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Sensualips -> Lactation Support: Difficulty inducing in quantity (11/23/2005 7:17:18 PM)
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I chose to try and induce lactation after stopping breastfeeding my youngest approximately four years ago. I really enjoyed the sensation and effects when I was breastfeeding and that was part of my motivation for trying to induce. It had been about three years since I had expressed any milk at all.
I researched it online and originally tried to induce through nipple stimulation only. I assumed that since I had NO trouble producing milk in the past -- and plenty of it -- and it had been just a few years, it may be relatively simple. I was wrong.
I followed a simple protocol of using a hand held electrical breast pump for about ten minutes on each breast, with hand madssage and hand expressing halfway through and at the end. I did it 4-5 times a day. From what I read the recommended number of times was "as often as you can" but 4-5 was really what I could manage without completely rearranging my life. After a week I went out of town for the weekend and forgot my pump. I basically considered myself starting over when I returned home. I was very consistent and rarely skipped a pumping. Two weeks later I had nothing to show for my efforts but very sore nipples! I thought my breasts felt similar to when I was nursing - achy and maybe even full feeling, with a little bit of burning in my nipples if I had not pumped in a while. But nothing. I think maybe I just has sore nipples and imaginary other symptoms.
I decided to try Domperidone, a drug shown to help induce lacation. I researched it and talked with a pharmacist friend. I decided for me, the risks were minimal and I would use it for 30 days and observe the effects. It is not available in the US, in Canada only by prescription, so I ordered online and it was shipped from Mexico.
I took a week off from pumping while I waited for the drug to arrive. I began taking it and have had no side effects. On day three after pumping I hand expressed and had a drop of milk from one breast. FINALLY! It was an odd sense of accomplishment. I expressed a few drops from the both breasts the next morning. I also started taking the natural herb Fenugreek. I assumed that I was now "in business" and with continued pumping I would soon be producing a decent amount of milk. Not so.
Dop came in a 21 day supply and two weeks later I was producing a squirt and a few drops every time I massaged or pumped, but no more. No filling bottles as when I traditionally breastfed. I knew it woud not be the same, but I had thought I might be pumping an ounce or so a few times a day. I also noticed I rarely expressed much at all when pumping, but more int he hand expressing or massaging. I really think the hand held eletric is not strong enough and I probably need the medical supply quality. The Dop ran out and I continued with the Fenugreek but despite my pumping I stopped producing anything but a teeny drop within 3-4 days.
Sigh. I ordered 3x as much Dop and decided to start over, with the idea it generally takes six weeks for you to get to "capacity" on milk production. I have been back on it a little over a week and am basically at the same point when I stopped. I will admit, I have not been as religious about pumping and am doing more like 2-4 times a day.
I think to really produce more milk and maintain it I probably need to do two things. 1) Pump more consistently 4-5 times a day, or even more if I could. 2) Get a medical supply quality pump. Even if I could only use that one 2x a day and the hand pump the other times, I suspect it would help. I just have avoided it due to the expense and the clunkiness of the equipment. I have unmentionables so I am discrete.
I know some people can induce completely naturally or more easily. I know others may have a much harder time than me. I decided to risk the shortcut and am not unhappy with that decision. However, I would like to produce more milk and find a way to maintain it with minimal effort.
So that is my story! I hope it helped some that may be considering this or in the middle of it. If anyone has other suggestions, I'd certainly love to hear them.
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