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 Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:39 pm
I'm raising my twin nieces, and have taken over parential rights legally. I just started hormonal treatment to induce lactation. I am in the initial phases already, with some slight leakage. Now I'm actively taking medicine to step it up and speed up the process. I just today also started to allow them to suckle, hoping that also speeds up the process. I want to know though if you guys have any advice or tips you can give me... my boyfriend is um... doing his part to help me along... but what do you guys say?
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:22 pm
Wow, I didn't even know they could do that.
I nursed my oldest for a full year and that's the plan for my second little one. If you have questins about nursing I may be able to help, but I don't know anything about inducing lactation. I hope that goes well for you.
I admire that you want to do that for them. 3nodding
www.lalecheleague.org didn't have a lot to say about it that I could find, but maybe you'll find something useful/helpful in this article.
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:17 am
Wow, I didnt know that was possible either! I can only say the same thing Jen did, if you need any advice about BF'ing I can offer what I know from nursing my daughter for a year, but I dont know much about inducing lactation. I know there are ways to increase your milk. I had to take a pill while nursing my daughter to keep my milk up after I had gallbladder surgery and Ive heard of a tea called mothers milk, but never tried that one myself.
Good luck, what a great thing you are doing!
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:14 am
Thanks for the help. I consulted my doctors, and have found info on it. It's coming along. I'm starting to produce a very small ammount, but I haven't been trying very long either. For those who are curious, you can find info on it here: link
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:33 am
Congrats! BTW I just have to say you have the MOST adorable siggy art!!!
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:29 pm
thanks...
I'm still adjusting to the changes in my body... @_@
Still having growing pains, and producing a little bit more... not mmuch beyond a dribble right now, but it's only been a couple days on the meds.
I don't remember them hurting this much after my miscarrage.
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:49 pm
I don't know how it works with inducing lactation, but I know that during pregnancy it's typical for a woman to grow TWO bras sizes (I never lost that "extra" until after I quit nursing). I don't know if that might have anything to do with the growing pains and what not.
If the pain you are having is similar to engorgement, the things that may help that would be of course nursing, and also a warm shower.
If you haven't already looked into nursing pads you may want/need to do that for the leaks. I personally prefer the Lansinoh brand, though there are many others out there.
With the miscarriage it would depend on how far along you were. My first pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage at aproximatly 7week and I didn't have any problems with sore/leaky breasts.
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:08 am
Wow, I didn't really think there was a modern technique for inducing lactation either! Thanks for the link. I know women who'd lost a child were frequently employed as wetnurses back in the day, and I'm pretty sure I remember reading that sometimes a hired woman would induce lactation by having her young charge suckle for several days or weeks to get her started. So, you know, I'm sure the hormones are probably helping a bit, but definitely give the babies suckle time every day, preferably at regular intervals (ie, start them on a feeding schedule). Your body will get the message, and start kicking up production to match demand. It works in reverse later - when the babies aren't nursing as much, milk production gradually ratchets itself down.
And yes, definitely invest in nursing pads. Leaking varies from person to person, but I remember leaking so much with my son that I was wearing a combination of three or four nursing pads at a time! A good supplement to commercially available disposable pads, especially if you start leaking as much as I did, is to buy a flannel pillowcase and cut it up into squares or rectangles (I had rectangles, which I folded in half). They're very absorbent and can be washed with no problem, and they layer easily (the flannel is very comfy yet sticks to itself like velcro, meaning your layered pads aren't constantly dropping down your shirt into your bellybutton).
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:25 am
Jen, I was about 6 and a half months along. They put me on meds right after to inhibit production... My doctors then though that it would be a bad idea to not stop it right away... mental distress, and all.
Of course, that was 9 years ago. I know what you mean, I've already gone up from a 36c to a 42 D, and I expect that to keep going.
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:46 pm
Wow, I coudln't imagine... that would be so hard. Do you mind my asking what happend? I mean early on it's usually because there is something wrong with the pregnancy/fetus, but that far into the pregnancy... sweatdrop
Yeah, I actually went up 3 cup sizes. But I think part of that is I've been unable to shed the extra baby lbs this time around. crying
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:06 pm
Jenannen Wow, I coudln't imagine... that would be so hard. Do you mind my asking what happend? I mean early on it's usually because there is something wrong with the pregnancy/fetus, but that far into the pregnancy... sweatdrop
Yeah, I actually went up 3 cup sizes. But I think part of that is I've been unable to shed the extra baby lbs this time around. crying It was a combination of factors, the placenta detached, a narrow pelvic cradle, despite having a 22" waist, and 36 " hips, so delivery woulda been c-section anyhow. Combined with being 17, on the small side.. I was around 5'2", and about 95 Lbs back then. There were many factors. I had to undergo a c-section, and then intentional pelvic fracturing to remove him. After that, I was told to never try to carry a baby to term.
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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:29 pm
Wow. Sounds like you went through a lot.
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Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:36 am
I know that in milk cows that the best way to get them to give plenty of milk was for them to have a calf. I grew up on a farm and we had all sorts of animals. Although I am certainly not trying to put humans on the same level, there are some simularities in mammals. If they were not milked regularly they would decrease the amount given and soon dry up. They could dry up if stressed, too. If there is a lot of extra stress for you right now - it is probably natural to take a little longer to get the full engorgement of milk you will get. The best advice I could give is to relax and let yourself enjoy nursing because there is a hormone that is released that will also promote more milk if you relax while nursing.
I nursed all 5 of my children for a year, and I can tell you that it is not easy, but well worth it. Keep us posted if you will. I know we are all pulling for you to have the best results and enjoyment of the new joys you have taken on.
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Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:03 pm
thanks everyone.
Status report: I'm starting to produce pretty good ammounts, not enough to fully feed them, but certainly enough to cut down on the goat milk and formula suppliments.
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Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:23 pm
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