I have 2 questions. First, is there such thing as taking too little Dom? What I mean is, is there a point where it's not even worth it, or does any little bit help? I see people post here that they're taking all different dosages. My doctor was very hesitant about it, so he put me on a dose that seems to be a lot smaller than most (10 mg 4 times a day) and I'm wondering if it's doing any good at all.

My other question is one you probably get asked all the time: how long before your milk came in? I know it's different for everyone, but I'm just curious (and mostly impatient).

~Tobin's Mom

I don't know about dosing amount. I'm taking 30mg 4 times a day. I started off at 20 mg 4 times a day for 45 days only because I already had my son. My milk came in 4 days after I started pumping. First day I got clear drops, then opaque drops, then milk drops. Took quite awhile to build to a spray, maybe a week and a half, and it slowly kept building. I did a lot of pumping after every feeding, another pumping last thing before bed and one in middle of night when he slept longer. I'm currently making 75% of his milk and might get to 100% which I didn't think would ever happen with my late start and shorter protocol.

Is that faster than normal? I guess I was thinking I might have to wait a few days to see ANYTHING.

I think that 20 mg 4 times a day is the minimum you want to be one. I also increased to 30 mg 4 times a day.

Just remember your milk doesn't "come in" like it does with a bio baby. It slowly builds. The first time I induced, I got drops the first day and built quickly (6 oz by the end of the week) but the baby was already with us, so I think that helped my production. The second time, it took me 4-5 days to see any drops. I had to start looking at pictures of crying babies and envisioning nursing a baby to trigger my breasts to start producing anything.

Jennifer

I'm on day 3 and so far... nothing. I'r trying really hard not to be discouraged. It's good to hear that not seeing anything yet isn't out of the ordinary.

Actually, update on the above: I got a clear drop! Am I a complete dork to be thrilled about this???

No you aren't! Any sign is encouragement that the process is working! Congrats

Also in the beginning I got more from hand expressing than the pump (it is NOT a replacement for the pump). I would hand express for a few minutes after pumping and see if you get drops then.

I think I need to read up on that a little more. I've tried, but it doesn't seem like it would be effective. Also, it hurts! I must be doing it wrong.

I would try and find a video on hand expression because seeing is better than reading. Congrats on your drops! It will come. I also got much more hand expressing than pumping, which I figured out was wrong size shields while pumping. Hand expressing doesn't hurt me now but my breasts definitely felt like I was manhandling them at first.

So, what ARE the clear drops?

The videos on the Stanford website are fantastic for learning to hand epxress. Watch that one and the one on making more milk. You do need to register to view them (the site was recently hacked so they had to add this step) but it's well worth registering and viewing. http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/

The clear drops usually signal the start of the milk. Have they turned cloudy yet? Have you had any more success? Have you been able to increase your dom?
Jennifer

I went ahead and increased the Dom. I'm now taking 20mg 4 times/day. There will come a time when I'm out and won't be able to get a prescription for more, but I'll cross that bride when I come to it.

I think increasing really did the trick, though! I now get about 5ml/pump total. Not a lot yet, but it's milk! Also, it's been increasing really fast (doubling every day or so), so I'm very happy. I wish there was a way to know when I'd start getting real amounts though! I'm so impatient!

Order thru inhousepharmacy.

I second Jennifer. I ordered through inhousepharmacy.biz You don't need a prescription.
Jennifer

I wouldn't? Is that allowed? I was under the impression you needed one!

I ordered through a compounding pharmacy here with a doctor's prescription at first because my insurance covered it. When they stopped, it would have cost me a ton. So I started ordering it from inhousepharmacy.biz Many of the people on this board (who aren't from Canada) order it from there. I never had any problems. The pills were in the original packaging made by a known pharmaceutical company. You have to do what you feel comfortable doing, though.
Jennifer

I guess I just didn't realize it was allowed. I'm excited though!

Yeah, I order from inhousepharmacy.com too. The only issue is you have to be home when they deliver, because you have to sign for it. I learned that the first time... Just have it delivered to your work if you're able to (if you work outside the home).

You can also request that they ship the package without tracking and then you don't have to sign for it. I've always done this and never had a problem.