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This is my 3rd week of pumping and all if a sudden it seems my milk has all but dried up! Up until 2 days ago I was getting about a 1/2 oz every time I pumped and now I might get a few drops on one side and none on the other. I don't know what to do?! I'm taking Dom 3x a day and Fenugreek and blessed thistle. I'm pumping every 2-4 hours and once in the middle of the night. None of that has changed. The only difference would be that we had to leave town in very short notice for a wedding and in the day that we flew out I didn't drink enough water, but I have since been downing water. So anybody have any idea what could be happening? I'm do frustrated and confused!
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Go to drjacknewman.com and click on the contact us link. You should be able to send them an e-mail. They are experts in the field and I've had a few questions I've sent their way. They always respond within 24hrs. Try to not panic and do what you normally do...stress can have adverse effects on breast milk supply.
Also, when you're pumping, try to massage your breast around the breast shield. I have a double pump, and I hold the two breast shields in place with one forearm and use my other hand to massage. This drastically improved my milk output. Are you near a hospital? Our local hospital has a lactation department that has provided me with tons of help. I'm the first one in forever they've had contact with that is doing adoptive breastfeeding, so they're super excited to help. They've helped me for free.
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First, thanks for the suggestions and I'm sorry I hadnt responded yet! I have had some improvement, I'm back up to 1/4 oz - 1/2 oz on my left side everytime. The messagging does really help! But, my right side is still not producing well. I'm getting maybe a tsp everytime...it's pathetic! I've always produced less on that side, I think in part because I had 2 tumors removed from my right breast as a teenager so they had to remove tissue as well. But before I was still producing almost as much as the left. It wasn't this bad. I'm going to contact the local LLL and see if they have any ideas for me and just stick with it. Hopefully when baby comes she'll draw it out better! Thanks for all the advice!
There are lots of things that can affect it. I always noticed that my babies needed more from the Lact-Aid when I got a period. When you are pumping, anxiety can make a big difference, too. Anxiety can keep your milk from letting down. Try not to worry! When you get the baby, it is a lot easier to let your milk down. Are you planning to use the Lact-Aid when you get your baby? With that, you can relax and concentrate on the baby, knowing that he/she will get what milk you are producing and be getting plenty to eat. After the baby arrives, the best way to find out how much milk you are making is to keep track of how much supplement he is taking and compare that to how much he should need for his weight. For many adoptive moms, pumping isn't an accurate measure and can be unnecessarily discouraging. Darillyn
Darillyn~ Thanks for the encouragement! Since getting home from vacation my supply has started to improve again so I'm feeling hopeful. I do plan on using the lact-aid and I ordered it a few days ago incase our emom goes early.
Usi~ I emailed Dr. Newman and he suggested I increase my Dom intake to 4 pills 3x a day. So we'll see how that works!
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noelani2
After the baby arrives, the best way to find out how much milk you are making is to keep track of how much supplement he is taking and compare that to how much he should need for his weight. For many adoptive moms, pumping isn't an accurate measure and can be unnecessarily discouraging.
Darillyn
I sure wish I'd had domperidone with my kids! I first heard about in 1991, when we were adopting our fourth baby, but there was no way to get it here in the states, yet. I did try Reglan, and it helped a little bit, but made me so depressed that I spend a week wishing I could give her to someone else, and feeling like a totally awful mother. I am still not convinced that the birth control pill thing is that helpful, in most cases, but I think domperidone is somewhat helpful in almost all cases and extremely helpful in many.
Yes, its proving to be very helpful for me! I'm up to producing 3oz a day! Which sounds like so little, but I have to remember that I'm starting from complete scratch. So when I think of it that way its pretty cool!
My ob/gyn suggest reglan over dom at one point and after comparing side effects I said no way! Reglan has some nasty side effects!
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Three ounces a day is wonderful and well worth the effort! If all you could offer was three ounces a day after you got your baby, it would be very helpful. If you are doing that well, now, you will obviously be doing significantly better by the time the baby is born, and then most likely continue to build!