My situation is that my wife is pregnant and our daughter is due Nov 24. She is not into breastfeeding, I convinced her to pump while she is home on maternity leave. Well here is the thing she found this site and asked me if I would be interested in trying to induce and I am sooooo excited. I have never been pregnant so I am told it is unlikely that I will be successful. I am taking Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek and pumping for 20 min four times a day. After the first day I was getting a sticky clear fluid coming out of my nipples but that has stopped and I am wondering about this. Also I am suddenly very tired all the time and my nipples are sore. I am using the Medela PIS Advanced on the lowest setting. Well I really want this to work and I am hoping to find some answers here.

You can use her pumped milk in a lact-aid to nurse your daughter.

It is possible to induce lactation if you have not been pregnant. La Leche League has a new book out with lots of information called "Breastfeeding an Adopted Baby and Relactation" by Elizabeth Horman.

A friend of mine (never pregnant) was able to provide a full milk supply to her adopted baby by pumping for 3 months before arrival, and putting him to the breast at birth. Every body is different, there are no gaurantees. Keep pumping, and put your daughter to the breast right after birth. Supplement with your wife's breastmilk with a nursing supplementer as needed.

Do some more research. This is an option for you!

Even women who have had hysterectomies can induce lactation> Yes, lactating does not require that you have been pregnant. It only requires that you have breasts.

Thanks for all your encouragement. Does anyone know why my breasts would stop producing any fluid after they had already started on the first day? And I have noticed that many people are only pumping 10 min instead of 20 what is the reason for this? many times a day and fo rhow long should I be pumping?

You want to work up to what would be a newborn schedule which is around the clock. basically 8 times a day, once during the night. Double pumping for, I would say 15 minutes would be good. You may also want to think about trying Domperidone, it helped me to produce some milk before I did the full protocol.

So should I back down on my pumping? I am worried about causing inflammation of my ducts. I am currently pumping 4-5times a day for about 20min each time. Is this to much to start out with?

I don't think that 4-5 times a day is too much. Trying to lactate the way you are requires diligence in pumping. SO the more you pump for up until the baby is born will be helpful. More sessions and any where from 10-15 minutes with a double pump

I hope you don't mind, I thought I'd check in and see how you're doing now? How long have you been pumping? And how is your milk supply? Are you getting consistent amounts? Typically there would be nmore in the AM than the PM because the supply tends to shadow our circadian rhythm. Also, do you have functioning ovaries? They can provide some hormonal support.

Best, Lenore

I don't have any milk yet. I do have functioning ovaries. My girlfriend only had one so we decided to try her first then I could carry her eggs if she couldn't get or stay pregnant. I am currently pumping3-4x a day. It is more important to pump more times a day or for a longer duration of time. I am active dutty military and cannot tell my co workers that I am breatfeeding my girlfriends baby. i can get away in the bathroom to pump but only once at 15-20 min duration but probably twice at 5-10 min duration. I could still pump longer at home.

Can you tell them you are preparing to breastfeed an adopted baby? Oh and pumping more times per day is more important.

Well I thought of that but I have to go through the proper routes to adopt a child in the military so that propably wouldn't work and everyone at work knows "my roommate" is pregnant and most probably have a good idea she is not just my roommate. I don't have too much time left in and I don't want to lose my honorable discard benefits. I will pump more times a day, and longer in the morning and all sessions after work.