bootcamp" so to speak, and I think it really helped to increase my supply. Yippee!!!

How is the pumping going? Thanks for the link to the tea - I was able to locate some and will add that to the regime! Are you going to start the herbs or just stick with the dom for now?

tweetybirdus: you still with us? Any luck with the research on how to do this without dom?

We have gotten into a bit of a routine here - which is so nice after so much upheaval! Of course, I say that now but in a month I'll be bored stiff and looking for the next challenge!!!

[2manyks]

i used to frequent this thread, but it got so quiet for awhile i havent checked it lately. i wanted to try abf after first hearing about it. i had no idea it could really be done, but after doing tons of research, women are having great success with it. i asked my ob/gyn about it and he said he has never had success with anyone inducing lactation. so i ordered everything online and before it came our baby was here. born early, only a little, but bmom had her due date way off - by 2 1/2 months! so i had only opened the pkgs of stuff and used a little. then everything was hectic and i didnt have much time for pumping. i have bf a few times, but there is nothing there. i thought i would have an advantage since i have bf 8 bio children. i mean i totally know how to do it, but the breasts are completely empty. i want to try the tubing to the bottle. the lactaid seems just a bit hectic to me, especially with teenagers hanging around all day, KWIM? so i havent completely given up, but im not super commited. karyns story gives me hope, starting bf with a 5 mth old seems impossible, but it worked. i wonder if he was bf at first by his bmom. i would like to bf a few times a day and bottle feed the others, but i know how bf works and i would have to bf everytime then follow with a bottle. ugg!

Denice

[teendoc]

Hi Karyn: despite the fact that my breasts feel like bowling balls, I've not produced anything as yet. I'm still pumping away and trying not to be discouraged. I've added the Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle, though.

I used to have patients who would lactate from their boyfriend's breast stimulation. All I can think now is good lord, they must really have been doing a lot to their breasts!

So what is a "pumping bootcamp?" Have you looked into a feeding tube? But with your supply up, it might not be necessary.

Denice: nice to see you here. I'm not sure how you can raise your prolactin enough to lactate without domperidone or a vigorous pumping regimen, but I wish you lots of luck doing so.

Take care!

[KarynB]

Hang in there Liana! I was also thinking that you may be having trouble with "let down" if you are feeling stressed while pumping - which you mentioned may be the case due to past history, and also because you want something to happen! Are you able to relax while pumping?
lenore also mentioned new research that suggests having a small snack while pumping can encourage let down, too. Hope things start to happen for you soon...

Pumping bootcamp - suggested to me by a lactation consultant:

Nurse baby when wakes and then pump for 20 minutes.
Every hour on the hour pump for 5 minutes
At each 3 hour mark, nurse baby and then pump for 20 minutes.
Do this for two days (1 only did one)

I guess this schedule mimicks a newborns "growth spurt" which in turn makes the mother produce more milk. It worked pretty well!

I did find a feeding tube, but the one I got was too short - I'll try again this weekend when I have more time...

Denice - welcome! I think it is really sad that your doc. told you she knows of no one who has successfully induced lactation - there is a woman who sometimes posts on this forum who successfully exclusively breastfed triplets with induced lactation!!! However, I agree with you, it may be hard if you don't have alot of time to pump with all those other kiddos running around...

[teendoc]

Wow, that sounds really tough. I'm glad that it worked for you.

As for me, it is still weird feeling but not quite as triggering as it was when I started. Yet I've managed to do this almost asleep, so I think I am relaxing. Who knows? I might just be defective.

[KarynB]

Wow - while you are sleeping - that's pretty good! I just discovered that if I pump while on the computer that works best - time goes by fast and I am sitting up much starighter than watching tv or reading so the pump doesn't leak....

Now come on, as a doctor, would you ever say to your patient that they are "defective"? If not, then why would you be so harsh with yourself? Be kind to yourself! If not, no one else will be...

One more thought - do you think the pump might not be working right? Also, I know Lenore recommends the Pump in Style or the Limerick for moms who are inducing lactation due to the way they encourage let down - could this be the problem? Just some thoughts...

[teendoc]

Hey, with me, there is nothing to leak so I can pump lying down. I've been on the road for the past two days and I can tell you quite honestly that finding places to pump is a challenge. I had no time to pump today after leaving the hotel this morning. I gave a presentation, raced to the airport, flew to Charlotte, ran 3 terminals over to barely make my next plane, flew home, then got in my car to drive home in traffic and pick up pizza for dinner. No time at all to pump until I got home. I've been trying to do some longer pumping sessions and repeating every hour or two to make up.

The good news is that I saw my first drop of breastmilk yesterday at the hotel. Hopefully if I keep at it, it will pick up in amount.

The pump I'm using is the best they make, the hospital grade Symphony. The Pump in Style has the same technology as the Symphony but it isn't hospital grade. My lactation counselor thinks that the Symphony is as good as pumps get.

I know that I shouldn't be calling myself defective, but I get so tired of my body not working as I hoped it would. But despite my negativity, I persevere and hope.

Tomorrow I'm off to San Diego. How does one pump on a 5 hour flight?

[KarynB]

Yay, congrats on the first drops!!! How's it going now? I know it is hard to pump when you are at work etc, that part is no fun at all. Have you thought about going back on the protocol until it is time? I know you said you most likely will get a call without much notice - but it sure would be hard to pump indefinitely...it takes a LOT out of you! Just a thought...

I had to pump while flying to SA (24 hour flight)...and I was using a manual pump in my seat - LOL - NOT recommended!!! and going to the bathroom to use manual (also NOT recommended - people get mad)...and using storage closets in airport....too funny. By the time we got to Cape Town I had milk leaking all over my shirt - it was pretty embarassing (not to mention seriously uncomfortable)!!!! Do you have a battery pack for the pump? I don't, I just had the cigarette lighter adapter - next time I would DEFINITELY get the battery pack! Ah well, funny to look back now...

So, how was San Diego? I really like it there - did you get any time to enjoy it? I am jealous - where I live it is -35 with the wind chill.....

I'm glad the Symphony isn't the problem - for awhile I really regretted buying the PIS and thought I should have bought the Limerick (despite its large price tag!) but the thought of buying two pumps just didn't work...so I made due and it's been great so far. What makes a pump "hospital grade" - its durability?

Hope things are going better for you...

[teendoc]

Well I'm back to believing that I am broken. After a tiny drop on Thursday once and Friday once, I have returned to dry as a bone. I don't know why my breasts are so contrary! I've written to Lenore to ask whether I should just stop and go back on Yasmin for another month. Sigh...

And I can only imagine how it was on that SA flight. I've been there twice for my donor egg cycles.

The Symphony has a battery but it malfunctioned when I tried to use it on the plane. Sigh...

I thought that power was the main feature that made a pump hospital grade, but I'm not sure.

San Diego is beautiful. Today I get to play a little, and that is cool. I'm off to San Francisco tomorrow.

[2manyks]

liana - some women never get milk with a pump. i have had friends who were milk cows as far as bf went, but they never got anything with a pump. one friend only could do manual compressions in the shower. so dont be too discouraged. as far as i have read, since you have the breast changes, then you will most likely get milk once you start actually bf a real baby. you maybe have lost your few drops of milk because you have been traveling - you know- tired, dehydrated, etc.

[traceyk]

Keep in mind when you near your period you will produce less. Has anyone tried the pumping bras?

[KarynB]

Pumping bra - what the heck is that? Never even heard of it!

So, a friend of mine sent me a little supplementer kit from a breastfeeding clinic in Toronto and it is awesome - so much easier to use than the lact-aid! Now, the only issue i am having is that my little guy keeps pulling the tube out of his mouth and looking at my as if to say "what in the world is THIS?" LOL

So - yesterday and the day before I had a plugged milk duct - yee ouch!!!! It was quite painful - I had to compress as he nrused which was not fun - it seems to have cleared up today - thank goodness!

Tracey - Did you excusively bfeed Drihan? I can't seem yo produce more than about 1/2 (and that is on a good day) no matter what I do...is my goal of exclusively b/feeding alittle too lofty?

Liana - 2manyks is SO right - I have a friend like that too - she doesn't pump at all as it does nothing for her - she hand expresses only....how is it going for you now? So, where in SA did you go for your donor cycles? Did you like it there?

[traceyk]

I had to supplement too. I wouldn't give up on your goal, but at the same time, don't stress over it because any milk (even just comfort nursing) is best I wish Drihan hadn't weaned so early, but I guess that is when she was ready. You know it has been over a year nd i still have milk *LOL* I heard they make a bra that pumps while you wear it. Never tried it myself personally.

[teendoc]

Hey ladies,

I'm back after all my time on the road. This week I get to be home.

I've got two bits of good news: one small and one big. First the small bit of good news is that the goofy right breast has now decided to get into the game. Still just pooling at the nipple, but it is happening pretty consistently these days. I even had a drop spill into the breastshield. I was stunned.

I'm also trying not to be disheartened. I'll just do my best. That's all I can do. But it was good to see the right breast get into the game.

I'm keeping it up hoping that I might be on a slow increase...a very slow increase.

The next good news is that we matched! 12 days in the books and we were chosen by a lovely birthmom. The baby is due in April. We are so excited. This also gives me a few more weeks to work on my supply, hopefully.

Karyn: Hubby and I were ready to buy property in Cape Town. That's how much we loved it there. That's where we went for our cycles. I love Dr. Le Roux at Cape Fertility Center. We still have embryos there. Maybe we will take a family vacation and try for a sibling at some point.

2manyks: Thanks for the feedback about the pump versus breastfeeding a baby. I'll take that to heart.

traceyK: what is a pumping bra? I've seen the bras you can use to have hands-free pumping but not a bra that pumps itself.

Ladies, have a good evening!

[KarynB]

Liana: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! That is amazing! I can't even believe how fast it happened for you - 12 days?????So, give us some details please! You must be over the moon!When in April is she due?

Tracey: We seem to have a ton in common! I read somewhere on another thread you posted that you had your first daughter at the age of 19 - so did I, the adoptive nursing, and I think we even adopted our last babies at around the same time...crazy.Not to mention the transracial adoption....The photo you have in your signature is very similar to one I have with my guy in a Maya wrap....I'll post it once I get home.

Well,guys, for Spring Break we came up to my in-laws Inn - they have a beautiful country Inn on Lake Huron and the snow was so high when we got here it was over the car roof! But it has been very warm and is all melting now. It's been fun but I've been a bit under the weather with my infected milk duct, not fun. Tomorrow we head to Toronto - we have a friend arriving from SA with her new baby girl and so are going to meet her at the airport, it'slike getting to attend a friends' labour, it is such a special moment! I am so excited!

Liana: We love South Africa so much too. It is such a beautiful place, we miss it every day. Although we've been to Cape Town a few times,we spent most of our time around the Durban area. This trip wasout third timethere - the first to travel for 6 months and volunteer at an orphanage, the second to pick up our son from the orphanage after we fell in love with him while working there, the third to pick up our second son! I am thinking of doing a Master's programme out of Cape Town U though, so maybe one day we'll get to stay on a more permanent basis!

Well, congrats again - keep us posted!