Thanks, Linda.

I'm at 120 mg of dom a day. I take 3 tablets 4 times a day. Same amount of blessed thistle and fenugreek. I was thinking of upping the bt and fen to 4X4.

Do you (or does anyone) know how high I can go on the dom (safely)?

Thanks!
Janeen

Janeen,

I would write Lenore directly about increasing dom. How much milk are you getting at each feeding or pumping? I had a real hard time figuring that one out, since I used lact aid almost every feed.
I was pretty jazzed when, after a month or so, I found my first spray. I didn't have access to this forum for several months (dial up didn't hack it) so it was so encouraging to hear from others.
I also thought that re lactating would be like my former birth, BFeeding experience. I learned not to expect the same results. The bonding was so worth it though.

Again, try OATS! My friend told me with her children ( natural not induced) she had so much milk after the oats she donated her extra to several 'failure to thrive' babies in local hospitals.

Make sure you drink a lot of liquid as well. Maybe Oat milk?
:-)
Remember it takes time to build the supply. In the meanwhile enjoy all the cuddling and bonding time with your dear one
"Breastfeeding is much more than just producing milk"

OK, I added the oats, and I'll ask Lenore about the dom. I haven't managed to obtain ANY milk though pumping. I have hand-epressed a total of about 1-4 drops in a day. I am now using the lact-aid at every feeding.

I guess the frustration is that I see 2 main benefits of breastfeeding -- the convenience of the instantaneous supply, and the health benefits. IMO, the bonding will happen if I cuddle and lovingly feed my child, whether with breast or with bottle. Having to filter formula and tape, untape to burp, retape, etc. only causes frustration on both our parts. I do not see the lact-aid as a good long-term solution at all, since my dd is not getting the health benefits of breastmilk, and the lact-aid is considerably less convenient than either bottle or breast. As a short-term measure, though, I think it is an ingenious invention. Sorry for the vent. I'm just waiting for 3 bottles worth of formula to finish filtering so we can go to bed. <sigh>

Now THAT is encouragement! Thanks!!!

Janeen,
This time pumping I got a sticky substance in the first few days (almost like oil) but no milk. I didn't get milk in the first 2-3 days at all. My issue was psychological I think. I had to start looking at a picture of a baby to get it to start. I started seeing drops after 3 days and then it started to increase from there.

After 9-10 days pumping I was up to 2 oz a day. We got the baby at that point and I started bf first and then pumping.

By the time the baby was 2 weeks old, I was pumping a little more than 1/2 oz each time I pumped (6-8 times a day).

When the baby was 3 weeks old, I was ebf her and we have been since (she is 2 months old now). I am making about 24 oz a day now.

I am on 120 mg of dom a day and fenugreek 3 pills 3 times a day. I stopped taking the blessed thistle because I don't think it does anything.

I have heard you can safely go up to 160 mg of dom a day.

Good luck to you.
Jennifer

Oh, thank you, Jennifer! Maybe it will be OK... I'll keep at it. Congratulations, by the way!

As far as how much dom to take, Dr. Newman says on his site at
http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14:domperidone-getting-started-&catid=5:information&Itemid=17

"In some situations we go as high as 40 mg 4 times a day."

I took 160 mg/day for several months.

Try to not get discouraged! I had no warning before getting my baby and did no prep and had no milk, no Lact-Aid, nothing! It took me a couple of weeks to get my dom, my Lact-Aid etc. As soon as baby was able to (we struggled a bit in the beginning with a weak suck as she was very low birth wt. preemie, drug exposed etc.) take all of her formula at the breast I used the Lact-Aid exclusively. My milk increased very gradually over the next few months. By the time she was 4 months old she only needed supplemental formula in the late afternoon and evening. At 6 months old I no longer needed to supplement at all.

Hang in there!

Thank you! I am learning that I really need to adjust my expectations. I am at 2 1/2 weeks now, and still have only drops. I feel very frustrated at times and feel lik throwing in the towel. Comments like yours give me renewed resolve to keep at it.

I've felt like giving up too! I've just been pumping 2 1/2 weeks today and still in mostly drop stage. While you're waiting for milk to come in try adding primrose oil capsules. I have and it 'fattens' it up. I've noticed that my milk has gone from the bluish colour to more of a white colour. It's been cool at least to see that.

Keep at it - even drops is awesome! Most of the articles I've read on induced, or re-lactation sites say that women can expect to meet 25% to 75% of their baby's needs. Very few will produce less than that. And obviously from the number of posts on this site, many women can ebf or come darn close.

Good luck and congrats on your new little one!

How long have you been off the BCPs? I did not get any drops until 2 weeks after the pills were out of my system. Then the drops started and it built from there.

Thank you for the encouragement (all of you!)


Baby is 2 months old now, and I've been nursing her with the lact-aid for one month. Two weeks ago, I figured out that my bra wasn't helping me. I had been using a stretchy workout bra because it was easy access, LOL! (I have recently lost a chunk of weight, so it wasn' too tight... I thought) Anyway, I figured out that it was giving me too much compression, so I stopped wearing it and started looking for a nursing bra. Within 5 days, I had spray!

I thought that once I got to spray, things would be much easier, but not really. I can get maybe 3 sprays from the left side, one from the right, then I get just a dribble. The dribble is the nice white creamy variety, though, so I am glad she is getting that. I haven't been able to reduce the supplement yet. She is still drinking 24 oz plus of formula, so I know she can't be getting much breastmilk.

I still vacillate between wanting to quit and having hope. I can live with some supplementation, but I'm not going to be able to live with the lact-aid forever. I *think* if I can get to the point of supplying more than 50% of her need, I'll think it was worth it.

I've also dropped the daily beer and added brewer's yeast 4 times a day. Don't know if it has helped or not, but I'm sure my liver will thank me.

Hi again,

Ok, this might seem a bit scarey, but I would suggest that you start with JUST the breast. Have your baby empty both sides, and THEN use the lact aid. She won't drain you if you are using the lact aid as well, and then your breast won't up the milk production. supply and demand . : )
As to the spray, I had the same thing. My right side had a LOT more than my left. I have read that this is very common. However, both breasts gave sufficient milk to meet DD, 90% EBF.

Your body is wired to produce more milk as demanded. Maybe start out with giving just breast first feeding in the morning. It might seem like a bigger hassle but it's worth it.

I think it's totally possible for you to get to 50%. It takes some courage and time. You also might pump after each feed, stimulates more.

I know that Jenny weaned off Lact aid and did great! Also, what amount are you taking of dom? Oats? drinking LOTS?

Look at past post to get some more info.
Be encouraged! You are doing great

I agree with Linda. Try at one feeding only offering the breast. Middle of the night or first thing in the morning are when you generally have the most. When I started this is what I did. You may have to feed soon after with the lactaid, but that's okay.

I also think nursing first before adding the lactaid is a good idea. Hang in there.
Jennifer

OK, I'm doing it, with good results, I think. It is hard to say... I don't hear a lot of swallowing, but she is content to nurse for a few minutes before she gets frustrated and I add the lactaid.

Also, I figured out that I need to make sure she nurses both sides before I add it. My original plan was one side -- nurse, then lactaid, the switch sides -- nurse, then lactaid. Twice in a row, we never made it to the second breast, so now I get her to empty both before I add the lactaid.

I sure do hope my new nursing bras arrive today!

Way to go!

I had to let go of the idea that nursing my adopted daughter would be just like my bio children. It wasn't. I didn't have the same feeling or fullness. But it worked out just fine!
Glad you are having her drain both breast. That will help stimulate MORE milk. : )
Nursing bra helps big time. My first 2 months I didn't have any nursing bras, I had to take off my bra completely and it was uncomfortable. After I received my new bras it was so much better I felt more relaxed.

Keep it up!

Janeen, I just logged on and realized it had been longer than I realized since I had been here. Otherwise, I would have responded to your response to my post (does that make sense?). It sounds like things are going well for you and your daughter.

I have one suggestion, since you are trying having her nurse before adding the Lact-Aid. You can use a small hair clip to close off the tube, until you are ready to let her have the supplement from it. That might help avoid having to either unlatch and relatch, or insert the tube while leaving her on the breast. I could never do the latter. Trying to stick the tube in always messed up the latch, or totally unlatched them. Another thing I did, when they were on the second side, was pull the tube out of their mouth when I thought they'd had enough from it, and then just let them stay on the breast and keep sucking as long as they would. Most of them would go for that, but one refused to suck if the tube wasn't there. He was the one I produced the most milk for, too! When we adopted his younger sister, when he was 21 month old, he had only been nursing once or twice a day and I wasn't producing much any more. Her arrival came with two days notice, so I needed to use quite a bit of supplement. As is common, he wanted to nurse much more frequently when she first arrived, like almost every time I nursed her. That meant that I had to tandem nurse with two Lact-Aids. It was doable, but I was glad when he got adjusted enough to be happy to sit in my other arm and cuddle for most of the time she was nursing. He is going to be a father soon. Time sure flies!

Thanks! I am definitely making more milk, but I'm not sure how much. Still not alot, I think, but building up slowly. I'm still sort of in a gray zone -- doing too well to give up, not doing well enough for it to be worth it. <sigh>

Nursing bras arrived, and they make a big difference in my ability to be outside the house. Mostly just don't wear one at home. I'm sure I look lovely.

I'm glad you mentioned, Linda, about it not feeling like it did with your bio children. I keep trying to feel let down and all those normal things, and they aren't there... but as long as there's milk getting into my baby, then I'm OK.

Update -- I now put her to breast before the lactaid for each feeding. In the middle of the night, she needs very little supplement (2 oz, maybe?) She needs the lactaid sooner each feeding after that, but still getting some milk right from the breast. I'm also pumping after feedings when I can (maybe twice a day?). Sometimes, I'm too busy with the baby, and that's a wonderful thing, too!

Well done!

Sounds like you are improving which is great news.
I was concerned with my DD that I wasn't producing enough milk for 2 reasons; one the let down wasn't at all like my bio children, not as much spray out and the pump didn't produce much milk. With my bio children the milk flowed in~
My husband said that he thought I had plenty of milk ( ahem) but I was fearful.
Little by little I was more confident in what my body supplied. The evening were the lowest supply for me but we managed with the BF and lact aid.
I would let your DD BF for comfort as well as milk. If she has taken enough from the lact aid, allow her to nurse even if you feel "dry". It really does help.

Keep eating those oats, drinking plenty and slowly increase your dom. Have her nurse BOTH breast before the lact aid. You might write Lenore for her suggestions on the later. I went up to 120 and it was fine for me.

It is worth it. You are doing great. Let go of previous expectations and enjoy the wonder of your precious one.

Thank you so much, Linda. I'm at 120 mg dom now. I experimented with 160 (not recommended, by the way), but it didn't feel right. 120 seems fine. I have oats for breakfast every morning, plus the herbs and brewer's yeast.

I think it is working, just really, really slowly with my body. I suppose the hormonal issues that resulted in infertility to begin with probably don't help. Age doesn't help, either. <sigh> I should probably just be really happy that my body and I are doing what we can to take care of my baby (who is doing beautifully, by the way)!

I was 46 when I induced lactation. I have heard of post menopause women being successful as well. Yes, DO be happy. Breast feeding is so much more than just milk.

My daughter in law realized she had low thyroid issues that affected fertility. We looked it up on the web and found that sometimes a lack of iodine makes the thyroid not function well, which affects the hormones.

So she started on a kelp supplement and after 2 months, she had conceived!
I have NO idea if that would help in your situation. just a passing thought.
I think you're doing GREAT!