MomTJ....

[mami2blessings]

Right now, just pumping. I started yesterday doing 5 minutes on both sides every 2-3 hours.

Which pump are you using?

[MomTJ]

I'm using an Evenflo (and now my son too!). Why? Is that important?

[DawnL]

Yes, it is important. For inducing lactation, it's important that you use a hospital grade pump. The Pump In Style is great for inducing. That's what I used. I used it six times a day, every day, for 10 months, while waiting for my son to be born. I totally got my $$ worth out of it!

[mami2blessings]

I think it is super that you have your son at breast now! Name????

Like Dawn has already posted...yes, it is important. A hospital grade pump is the recommendation.

BTW, in the professional lactation community Evenflow pumps are called Evilflow

[cro]

Congrats on your son!

I just read your other post and it sounds like you had a great start w/ the pre-milk. Has your milk come in yet? Have you upgraded pumps? I used a Whittlestone and it worked great! Now I see that Playtex makes one that works similarly (more massaging, less pulling) - it's about $300 though.

Please keep us posted - you know, in all your free time!

[Carole Shelly]

I would love some more information. I successfully breastfed both my children, 17 and 14. Our dd is arriving July 5th through Gestational Carrier. I want to nurse and there just isn't any other alternative. So...As of March 19th, I have been pumping my breast 15 min each side 3 times daily. For the first two days I got a drop here and there and then dry...On March 23rd, I started taking Fenugreek (herbal remedy for increasing breast milk). Last Sunday night, I went online to get more info and read up about it having to be a hospital grade double pump and to pump every 2-3 hours...So on Monday morning I rented a Hospital Grade Double Electric Breast Pump and I am trying to pump every 3 hours (if possible - with work and all)...So my question....how long before I can see some milk? My doctor told me to pump for a month and if I can't get enough then she will put me on domeperone (may have spelt that wrong). However, with all the fertility meds I have been on to have dd...I really don't want to go on any more meds...Was is a good expectation? Should I see milk soon? Any info or suggestionns would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to all.

Carole Shelly

[DawnL]

You should check out www.asklenore.info I went on the protocol that is on her website, and it worked really well for me. We were adopting, so we didn't know when our baby would be born. I was on the protocol for 9 months, then went off and started pumping. I got milk immediately and it increased every day. I pumped 6 times a day, every day, for 10 months, until our son was born. By that time I was pumping 30+ ounces a day. I had a full supply for him, although not everyone will have a full supply.

Part of the protocol was the domperidone. For me it was no big deal. The pills are tiny and I did not experience any side effects. Except for producing milk, of course!

Lenore considers the Pump in Style a hospital quality pump. If it would save you money from renting, you may want to consider purchasing one of those. With as much pumping as I did, we more than got our money's worth!

You may also want to check out www.lact-aid.com This is a device that will enable your baby to be exclusively fed at the breast, even if you do not have a full supply. Another option is the Medela Supplemental Nursing System, which I think they have info on at www.medela.com (Not sure, though)

Please come back and ask any and every question you can think of! We are glad to help!

[DawnL]

PS Don't put the suction on MAX, or you are really going to hurt yourself and not accomplish much. Just some advice. There are some of us out there that learned this the hard way!

[DaniWestRN]

Hello,
I am very interested in ABF and have done some research... actully I just took a class to become a lactation counselor. While there was not a lot of info directly about ABF, I did learn a lot that is useful. One thing I learned is that domperidone is now illegel in the US... it is even ilegel to try to get it from another country... thats how dangerous this it is considered. I'm glad that those who used it did not have any ill effects but it should no longer be considered an option.
Dani

[DawnL]

Dani,

Did you know that domperidone is approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics for use by breastfeeding moms? It is not an illegal substance, and you can order it from any US compounding pharmacy with a prescription. And my ob/gyn would have given me one, if I had asked for it. I told him that I was going to order it out of the country, but I'd let him know if I needed a prescription at a later time.

Domperidone is NOT a dangerous substance. I know there was a "crackdown" on obtaining drugs from outside of the country. That was for any drug, though, including drugs that Grandma and Grandpa go up to Canada for and buy at cheaper prices.

Domperidone is not available in the US without a special order, but that is because there are other drugs available for it's primary purpose, which is stomach problems. The drug companies used to make it here, but decided it was cheaper to make some of the other drugs. In Canada, where it is still widely used, there is even a pediatric dose for Domperidone. And my baby got from my breastmilk just a tiny fraction of what he would have been given for stomach problems, had we resided in Canada.

I would be a lot more concerned if a medical proffesional tried to encourage me to take Reglan for lactation. Reglan is a drug that is used for psychological issues, and has horrible side effects, including severe depression. Just because Reglan is widely available in the US does not mean that this is the best drug to take to help encourage lactation.

The bottom line is that drug companies are worried about THIER bottom line, and thier bottom line isn't increasing if people in the US get their drugs somewhere else. Who are you going to listen to - the drug companies, whose only concern is their pocketbook, or the AAP, whose primary concern is the health of our children?

I have a huge amount of information on how safe domperidone is, that I would be happy to share with anyone who is concerned.

I can see this is your very first post on FT. This is a site designed to be supportive for everyone going through all aspects of infertility. I hope your next post will be more encouraging and supportive.