Inducing lactation

[AMRGES]

I'm asking this for a friend...

For those who induced... did you get enough to ONLY breast fed or did you
have to supplement? Do you think it will make a difference if she's breastfeed before... she breast fed their first baby (that she carried).

Also what do you recommend that she takes? Recommendations on if she should start pumping now or what.

They just did their 1st insems June 1st so she's just planning ahead.

[hopefulfirefly]

Originally Posted by AMRGES

I'm asking this for a friend...

For those who induced... did you get enough to ONLY breast fed or did you
have to supplement? Do you think it will make a difference if she's breastfeed before... she breast fed their first baby (that she carried).

Also what do you recommend that she takes? Recommendations on if she should start pumping now or what.

They just did their 1st insems June 1st so she's just planning ahead.

Great question, I'm also curious to the answer. I have an additional question, how long did you pump or bf before you got a full supply? I hear that some women don't have the full supply at first but eventually get a full supply.

[mom2c&l]

I do believe it's easier to get a full supply if you've already nursed or carried a pregnancy yourself. My IM had done neither and was not able to get a full supply, but was able to produce enough of her own that she didn't feel awkward nursing the babies and using a supplementer.

She did the protocol from asklenore.com

Great resource and where most inducers get their info.

[fallaway]

I used the Newman-Goldfarb protocol from asklenore.com - all the information on what to take, when and how much, and when to start pumping is on there. There are different protocols depending on how much lead time you have. The longer you have on the meds before starting to pump, the better, to have more time to build up the milk. I started 5 months before due date - didn't realize starting even earlier would have been better. Pumping begins 6 weeks before due date, if you have enough time for that - and she certainly does, so it's great that she's thinking about it already!

I think I'm making enough to just breastfeed, but just in case (and to help DD sleep longer), we give her as much as she wants from a bottle at the last feeding, using milk I pumped before she was born. That supply also allows me to go on longer errands without her, without need to turn to formula. We're out now, after a long weekend out of town, but it lasted 10 weeks!

I was never pregnant or breastfed before. I would think it could only be a good thing that she has.

Good luck to her, it's an amazing thing! Difficult and exhausting once pumping starts, but such a gift for both mother and baby.

[jlm4]

I agree with everything fallaway said! (btw, I am so happy that everything is working out for you - you must be overjoyed with your little girl and with being able to breastfeed her!)

The other thing I would recommend is contacting a lactation consultant. I was planning to breastfeed my baby boy and was able to induce using only herbs and pumping; I found my consultant's guidance to be very helpful. Good luck to your friend.

[mom2c&l]

Originally Posted by jlm4

The other thing I would recommend is contacting a lactation consultant. I was planning to breastfeed my baby boy and was able to induce using only herbs and pumping; I found my consultant's guidance to be very helpful. Good luck to your friend.

Just be careful about the advice given by the lactation consultant. My IM induced the first time using the protocol from asklenore.com and the second time her lc felt she wouldn't really need to do the whole protocol and didn't need to pump for very long. The advice backfired and she was not as successful the second time around. She wished she had just stuck with the asklenore.com protocol.

[melissac]

Are there really moms out there that induced without the meds??? I desperately want to breastfeed, but am unable to take birth control pills or domperidone. I am hoping to get at least some milk by pumping alone (maybe herbal supplements). Who has done that???? Please email me at mexmak74@aol.com I have been pumping every 2 hours for just over a week. Our due date is in October, so I plan to continue through the third trimester. Any suggestions?

[hopefulfirefly]

Originally Posted by melissac

Are there really moms out there that induced without the meds??? I desperately want to breastfeed, but am unable to take birth control pills or domperidone. I am hoping to get at least some milk by pumping alone (maybe herbal supplements). Who has done that???? Please email me at mexmak74@aol.com I have been pumping every 2 hours for just over a week. Our due date is in October, so I plan to continue through the third trimester. Any suggestions?

When dh & I were looking into adoption, there was a girl that we knew that induced lactation without any birth control or domperidone. I think she added a lot more of the herbal supplements than most, she was very specific with her diet, consuming that mother's milk tea and oatmeal several times a day. I hope others can offer their experience. Good luck!

[McheleM]

I am so pissed at my midwife. My IM and I discussed her inducing lactation and the midwife talked her OUT OF IT!!!

I really wish she would reconsider.

[hopefulfirefly]

Originally Posted by McheleM

I am so pissed at my midwife. My IM and I discussed her inducing lactation and the midwife talked her OUT OF IT!!!

I really wish she would reconsider.

Why? What would be her reasons? Are you going to be providing the baby breastmilk?