[Kasie]

Hello,

I am fairly new to this site and I am a little overwhelmed with all of the threads regarding adoptive breastfeeding. We are awaiting the birth of a baby girl December 14th. I really want to breastfeed this baby, but I have no idea how to get started. I know that I probably won't produce enough milk to sustain her fully, and that I will have to supplement a little bit.

I'd like to know how to get started (without BCP's if possible), how long it takes to see any results, what drugs are necessary. I just would like to understand this process a little more. I've been a little skeptical about starting just because I wasnt sure if I wanted such a permanent reminder if this situation fails. I'm not too worried about that aspect anymore, I'm more worried that I've waited too long and I won't be able to BF the baby.

If anyone has any advice or a good resource for me to get started that would be great. I'm going to the LLL site as soon as I post this.

Thanks in advance

[ftlmom]

Hi Kasie, Welcome to the group.
I am not an expert in inducing lactation or adoptive breastfeeding. After breastfeeding 3 bio kids all for over 2 years each I was not about to pass on trying to do the same for this next baby.
I started by reading everything I could on the topic. I went to sites like Ask Lenore ~ Home Page and kellymom :: Breastfeeding and Parenting.
Since birth control was not an option for me I decided to go straight to puming. I started of pumping for 10 minutes evry 3-4 hours with a Pump in style breast pump. I later added herbs, fenugreek and blessed thistle. I later added the drug Domperidone and that is when I really started to produce. I started all this during the middle of July and now almost 3 months later I am able to make about 3 1/2oz per day. I am confident that when baby comes (which is sometime this week) I will produce half or more of his needs.
Others on here have tried other methods and some were able to have a full supply .
I'll try to answer any questions you have.
Again welcome
Michaelle

[Kasie]

Originally Posted by ftlmom

Hi Kasie, Welcome to the group.
I am not an expert in inducing lactation or adoptive breastfeeding. After breastfeeding 3 bio kids all for over 2 years each I was not about to pass on trying to do the same for this next baby.
I started by reading everything I could on the topic. I went to sites like Ask Lenore ~ Home Page and kellymom :: Breastfeeding and Parenting.
Since birth control was not an option for me I decided to go straight to puming. I started of pumping for 10 minutes evry 3-4 hours with a Pump in style breast pump. I later added herbs, fenugreek and blessed thistle. I later added the drug Domperidone and that is when I really started to produce. I started all this during the middle of July and now almost 3 months later I am able to make about 3 1/2oz per day. I am confident that when baby comes (which is sometime this week) I will produce half or more of his needs.
Others on here have tried other methods and some were able to have a full supply .
I'll try to answer any questions you have.
Again welcome
Michaelle

Thank you so much for responding. After how long pumping did you add in the herbs and dom? I do not react well to any type of BCP and I really want to avoid taking the pill if possible. Are there cues that you saw that led you to start the add in of dom and herbs? Where is the best place to find the dom and herbs?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, I'm just really anxious to get this all started.

[bevy]

I could only handle the bcp for 40 days as it made me feel dizzy and weak. Once I went off, I started pumping and am 4 weeks in and getting about 3 1/2 ounces a day. I think the bcp does help but it is not for everyone. If you can handle it for even 30 days, start pumping after that (along with dom and herbs) you should be able to have time to at least get your supply going before baby arrives.

Good luck!

[ftlmom]

I'm so sorry that it is taking me so long to get back at you. I was out of the house all day today.
I started of just pumping for 2 weeks. I did notice some breast change but nothing much. I was getting no milk at all. After 2 weeks I added the herbs. With the herbs it took an additional week before I started to notice big globs of thick milk coming out. Nothing I could really measure just 1 big glob per pumping session, per breast.
I started to add dom just a couple weeks after that and that is when the real action started. At first I was getting bitter drops and it slowly got sweeter and sweeter. The drops turned into more drops which quickly became sprays. I started collecting and it would take me 5 days to of pumping to reach an oz. Now I get about 3 oz a day. I have lots of milk in the freezer and I am just waiting for our little guy to come.

I got my herbs from The Best Discount Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements at the Lowest Price - Swanson Health Products The fenugreek seeds 610mg 100 capsules were $1.99 per bottle and Blessed Thistle 500mg 90 Capsules were $4.99 per bottle. I got the dom from Inhouse Pharmacy Motilium - domperidone 10 mg If you have any more questions just ask.
Michaelle

[nurse_reedle]

I do not use BCP's to induce. I take Domperidone, Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek. I have been pumping around 1- 1 1/2 months and I am pumping about 6.5-7 ounces a day.

[JessicaN]

Hi everyone!

We are awaiting the birth of our little girl also! Birthmom is due 2/5/2010! I met with the lactation specialist at my clinic. She started me on birth control and domperidone. I taking domperidone 10mg 4 times daily for one week and then increasing to 20mg 4 times daily until I have my own supply. I am supposed to stop the birth control 6 weeks before the baby is due and start pumping at that time. She said to start the herbal supplements when I start pumping.

I too was hesitant to start the protocol because I was afraid of how I would feel if birthmom changed her mind. I decided that there are too many benefits to breastfeeding to not take the chance! Hopefully everything goes as planned!

The domperidone was $123 for I believe a 6 week supply. The breast pump will be a couple hundred I believe and then I am planning to get a Nursing Supplemental System as well to have on hand if needed. All of this will be a little expensive but my lactation consultant said that a family that only formula feeds will spend about $1600 a year so if I can produce even 1/2 the supply myself it will end up as a savings!

After how much we have spent on the adoption costs we'll take a break anywhere we can get it! lol! Plus of course there are all of the health/bonding benefits! (The real reason I am doing this!)

Good luck everyone!