Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply day 12 of pumping

Hello,
I am pretty close to giving up. I have only gotten 1 tsp the whole entire last 24 hours total! I even had two pumpings with not even one drop. I am taking the domperidone, fenugreek, BT, Vit B6, Lecithin and pumping every 2 hours, I even pumped every 1 hour last night at work, thinking that would help. My nipples are hurting pretty bad. My fairlly new PIS is really dragging , it seems like it is working really hard on the med setting and with the knob at "5" it is very slow. Maybe it is my pump? I am pulling at strings here to try anything that will help. Maybe a Whittlestone? Maybe my pump is broken? My breasts are getting softer everyday, and I feel alot of breast tissue is already gone that I had developed. I am also massaging and using warmth prior to pumping. What else can I do? Thanks, Cathy

Hi Cathy,

It sounds like there's got to be a problem with your pump. If it's slow on 5 and dragging, there's a power supply problem. You will not be happy with a Whittlestone so forget that idea...lots of $$$ and the bugs are not all worked out yet.

Don't give up. It's only been 12 days. It would be realy silly for you to quit now and find out later that it was the pump. Can you go back to the place where you got it and see if you can replace it?You can also contact Medela at www.medela.com and ask them what they think is going on. Maybe it's just the adaptor plug?

Esther

I agree with Esther, there is something wrong with your pump. It should not be dragging on 5. I always have mine on a 3. A 5 is really moving. Are you getting any suction?
Contact Medela right away to see how to get this remedied. Please don't give up. It will get better. How is the Reynaud's going? I know some women don't respond well to a pump, but I am sure you will be responding more soon.
DawnL

Thanks Dawn,
I will try to hang in there a little longer. My nipples are doing ok with the blanching , I am taking Nifedipine and Vitamin B6 for it. I am going to stop taking the Lecithin, I did not realize it was from soybeans..which contain natural estrogen and suppresses milk production. (Lecithin also comes from egg yolks, liver, nuts ),, I had noticed since taking it my breast tissue seems to have decreased and my what little milk I had is dried up. I hope I can get it back. Thanks for the kind words, I am trying to stay positive. Take care, Cathy

Hey Cath!

You have come to far, Mama, to stop now! Keep trying! Don't push the river! Your stress about the situation can make it difficult, too, I think. Calm, meditative pumping sessions. Make them lovely for yourself. Headphone with wonderful music, a candle when possible, the comfiest chair....that sort of thing. I have a feeling that you are going to work these kinks out and it is going to work! I trust what these ladies are telling you!

Chin up, Moms!

Eden

Thanks Eden,
I am trying to stay positive, but since taking the soy Lecithin, my breasts are back down to 'normal' , pink aerola instead of brown, no more lumps, soft and floppy instead of firm and enlarged as they had been. After a 45 lb weight gain and dried skin etc,,for seven months,,,I am still pumping drops on the right. and got 1/4 tsp on the left 2x yesterday.
I was thinking I had a pump AC adaptor problem, I was even only pumping in my car. I was going out every couple hours and spending 45 minutes in my car. That got old quick. I think the outlet at work was not good. My pump seems to be ok at home. The pumping is hurting so much now I dread it. I am lubricating first with Motherlove herbal nipple cream and have to do it on low suction the last two days just to be able to do it at all. I am sitll on the Nipfedipine and Vit B6 for preventing Raynauds, my nipples are not blanching now, so I really don't think the Raynauds is the problem with my low supply.
I feel that I should go back on the protocol until we go to Guatemala the end of June or beg. of July, to get back the breast tissue I seem to have lost on the soy Lecithin. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Cathy

Cathy,
I am sorry my suggestion seemed to back fire. The lecithin has sure helped me out a lot. I hope it gets better soon.
hugs, Nona

Nona,
I think I just bought the wrong form of Lecithin. Lenore had rec. that I take it also. Maybe you have to have a supply built up, then it helps. I could try to find the kind that comes from eggs or nuts instead and try that.
I am pumping for up to one hour each time...I got 0.3 cc this morning and 0.2 cc later, so 0.5 cc so far today. I am saving it in a synringe.
I do appreciate your help Nona. I am looking forward to the day where I can pump 7 ounces like you! Thanks, Cathy

Cathy,
I did not realize that you guys would be leaving for Guatemala so soon. Does this mean that you will be seeing your baby soon? How long do you plan on being in Guatemela? How old is your baby going to be? This is so exciting! I wish I was so close to getting our baby. Enjoy anticipating seeing your little one.

Maybe Cathy you are just one of those women who do not respond well to the pump. If that is the case maybe it would not hurt going back on the protocol until you leave.

You could use a wonderful supplementer and nurse your baby. Maybe by using the supplimentar and just simply nursing your baby would be better at bringing your supply in. I do not know I am not an expert. Know matter how much milk our body makes we still get to expereience the beauty of nursing our babies.

The lactaide looks really handy. I plan on holding on to mine just in case I need it. I am still working on my supply so if we get a baby soon I know I will need it. I also got the lace pocket so I can clip it onto my bra instead of using the necklace. I think this way it is less noticeable. I think even if in time I develop a full supply I still plan on keeping the lactaide just in case my supply does not keep up.

I saw on the other web site that you recommended another women use Good Start formula. I can proudly say that we used Good Start from the start with my son and he did wonderful on it. Very healthy.

Well I need to go. My son just woke up and he is very fussy. Good luck and I know that things will get better for you.

Love,
Bella