[KarynB]

Hey all,

Just thought I'd check in with everyone and see who is out there - doing the protocol and waiting, thinking about it, or ABFing now.

Our DS turns two in a week and is still nursing. I am starting to wonder up to what age will we keep going until? I am still very happy to do it now, but am starting to wonder where the cut-off is for us, kwim? I sure will miss it once we are done!

Anyways - just thought I'd see how everyone else is doing...

karyn

[bbyfaith]

Karyn ~ You're not alone hun!! I'm with ya! Still on the protocol...waiting on a potential "situation" So HOPEFULLY I'll be ABF SOON!!!! And hopefully it won't turn out like last time, although I WON'T be pumping ahead of time this time!!! Learned my lesson!

TTYL!
Erin

[abjbadopt]

I am thinking about it for #2. What books, websites or info. helped you as you started? I wish I had tried it for our daughter who came home at 10months. She's now 17months.

Thanks!

[KarynB]

Hey Erin - great to see you are still out there and hanging in there on the protocol! It's a tough go while you are waiting, though, isn't it?

abjbadopt - I have not found any books to be all that helpful, but the two websites you can find tons of info at are Ask Lenore (just google it) and Four Friends Adoptive Breastfeeding. Both are great for support - Lenore's site has the protocol you'd need to follow if you decide to go ahead with it. Good luck in your decision and feel free to ask any questions you'd like here, as well!

Karyn

[seanbeck]

Hi! I'm Becky and am trying to ABF! It's only been about 1 1/2 weeks, and I didn't do any protocol beforehand because we got THE CALL the day our son was born! I was so overwhelmed at first that I didn't start right away. My sister- a nurse- kept telling me it'd be too hard and it was too late. But after reading up on it, I decided to try anyway. I'm enjoying the experience, even if I never produce milk!

[bbyfaith]

GREAT for you, seanbeck!!! Breastfeeding, as I'm sure you've read is about much more than just nutrition. You're giving your LO a host of other benefits!! Good for you! And I'm a nurse too, and I, for one, don't think its too late!!!

Are you following a protocol, just putting baby to breast, pumping???? There are a couple of great websites out there where you can get some GREAT guidance -- I'm sure you've found them, but if not, pm me and I can give them to you (don't think I can list them here...)

Good Luck! and Enjoy!!!
Erin

[KarynB]

Hi Becky,

Our son was 5.5 months when we started nursing - so it is definitely not too late for you! Let us know if you need any help or anything...and as Erin said, even if you don't end uo producing much milk, the benefits of breastfeeding extends far beyond nutrition.

Congrats on your new baby!!!

[Momof2js]

Hi all on this thread,

My husband and I are waiting for placement of a baby due in Sept. We are developing a relationship with the birthmom and hope to maintain contact with her always.

I have to bio sons and nursed them both, so we decided that maybe I could try to re-lactate and nurse our adopted baby.

Our match began a couple weeks ago and we only have 5 to go. Not enough time for the whole protocol (Birth control pill part) but I'm waiting for my domperidone to arrive, I'm drinking my mother's milk teas and taking my fenugreek and blessed thistle and eating my oatmeal and I started pumping yesterday. I'm already sore!! Ow, I forgot about that part.

What other foods should I add to my diet?

Thanks!
Melanie

[KarynB]

Hi melanie,

Good luck with this - and congrats on your match! Sounds like you are off to a great start - I guess I would just add make sure you are getting tons of water...I noticed a big difference when I was well hydrated!

Take care,
Karyn

[Kristy29]

Hi, I am just beginning the domestic adoption process, we are actually meeting with an agency next week. I started doing some research on ABF and it sounds like something I really want to try. When do you suggest I start the protocol? It could be awhile before we are matched, but I am afraid that if I wait for a match it might be too late. Should I start after we get the homestudy done?

[KarynB]

Hi Kristy,

If you want a "professional" opinion you should pop over to the Ask Lenore site and ask them - but I'll tell you my opinion, for what it is worth!!!!

The longer you are on the protocol, the better your chances are for producing the most amount of milk. Same goes for pumping - the longer you pump, the better chance you have of already having an adequate supply once the baby comes. One mom I know of pumped for TWO YEARS before she was placed with a babe. For me, this shows amazing commitment, but would be way to emotionally draining to do for the long haul.

I even found just taking the dom/bc pill for 6 months to be emotionally hard - 3-4 times a day as I took my pills I was reminded of how long we were waiting. On the other hand, it also felt like I was "doing" something during the wait. And, after taking the meds for almost 6 months, I was ready to pump once the call came and was able to produce a full supply.

So - to make a long story short - I waited until after our homestudy and once we were officially waiting - but if you expect your wait to be short (like if you are open to AA adoption and that is high need in your area) you may want to begin sooner. I'd try to have a minimum of 4 months on the dom/bc pill before pumping, and the longer you have, the better it is.

Anyways - let me know if you have any more questions - I am happy to help where I can!

Karyn

[jennCA]

I have been matched with a b'mom who is due in October. I started the accelerated protocol and will begin herbs and pumping next week. I am also looking into supplemental nursing systems. Does anyone have any info- LactAid vs. Medela? I am excited to have found this thread and look forward to sharing info and experiences with everyone here!

[Momto1human-2furry]

I tried pumping 2 years ago when DD was born. She came to us 3 days old. I started in the hospital with the lactation specialist's help . I was critised for it later by the nurses who made some nasty comments to my social worker after we left and i heard this later from them.
Well anyways i took my baby home and continued. It was very hard (boobs hurt like hell)but i want to emphasis the feeling was absolutely amazing. I do believe it helped me bond very quickly and feel she's really mine. I Bfed her for 1 month using medela mostly. Pumping felt too painfull and i managed i think 1 tsp milk altogether. I did no supplements as we were matched just one month in advance and being superstious i did not want to start before.

I just want to encourage all AP's and PAP's to BF as long as its possible. Even 2-4 weeks is a beautifull experience. You lactate or not, you will bond beautifully. :-) All the best girls!

[Momof2js]

Hi JennCA and others on this thread,

I am pumping and following an abbreviated protocol for a baby we are set to adopt in 3 weeks. I"m using a Medela dual pump that I rented from our local Medi-health rental store. Our match has been fairly short, so I didn't have time for BC pills (I wouldn't have done them anyway) but I have been taking Domperidone for 10 days (ordered online from UK pharmacy) and herbal teas (nursing mother and mother's milk teas) and taking fenugreek and blessed thistle in pill form.

I wasn't sure I'd have time for any of it to work but today I began seeing drops of milk during pumping! I'm totally psyched.

The pumping will prep your breasts for nursing, pain-wise as well as production-wise! I feel like I felt when I nursed my biological children (tender and sore, but totally worth it).

I hope you have a great experience. Knowing that this baby hasn't been given good nutrition in the womb and that she/he will be going through minor substance withdrawl, we're determined to try to give as much breastmilk as possible.

Melanie

[zombie]

I adopted my DD last fall at 4 months. It took me about a month to induce lactation and to get her to nurse. I eventually got a full supply and was able to drop the domperidone completely. I have been nursing her for 11 months now. I got her older brother last spring at 22 months and am nursing him too.