Lalle,

Thanks for the info.

Were you able to get a full supply? If so, what did you do?

I know full supply isn't always possible and isn't the be all end all, but I'd sure like to get there.

I nursed with a supplementer (with formula and donor milk) until my daughter was 8 months old at that time we were nursing and eating solids etc... I went on the protocol when she was over a year to get more milk (prior to that I was using Dom and herbs only) as we were having cow milk issues I produced much more milk with the protocol and continued to nurse her without supplement for the rest of her time at the breast.

Also during the time I used the supplementer I could nurse her in the am without it and we nursed at night without it.

Second,
I am exclusively nursing my 8 month old daughter and have been since she was 2 weeks old. I did the protocol starting in April 2007 when we started waiting to be matched. On December 13 we got the call that a baby had been born the day before in South Carolina. We drove all night to meet her. I started pumping one hour before she was placed in our arms on December 14. I added in the fenugreek and blessed thistle. I got drops right away. I tried putting her to the breast with the supplementor, but had a hard time. So I just decided that while we were in the hotel waiting for ICPC I would just bottle feed her with formula (and whatever I pumped) and pump to increase my supply. I would try to breastfeed with or without the supplementor about once a day. I was making about a teaspoon from each breast by 2 days. We got the okay to drive home on day 6 and by then I was making 1/2 to an oz each time. I pumped every 2 hours on the drive home and feel it really helped my supply. The morning after we got home, I decided to start bfing each time. I would feed her at the breast first and then give her a bottle after. I would then pump after most feeds. By the end of the week about 75% of the bottles were expressed bm. We had her two week check up and she had gained above her birth weight. I asked the ped about trying to drop all formula and she said to go ahead and to come back in a week for another weight check. For the next week I just breastfed (and it was more often - with the supplement, I was only feeding 6ish times a day - when I stopped supplementing I went up to 8+ times a day). I still pumped after as many feeds as I could to continue to increase supply. I would give ebm once a day I think (1-2 oz) just to make myself feel better. After a couple of days I dropped the supplement entirely. I still worried A LOT but she was doing good. I had a baby scale so I knew how much she was taking. It wasn't a whole lot, but in retrospect I think it was what she needed (because she still doesn't eat a whole lot - she is a small baby right from the start). I increased my dom to 30 mg 4 times a day at about 1.5 months. I continued to pump after 3 or 4 feedings a day (usually last one before bed, middle of the night and morning) for about 3 months. I built up quite a supply (which served me well because at 3 months I had a ruptured appendix and was hospitalized for 5 days - I continued to bf when I could but had to pump and dump some because of anesthesia and some medicines). After the appendicitis we were supplementing again for a week or so and then I just started feeding her more again and my supply came back totally. I stopped the pumping at 4ish months and only pump when needed now. We started trying solids at 6 months but she didn't eat them well until 7.5 months so she was on just bm until then. Her weight gain slowed quite a lot a 6 months (but so did my bio son's). Now that she is eating solids better, she is gaining better too. Now she barely takes a bottle even when needed. She would much rather have mommy. Hope that helps and sorry to write a novel. I feel so lucky to have had this experience and we hope to adopt again and I hope it will work as well. I would ignore the comments of your friend. You really are exclusively breastfeeding right now (one to 2 oz is nothing and I am sure you are pumping that if you are pumping every day)! It sounds like you are doing great!
Jennifer

Jennifer,

Thanks for the story. I probably should pump, but I'm also nursing my 2.5 year old.

Baby's awake now. Gotta go. More later.

I just want to say that I'm sorry your friend is being a Debbie Downer. I have not been able to produce anywhere near a full supply for my baby and I consider myself a success because my baby gets her nutrition exclusively at the breast. I am grateful every day for my SNS.