Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply No "significant breast changes"

Hello - This is my first-ever post on anything, so I hope this makes sense. I've been on the Newman protocals since Feb 26, 2004, and I haven't noticed ANY breast changes (except for a little nipple sensitivity), let alone "significant breast changes." I was planning on pumping beginning April 26 (baby's due June 6), but I'm afraid nothing will happen. Has anyone faced this?

Hi:
Your post came through just fine. Glad you could join us. What kind of birth control pills are you taking?

I'm on my 2nd month now and my breast did increase in size. I'm following the menopausal protocol which is Yasmin bcps and Domperione 20 mg 4 x's day.

Hello Margaret,

What bcp are you using? If it's a lower-dosed one you might want to switch to Yasmin, that could kick-start your breasts.

Our timeframes seem remarkably similar - I started the protocol March 2nd, plan to start pumping at the end of April and our baby is due in the first week of June!

I did have quite noticeable breast changes, although I have not grown by a whole cup size so far. But no two women seem to react identically, ever... I read of several women on this board who did not have any significant breast changes at all and went on to have perfectly decent milk supplies.

Whatever you do, don't give up now!

I'm sure some of the more experienced members here will step in and give you more advice than I possibly can, but best of luck to you!

There seems to be absolutely no way of predicting how much milk you will eventually make, but it does seem extremely rare that a woman following the protocol will have no supply at all - and even in the very worst case you will know that you have done everything you can.

Love,
Chris

Hey Loveydovey,

We seem to have been typing away simultaneously - how are you doing?

Love,
Chris

Hi Margaret,

The ladies are on the right track. Which birth control pill are you taking? Is it Ortho 1/35 or Yasmin? Did your doctor prescribe a "progesterone only mini-pill"? Many doctors often prescribe the mini pill without even notifying their patient thinking that the birth control pill is for contraception which it is NOT. The birth control portion of the protocols is used to develop the milk making apparatus of your breasts.

So please check your bcp. And email me the ingredients and I'll let you know if you're on the right track. The other thing is to be sure you're on the correct dose of domperidone. You should be at 20 mg 4 times per day at this point. AND is your domperidone from a coumpounding pharmacy or from New Zealand? The compounded domperidone has been found to be quite variable in strength depending on where it is from. The New Zealand source is quite reliable.

Email me at lenore@asklenore.info and I'll be happy to check out your bcp for you.

Fondly,

Thanks for your replies, Chris, LoveyDovey, & Lenore. I've been taking Yasmin since Feb. 26. I had been thinking that, since I am in menopause I need even more hormones than the Yasmin supplies b/c of my deficit, but it sounds like you're in menopause as well, LoveyDovey, and you had changes, so that takes care of that theory. The domperidone I'm using is from New Zealand and I've been taking 20 mgs. 4x a day since February. I know I should probably just stop obsessing and wait and see what happens at the end of the month (or perhaps add a half a bcp a day??). Thanks for all your encouragement.

Hi Margaret,

Don't worry. As long as you stay the course, you should have a decent result. And remember, all you need is 4 oz per day for your baby to get all the immune benefits. The rest can be supplemented with either donor milk or formula using the Lactaid www.lact-aid.com

Fondly,