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I would appreciate any encouragement or advice given.

My daughter is 6 weeks old and was born via cesarean section, due to her not dropping. At the end of the 1st week, my milk was not coming in, and she began to refuse nursing.

We started finger-feeding her forumula with the hope of reintroducing the breast, but then she began getting too much air and had terrible gas pain. Much to my disappointment, we were told to bottle feed her to reduce the air she'd been getting. (I didn't know about supplemental feeding systems at the time.)

Since then, I've tried unsuccessfully several times to reintroduce my breast - even using a supplemental feeding system. (We did have one successful attempt at the lacation consultant's office - but she didn't nurse for long.)

Now my daughter has also developed colic, and I feel like it's all I can do to get her bottle fed and keep my head above water, but I really want to breastfeed her.

We've been taking her to a chiropractor, and finally, her colic seems to be improving. When we have it under control, I'd like to try again to breastfeed, using the SFS to help build my milk supply. I have an electric pump, but haven't pumped regularly for a week or so just b/c of stress and lack of time and energy.

Any suggestions? I tried using Fenugreek and Milk Thistle and Reglan with no real results. I can't get Domperidone since I'm in the U.S. Do Fenugreek and Milk Thistle vary in quality? Should I try them again - using a different source??

Please - any help would be appreciated!

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I am in the U.S., and I've always gotten my dom from www.globaldrug.tv


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Have you gotten a local doctor to cooperate with you on this -either overseeing your care or writing the prescription for you? If so, how have you been able to do it?

Thanks,

Katie's Mom


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Katies Mom you do not need a perscription to buy your dom from the above website. You only need one if you are going to get it in the US through a compounding pharmacy which is very expensive.
Have you printed off hte protocls in their entirety for your doctor to read? Sometimes (mostly) they are not familiar with adoptive breastfeeding or relactating. It becomes our job to educate.


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Thanks for your reply. While I know I don't need a prescription from that website, my understanding of the FDA's approach to such things is that if they would question my getting Domperidone, I need to be able to give them a doctor who is overseeing my treatment.

No, I have not had a chance to show my doctor the protocal. I am sure all they have read is that huge red flag FDA warning about importing Domperidone, so they are steering clear. I'm trying to see if I can get help from our local Le Leche League. All I want is the chance to nurse my baby! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

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I just reread your original post. Are you still taking herbs? The suggested herbs are Blessed Thistle (not Milk Thistle) and Fenugreek. 3 caps 3x daily.
You say you were on Reglan, I am assuming this same doctor prescribed that? I would print of all the info on domperidone and go back to him with that. The FDA warning was for IV use of domperidone I believe. Domperidone is so much safer than Reglan and you can stay on dom long term where as you aren't supposed to take Reglan longer than 2 weeks.
Good Luck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I would suggest you take those two herbs feed your baby with the SNS and pump after feeds Make sure you are staying well hydrated and eat oatmeal everyday if you can.


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I was taking Fenugreek and Milk Thistle and Reglan and did not see any increase - only producing about 1 oz total when pumping both breasts for 20 minutes. Should I try again and add the Blessed Thistle instead of Milk Thistle? Can the quality of the Fenugreek affect its effectiveness? I was also taking Brewer's Yeast. I felt like I was taking all these every meal but seeing not increase - that's why I stopped.

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And could granola (made with rolled oats) count for oatmeal intake? I have eaten that almost every day since I got home with the baby.

Katie's Mom


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So right now you are not taking anything?
If yes, then definitely start back on the right herbs. Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek 3caps 3x daily.
Are you nursing with the SNS? She should be getting every meal from you this way. If you are finger feeding then pumping every 3 hours throughout the day is essential to bringing in your supply. Without stimulation your milk will not come in. What pump do you have? Is it a double pump?
Getting your oats that way is fine. Trying to maybe eat oatmeal once a week would be helpful.

Last edited by Lalle; 09/18/06 02:56 PM.

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I went through 200 capsules of Fenugreek, taking 3 with each meal and was pumping every 3 hours and producing 1/2 to 1 oz.

I had stopped the finger feeding b/c we had used a syringe (didn't know about SFS at that time) and was told to give Katie a bottle b/c she was getting too much air and having terrible gas pain. Now I am trying to at least get her back to finger feeding with the hope of then moving her to breast. Tried on Friday and she was patient through 1/2 oz and then got impatient. Should I try larger tubing? I am using the medium size right now and it is a Medela SFS.

Katie's Mom

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Katie's Mom I am posting a reply Lenore gave to someone awhile ago about transitioning to the breast. I think it will be helpful for you.

Transition to the breast slowly. First using a bottle with a slower flow, and then slow flow nipple such as the AVENT with one holed slow flow nipples. Then we use the Lact-aid theaded through the bottle nipple placed on the breast and then slowly transition to a Medela Newborn Small Nipple Shield with the Lact-aid threaded through at the breast and then eventually, just the breast with the Lactaid an then just the breast. This may take many weeks to accomplish so go slow. If your baby takes to one thing, give it a day and then try the next and if he/she protests, stay a little while at the previous step until she/he's ready to move to the next step.

It's not wise to force your baby to the breast or to starve them so they will be hungry at the breast. All this does is frustrate them. A starving baby will not be in a position to learn anything. Approach this with love and patience and you should prevail.


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How long were you taking the herbs and pumping? Were you getting a 1/2-1 oz total or each pumping session?


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Laurie, Thank you so much for dialoguing with me and for posting that information from Lenore. First of all in response to that information:

- Do you know what bottles would have a slower flow??
-We are using the AVENT one-holed slow flow nipple currently.
-Does she mean to place the bottle nipple on my own - or just near my breast?
- I have a Medela small 20 mm nipple shield. Is this the one she's talking about? It's doesn't say "newborn" on it.
- Is the Lactaid similar enough to Medela's Supplemental Feeding System for me to use that? (That is what I have.)
***Perhaps I should just email these questions to Lenore.***

As for your questions, I took Fenugreek about 3 weeks total and Reglan the first 2 weeks of that. I probably took Brewer's Yeast for 2 weeks also - the latter 2 weeks. I was pumping 1/2 - 1 oz each time, but then as Colic set in with my daughter that began to decrease, I believe due to the extreme fatigue and stress I was experiencing. Her colic is improving now, so I am starting to feel that I can pursue this again. Before I was just so exhausted and busy with her every moment that I could barely keep my head above the water.

Again, thank you for your help and talking with me. I have not shared my desire to get to breast with many b/c most people will just tell me to let it go and that it's okay. I just want to feel like I've done everything I can to provide what is best for Katie, and it kills me to not be giving her breast milk.

Thanks again,

Katie's Mom

Last edited by katiesmom; 09/18/06 06:55 PM.
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I can answer some of that. You are certainly welcome to email Lenore too. The Avent 1 nipple is a good slow flow. When she says place the nipple she is talking over your own nipple. Then you transition to the medela shield over your own nipple. As for the size on that I am not sure. If it is the smallest then that would be the newborn size. Although I know many moms prefer the lact-aid to the SNS since it is what you have it is fine for you to use that.

Pumping 1/2-1 oz each time is a good amount to start off with. If you can get her to your breast with the supplementer and formula your milk supply will begin to grow steadily. After feeding her you can pump for ten minutes with a double pump to help your supply. Did you say what pump you have?


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Thanks for your reply. I have a Medela Lactina pump...and I did get a direct response from Lenore to my questions...

Now I am just trying to address the issue with Domperidone. It's my understanding that I should at least have a doctor overseeing my "care." I'm just not sure how to do that at this point since they all seem scared off by the FDA...

PS - Why is the lactaid preferred over the Medela SFS?

Thanks again,

Katie's Mom


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The lact-aid has to be sucked on to flow it is my understanding that the SNS flows freely. The lact-aid can be worn higher for fater flow and lower for slower flow, making the baby work harder to get the milk-more stimulation for production.


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The issue with domperiodne is murky to say the least. The FDA made a big deal about it but the FDA talk paper that was picked up by the press did not have input from anyone in the lactation community. A few months after it made all the news, the FDA quietly put up this information on their website: how to obtain domperidone for gastric patients: http://www.fda.gov/cder/news/domperidone.htm It seems they do not have any fears about issues for these folks. And recently a ruling in Texas give compounding pharmacies in the US the ability to produce non-FDA approved medications with a doctor's prescription: http://www.aapsonline.org/nod/newsofday294.php
This is a good route to go but it can be VERY expensive to purchase domperidone from a compounding pharmacy, but once you have your prescription, you have the right to purchase your domperidone anywhere you choose which is why most mothers purchase from www.globaldrug.tv which obtains the dom from the actual pharmaceutical company that produces it. Many mothers who are unable to obtain the prescription, get the dom from global and then inform their doctors and ask to be monitored.

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The issue concerning domperidone in the US is unfortunate. It is important for those of us who have used or are currently using domperidone in order to breastfeed our babies, to visit this website and complete the survey. The research is being conducted by Dr. Hope McGonigle : http://hopeandmegan.com/survey/index.html

This survey takes only a few minutes to complete. Your voice is important. You can make a difference.

Best,


Lenore Goldfarb, Ph.D.,CCC,IBCLC
Wife to Rob, Mom to Adam aged 13, and Ethan aged 9, both born via GS and breastfed via Regular Newman-Goldfarb Protocol.
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