HI! This is my first post here. I just wanted to share my exciting story, and give hope to everyone who's trying! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I have a biological son, 2 1/2 years old, who I breastfed for 19 months. He came after 7 years of trying to have a baby. Unfortunately, my pregnancy caused a post partum heart condition, that makes future pregnancy incredibly risky. Still wanting to add to our family, my husband and I decided to adopt. Our sweet triplets were born on April 3, 2006. We have had them since the day they were born. I was lucky enough to be in the room for the c-section, and to start breastfeeding within an hour of their birth.
Incredibly, I have a full supply of breastmilk for all three little guys. I started researching adoptive breastfeeding several montghs before their birth, but didn't decide to try until about 3 months before they were born. Before that time, it was sort of a joke, "oh yeah, not only am I going to have three infants at once, but what if I tried to breastfeed them too!" Well, sometime around January, I realized I would truly regret it if i never tried, so I began doing what other websites and the one doc I spoke to who had heard about adoptive breastfeeding told me to do-- pump every two hours. Sadly, most of the info I got from medical professionals was wrong and discouraging, but I moved forward anyway.
After several weeks I managed only a drop or two at each pumping session, and was feeling pretty discouraged. Then a lactation consultant pointed me to this website, and I found the protocols for inducing lactation. I began the accelerated protocol about 6 weeks before the babies were born, which only left me two weeks of pumping after I finished the bcp's. I was anxious during the first month of bcp's feeling like I was wasting time not pumping, but I followed the protocol faithfully.
Finally, once I stopped the bcp's and started to pump, I found I was getting sprays and streams. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> At the time the babies were born I was gatting about 2 oz from each pumping session. Within two days of their birth my production quadrupled! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I had purchased a Lact-Aid unit, assuming I would need to supplement, but haven't needed it yet. Every time they hit a growth spurt my production keeps right up with them.
This has been great gift and blessing in my life. I am so grateful for the protocol, and so are my sweet little guys!