We are starting the adoption process for a newborn.

I am nursing our 20 month old biological baby. He nurses every 3 or 4 hours around the clock. I noticed a significant decrease in my appetite when he was 18 months. I figure he is taking in less milk even though he nurses the same amount of time. I continue to pump and store (and eventually donate) so I will have frozen milk for supplementing if I need to when the baby arrives. I use an ameda purely yours and get about 2 ounces a day. That is all I've ever gotten (unless I was away from the baby for many hours.) Some days it's hard to get 2 ounces. Other days it's 7 minutes.

I don't know how long until we get the baby and how much my son will still be nursing by then. (I will allow him to self-wean.)

Lenore previously emailed me and said that, as long as my son is nursing 3 times a day, I don't need to do anything until we get closer to the adoption. As I said, I have no idea how long this will take.

I would like to hear from other women who increased their lactation (or didn't) and what they did. Also how long before the baby came that they started other interventions and how old their first babies were, etc. I am feeling nervous I won't be able to fully lactate (though I actually believe I will be able to.)

Any encouragement or ideas?

Thank you

I agree with Lenore. If he should wean back some but you are still producing then maybe herbs alone would help or add Dom. But here is what I would do if I was in your situation. (I believe in self weaning too and for what it's worth my 4 soon to be 5 yo son is still nursing) If your son starts backing off I would pick up that dropped nursing with a pump session. That way you will maintain the supply you have right now and you wouldn't have to do a thing but get baby to your breast.
Heres hoping you get the word soon.

Our bio daughter, bfed for 2 1/2 years, had stopped nursing for 1 1/2 year when we got our baby. I didn't have much milk supply by then, only a drop or two. I didn't have time to prepare before the baby's arrival (we had 2 week notice). The baby was 4 months old when he came home, I took dom and Goat Rue and was able to achieve full supply in 2 1/2 months. I had to supplement for the first 2 months, our baby was big and voracious! He used to take around 40 onces/day at that time.

I think that with a newborn, your supply will have time to adjust to the baby's appetite.

It's a good thing to maintain you supply as much as you can, it will be a good start.

good luck!

Thanks for the replies. I'm glad to hear full supply can be achieved for some. I'd still love to hear from others on their experiences.

Thanks.

My son was 3 years old and still breastfeeding when our adopted daughter came to our family as a newborn. I was very hopeful that I would be able to fully breastfeed her. When I squeezed my nipple at the hospital to proove to the nursury nurse that I was giving my daughter breastmilk, so much sprayed out that it went all over her face and hair.

Well my daughter nursed fine for two days and then started to get fussy like she was hungry. So I started giving her formula using the Lactaid, as I had expected to do in the beginning anyway. After that I met with a lactation consultant and started reading this and other web sites and consulted with Lenore and with Dr. Newman and tried everything possible to increase my supply but my daughter was still drinking almost all of her needs (if you use the 2.5 x bodyweight rule) in formula. I tried pumping around the clock, goat's rue, dom, blessed thistle, fenugreek, lots of water, oatmeal, checking with lactation consultants on the latch, switch nursing....

Now I take blessed thistle, fenugreek and dom and I hand pump (with my hands) every night and get from 1/2 to 1 ounce each time to give to my daughter later in the Lactaid. I am hopeful that my daughter might be getting 1 ounce each feeding directly from my breasts.

I'm disappointed, but I've come to terms with things now and am happy she's getting any breastmilk at all. She's six months old and we have a strong nursing relationship. Also, I've been able to find some breastmilk donors. (On that: I thought it would be like begging, but there are actually people out there with an overstock in their freezer and they are so incredibly happy to be able to give it to a needy baby and not throw out).

There could be several reasons why I haven't been able to produce more milk. First, my breastfeeding son wasn't drinking that much anymore--possible involution of my milk ducts. Second, I had a huge emotional shock in the beginning when birth mom wanted baby back and then changed her mind again and gave us back our baby--could have dried me up. Third, our adoption process pre getting our daughter was very, very stressful. My doc tested me for "adrenal fatigue" and I definately have that--my adrenal glands are shot. I am taking something for it and maybe that will eventually turn things around. Another possible problem is thyroid (I'm basically OK but a little out of balance). If anyone were in my situation I would definately test for that.

If someone can think of anything else I can do to increase my supply, please do suggest!!!

Lisa

Something I've wondered is: What about starting the longer protocol when an adopted baby arrives (assuming you have little or no warning.) If you do this, you could use some sort of lactaid, nurse the baby so they know how to do it, provide donated milk (I've personally donated on milkshare.com) or formula until you have enough milk.

How would this work? It doesn't give the baby much, if any, of YOUR milk to start with, but would you have greater success down the road?


I currently nurse my 20 month old and can still pump 1 to 3 ounces a day extra. By the time we get a baby I don't think I would worry too much about how the estrogen would effect his supply of milk (when I compare it to the newborn's needs.)

Has anyone tried this?

Second I think if your son continues to nurse you could use a lact-aid and nurse the new baby adding herbs and dom to boost your supply. As long as you have milk still then the supply and demand principal will kick in and your supply will catch up to your new babies need.
If for some reason you have completely dried up then yes you could go on the protocol and nurse with a lact-aid. We usually suggest a short duration like 30 days. But again the above mention is the better option for someone in your situation.

Lalle, do you have any ideas for me? Please see the post from Aloemama before "Second's" last post. thanks in advance.

Lalle and others,

Thanks for the info. I've never had a problem with nursing my son and I want it to go smoothly with this next one. I am pumping daily in addition to nursing around the clock and I hope the new baby comes soon enough that I still have an established supply.

Thanks again

Aloemama I think if you can get 1/2 -1 oz with your hands that is great.
Are you nursing without the lact-aid at all? I could usually nurse without it for the first feed of the day. How about trying to nurse first without it and then add it in as needed? How often and how long is she on the breast?
If she is getting an ounce from you each feeding that is terrific. Have you tried pumping with a double pump after feeds?

Lalle, thank you for the encouragement.
I usually don't nurse without the lact-aid, even at first, because my baby gets fussy if I don't put it in right away. I think she likes the better flow of the lact-aid or something. But will try without at first and see what happens. Maybe things have changed now that she is older and sucking better.

Your questions:
She breastfeeds about 6-8 times a day, maybe for 15 minutes each feed. Sometimes it is when I'm getting her ready for sleeping and then I just leave her on slow-sucking till the milk is gone which takes half an hour.
I did try pumping after each feed and after a week I quit (rented Medela symphony). I was getting maybe 1/4 of an ounce from pumping with the pump and then more hand expressing. I was only able to do it because my parents were visiting and could help take care of baby and my 3 year old. By the end of one week I started to feel like I was just nursing and pumping all the time and not bonding with baby or being with my son. I guess there are trade offs.

Some babies don't like to nurse without it true. Try nursing her when she isn't famished without it, Or comfort nurse without it. I used to lower my lact-aid as low as I could get it so that it was harder for my daughter to empty. How much formula or breastmilk is she taking at each feeding?

She is taking 4 ounces of supplement per feeding. I also started her on solids now, a bit of rice cereal with apple sauce twice a day (she loves it!).

Lalle, didn't you go on the accelerated protocol when your daughter was 15 months old and successfully increase your supply? How was your supply before and how was it after?

Yes, I did. I made about 1/3 of Her needs before and I did away with supplements after. Of course she was eating solids and drinking from a cup but I nursed her without supplements after the protocol. Are you thinking about doing the accelerated?

Yes, I am thinking about doing the accelerated protocol as the only option left for increasing my supply. Have you heard of other people who already had a supply but it was low going on the accelerated and then being able to increase a lot like you? Is there a risk of completely losing your supply?... do you lose it while on the protocol?

you can have a drop in supply while on the protocol yes. But you are already nursing with the supplementer and so she will still be feeding at your breast. As soon as you go off the protocol it will boost back up.

Lalle, you are inspiring. How long did you go on the accelerated protocol and which BCP did you take?
(I feel bad I've stolen this thread from "Second"... will switch over to the med interventions after this).

Actually, I was just getting ready to post my medication question, myself. I originally posted this on both natural and medical interventions. Since the thread has been going along nicely here, I would think it makes sense to just keep it all here, unless that's against group etiquette since this is headed in a medical direction.

My question is: I understand I may need to take Dom or other ingestibles to increase my supply. We have no idea when we will get the baby. It could take 6 weeks or 2 years and we could have 6 hours to 3 months notice. What do I take, when do I start, how much do I take?

I guess I should buy a supplementer of some sort to have on hand. I will start researching these. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Aloe I was on the accelerated for 42 days. We experienced the loss of my oldest sister while I was on it so I didn't stop at 30 days because I didn't want to have to worry about pumping while traveling for memorial services etc... and that is what Lenore suggested that I do. At the time I did the protocol we were using Diane 35 but that pill is no longer suggested.

Second. I think Nona is a good one to answer you. She has been on the protocol long term at various times. I will suggest the lact-aid as far as the supplementer goes.
You can read about the protocols if you click on the breastfeeding section up top.

Another question based on current circumstances:

I have rented a medela lactina and am working with an NICU lactation consultant who has experience in relactation for adoption. (I was referred to her by the mom of the adopted baby I've been donating my surplus milk to for the last year.) I may buy a limerick, I'm not sure yet.

I've been getting about 2 ounces a day for the last 1 1/2 years using an Ameda Purely Yours. Some days I've struggled to get that amount. I do not want to pump every 2 hours since I have a toddler to attend to, he still nurses every 3 or 4 hours (though I don't think he really gets that much lately,) and we haven't even finished the homestudy, so who knows when we'll get a baby. Once I get a heads up on a baby, then I'll pump more often. I'm also holding off on any drugs/herbs until I see what just pumping does. I have eaten instant oatmeal the last 2 days.

This is day 3 of pumping. I've gotten in 4 20 minute sessions plus a bit extra during nap time each day. The first day I got 4 ounces, yesterday I got 6 ounces and today I got 4 ounces. I think my breasts may feel a little fuller, though I can't say for sure.

When just pumping, how long does it take to build up your milk supply? I'm not relactating, just trying to increase my 21 month old supply. The LC said to do this for a week and we'll evaluate then. I'm only at day 3 so I wouldn't want to bother the LC at this point (although I couldn't if I wanted to since it's the weekend.) I'm just wondering what I can expect and what kind of time frame to anticipate.

Thanks

I think that is great Second. Obviously your supply is picking up and your plan to wait until you get a heads up on a baby is a good one. Then increase your pumping schedule and maybe think about adding the herbs and dom at that time. You should know by then if you will need them. I would say to look into whether your insurance will cover the pump purchase and if so you can get the Medela Symphony from a medical supply. The limerick is pretty expensive now. So unless you can find a used one or get it through a med supply having your insurance cover you might want to look at another. But renting long term is expensive so buying is definitely a better option.

Thanks for the info.

I doubt if my insurance will pay for the pump rental, we don't even have the baby.

I got an email from Limerick. They sell their pump to adoptive moms for $450. Not cheap, but better than retail.

What I'd like to know is when can I hope to see any significant increase in the amount of milk I pump? I'm using a better pump and I'm pumping more frequently. I only got 4 ounces yesterday after 4 20 minute pumping sessions and extra time during his nap. I used to get 2 ounces during his nap (sometimes in one 7 minutes session, sometimes over the course of his nap.)

We do EC, so he has been functionally potty trained for awhile now. Last night he peed a lot more than he has in a long time. I'm hoping that means he's getting more milk at night. However, for the last 2 nights he has woken up and signed "eat" and acted hungry. I put him on the breast and he did nurse and sleep.

Again, my question is: When can I hope to have any significant increase in the amount of milk I pump?

Thanks

In case anyone is following this thread and is interested in an answer to my last question. I spoke with my lactation consultant today. I'm not sure if she was referring to any relactation or just increasing my existing supply, but she said usually you see significant increases in 4 to 6 weeks. Ideally, that would be 140 minutes of pumping per day with a hospital grade pump.

Good to know! Thanks!

Jamie