Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Starting the medicated protocol... Ideal time?

Good morning,

We are adopting and hope to get a baby this summer. I am going to start the medicated regular protocol soon. I'm ordering my meds today. I'm going to take the proverb since I'm over 35. I have a few questions...

1. Is there an ideal time in your cycle to start the meds or does it not matter?
2. Where did you buy your meds? I'm looking at northwestpharmacy.com in British columbia, but I really don't know if they are reputable.
3. I work 3 days a week and can't imagine the I will be able to pump at work (when we get to that stage). Will it matter if I don't pump for those 8 or so hours even if I'm pumping in the morning, after work, and regularly on my days off?

I so hope this works!,

Thanks for your inut,
Daisy

Provera, not proverb... Love autocorrect!

Hi Daisy,

1) I did the birth control pills and found it easier to start them while I was on my period. I don't know if it is the same for provera but you can start the protocol at any time during your cycle you just may feel a little bloated (which is why I started during my period).

2) I bought my meds from inhousepharmacy.biz and did not have any problems.

3) I worked 5 days a week and did not pump at work but was able to manually express every 3 hours in the restroom and that was enough for me to keep my supply up. Everyone is different but you might want to try that. It's important to stimulate as much as possible.

Thanks Claudia! I did end up buying from inhousepharmacy!

I didnt realize I could manually express... Is that pretty effective? Since you were at work, did you collect the milk? Are you nursing now or just doing the protocol?

Thanks again,
Daisy

I also did the birth control pills (yasmin) and started on day 5 of my cycle. I found that that reduced the spotting.

I would think skipping a pumping as you are just starting shouldn't be a problem. As you get closer, you might want to try to add in just one pump session at work. I never started pumping too early because I just couldn't keep up a pumping schedule long term. After being on the protocol, I was able to build a supply pretty quickly and meet the needs of my babies.

I bought from inhousepharmacy too and never had problems.

Jennifer

Hi Daisy,

I did not collect the milk, but you could easily do it. They actually make a manual expression cap that goes on a bottle. It has a very wide opening to catch the milk. Pumping is best but because that wasn't an option at work I got pretty efficient at manual expression. It was a good way for me drain my breasts and keep up with my schedule. If you have never done it you can google videos that show you the best method. Once you are producing milk you will find how to get sprays using your hands and you just go from there.

Thanks for the information. When I was nursing my first two, I would massage/squeeze my breast while I pumped at work just because it sped things up so much. I'm assuming thats the same thing as manually expressing? I just didn't realize that would be effective for draining my breast while I'm only making drops of milk! I will definitely pump at work after we bring home a baby, I just don't know how supportive/wigged out my boss would be if I'm requesting pumping breaks before I even have a baby! It's going to be weird enough for people when they realize I'm nursing an adopted baby (unfortunately).

Thanks again!

I felt the same way as you Daisy. I was really uncomfortable pumping at work. I didn't save any drops that came out at first. I didn't want ANYONE to know. I finally told my boss and she was surprisingly very supportive.

It was really akward pumping at first but you get used to it. All you have to do is like 5 mins of pumping when you can. I started saving my milk as soon as I started getting a teaspoon at a time. Those drops are precious, so if you can - save. I've been at it for 4 weeks and am only getting an ounce & a half a day to save up for the baby, but at least I'll get to suppliment with SOME of my breast milk.

I've since told other people at work and they've all been positive. I just start out saying, "Don't be weirded out but..." Most people are just surprised we can do it.