No you don't want to stop expressing. You can save the milk even if the blood gets into it. You really do need to get a pump though. Hopefully you have one on order?

Our baby is due sometime mid September to late Septmember. I was waiting to start officially pumping about mid August. My plan was to get on dom, goat's rue and start using herbs with the Symphony mid August.

(The birthmom's due date is September 30, but ob is measuring baby due Sept 7, so I'm sort of unsure of the date. Long story as to why this day is so uncertain.)

As long as you don't see the drops of blood as something other than just me damaging something during hand expression, I'll keep on till pump arrives.

Thanks for your help.

Maybe express from a different angle until that spot heals.
I would start pumping as soon as your pump gets to you. How many times a day are you expressing right now? When your pump arrives you are going to want to shoot for 8 times a day, like a newborn feeding schedule every 2-2.5 hours and once during the night.
September is right around the corner. How exciting.

Thanks for your responses. I've noticed if I back away from the nipple more and hand express from the back of the breast I don't bleed. I must have been putting too much stress on my areola area.

I'm sure the pump will help tremendously. I feel a bit calmer today.

I must say the goat's rue and dom are certaily working well. I am amazed at how much milk I'm getting so far!

That is fantastic. And yes backing away from the nipple is they way you want to be expressing. Are you saving your milk? How much do you think you get right now? I am very interested because if I ever get to adopt again I won't be able to do the bcp protocol.

I'm not saving any milk yet. However, I'm getting sprays from each breast. I don't empty them. I'm mainly just fascinated that milk is coming out!

Here's what I'm doing. I take the recommended dose of goat's rue three times a day, the standard dose of dom four times a day. I eat a bowl of oatmeal each morning and drink lots of water.

The only other thing I do, which is kind of my own idea since I don't want to take bcp, is use progesterone cream. I bought one bottle of Progesta-care Plus (Natural progesterone with phytoestrogens). I using twice daily instead of once daily and when it's gone, it's gone. I couldn't tolerate the bcp, but have had no side effects with this.

Lenore doesn't recommend the cream because it is hard to manage how much you get, but I thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm wondering if when I quit I'll get even more milk.

When I start pumping I'll let you know how much I'm getting.

Thanks so much for your replies and interest. Hopefully you will be able to adopt again soon!

Also, I meant to say I wasn't expressing the nipple area, just the areola. However, I've back way back on the breast now and it seems to help the spot not bleed.

My poor breasts are probably wondering what all the extra attention is about. They thought they were finished making milk and had started south for a permanent vacation ;-)

please get a pump and start double pumping. You might actually be damaging the tissue under your nipple. And this can cause a decrease in supply when you start pumping. Your baby is due in september. Pumping for 2 months would be fantastic for you. That would give ample time to build your supply. Please consider getting a pump

Spoon even a hand pump until your electric arrives. The new Medela hand pump is really nice and the Avent hand pump isn't bad either. Like Nona said better than doing damage to your tissue. You can get the Avent at stores like WalMart, Target etc... Medela check a medical supply or online.