Induced Lactation Check-In 4/3/14 (posted early)

healz413 · April 2014

Hey folks. I'm posting this a day early because I have a busy day tomorrow.

I'm not sure if we have many updates this week since at least several us are still waiting to get started, but maybe in addition to whatever updates there are, we can focus on answering each others questions. There were several in last week's check-in.

So please check-in with any updates you have and any questions!

Newbies-- please join us.

Also this is the first time I've done a check-in like this, so please let me know if you'd like it formatted differently. Also *please* let me know if you'd like me to describe your situation/plans/circumstances any differently in the list below. I would like to use whatever wording or description you're most comfortable with.

Currently breastfeeding

@AmandaG47 -- is breastfeeding after inducing lactation; partner carried their twins

Following an Induced Lactation Protocol

@Jalara48 -- is on birth control as part of induced lactation protocol; pregnant with a gestational carrier

Planning, Waiting, and/or Researching

@Ticktock0903 -- plans to carry; partner may induce lactation

@Firstcomeslove2013 -- plans to induce lactation; partner will carry

@Healz413 -- plans to induce lactation; partner is carrying twins

@Kristi&p -- plans to induce lactation; partner will carry

@Hey_its_jenn -- plans to induce lactation; is adopting

firstcomeslove2013 · April 2014

We found out this week that we may be pregnant again (beta was taken today...waiting on results). What I notice most from those who have induced is that they are unable to produce enough milk. I will be the only one breast feeding so I won't have a "back up" so to say. Did anyone start the process early (like ASAP), pump and once milk is happening start to build up a stock? Anyone know or have experience with this?

I hope to get started on the medication right away but I'm also still a little clueless...

Manada · April 2014

hey @jalara48 - Just wanted to say hello on this board, and congrats on getting your pump covered. Did your doc have to write a note about it regarding surrogacy or something? I'm curious as we're with Sunlife here and I'd love to get one if we can earlier for H. (AFAIK the insurance company won't cover one for me, as the pregnant person, until after the babies are born --- which will be late for us)

ticktock0903 · April 2014

Hello everyone,

I hope everyone is having a good day, its rainy here in IL. ( I was wondering if anyone had any accidental induced lactation. Let me explain..my wife and I want her to be able to feed the baby and bond. We initially discussed using my milk and a supplemental system. In my research, I came upon induced lactation. I think its an amazing thing but my wife doesn't want to commit to taking pills for months to induce or pumping everyday when we could just use my milk but I think I saw somewhere that your body will induce the milk anyway if the baby is latching on to her. So I guess I am asking, if anyone just waited for the baby to be there and then did it that way and if so, how long did it take for the milk to start coming in?

Manada · April 2014

@jalara48 - you inspired me to ask sunlife when I called about something else today! We are covered up to $300 every 60 months as a family for a new breast pump! (I can't imagine we will need to buy another in 5 years, but maybe .....). That's great news for us! I was dreading having to pay OOP for one of those! What kind are you getting? I have a feeling we'll end up with the Medela because their customer service is rumoured to be so awesome and two of us will be using this pump.....

firstcomeslove2013 · April 2014

@jalara48 did you start on our own or have an LC you were working with...did you have trouble getting the medication? Do you have a schedule you are following?

firstcomeslove2013 · April 2014

Did you have trouble getting the domperidone? Are you working with an OB? RE? Sorry for the millions of questions!

firstcomeslove2013 · April 2014

I'm sorry...I have no idea what that means...general ob?

healz413 · April 2014

@ticktock0903-- I don't know the answer. I've heard similar things. I do not think that it is likely that your wife would be able to produce very much milk at all this way because she would not have built the breast tissue ahead of time. That said, if your wife doesn't want to do the protocol to induce lactation, then I think that the supplemental feeding system you previously planned to do is a fine option. It seems like any small amount of milk she might be able to produce after months of using that system would just be a bonus in that case. I don't think you could count on her developing enough of a supply to replace your milk for any feedings. But I may be wrong about this.

@firstcomeslove2013-- YAY!!!
It may be easiest for you to start with your own doctor (your primary physician) if you have a good relationship with them. You can explain to them what you want to do and see if it is something they're comfortable supporting you through or if they're willing to recommend you to someone else. While there may not be a ton of queer people in your city who are inducing lactation to feed a baby carried by their partner, there will be adoptive parents and parents who used surrogates/gestational carriers who are inducing lactation.
I found this online guide that is intended to be given to a physician that explains the Newman Goldfarb protocol for induced lactation: https://www.asklenore.info/breastfeeding/induced_lactation/protocols4print.shtml

I also found this website which has the basics of the protocol aimed at a lay person (the person who will be inducing lactation):
https://www.justbreastfeeding.com/induced-lactation/inducing-lactation-adopting-mothers/

Also, you may want to talk with @AmandaG47 about how she did this since she's in the U.S. unlike Jalara and Manada and me.

Good luck!

ticktock0903 · April 2014

Thanks @healz413. But that is one of the reasons why I am trying to get everyones experiences. I am a conqueror by research and I am hoping to change her mind with all the beneficial evidence I am acquiring.

AmandaG47 · April 2014

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the late check-in, I've been pretty busy with work and the girls! Things are going well and we are still splitting nursin 50/50 on days when I'm home and about 40/60 on the days I work (I pump at work but we usually dump it or rotate our freezer stash). Pumping has been hard to do at work as I nanny and the parents have been in and out a lot. They don't min if I pump but the toddlers are MUCH harder to control when their parents are around and it makes it harder.

@firstcomeslove2013‌ - everything @healz413‌ said. I talked to my primary care doc who did support me by prescribing BC. If you look up the links healz posted you will see a recommended brand/dosage and I used one of those. My doc suggested against the Domperidone based on FDA recommendations but I decided to use it and ordered it online from inhouse pharmacy. I am not a doctor so I can't recommend for/against using the drug. Like @jalara48‌ said, there are risks, so it's worth looking into further.) I'm not sure any doc in the US would prescribe/recommend it because the FDA. There really seems to be a wide range is success, but I can say I started the protocol around 16 weeks along, started pumping and taking herbs at about 30 weeks (we expected the twins to come early) and after 8 weeks of pumping, had around 400oz in the freezer stockpiled. Also, so far I have the supply to meet the needs of one full baby and we haven't had to use any of our freezer stash. When I started I had no idea if I would make milk at all, and I was prepared to be happy if I could contribute even a little bit. I really did not want to be disappointed no matter the outcome, especially because its not something we can completely control.

Please let me know if you have any more Q's, I would love to help!

kristi&p · April 2014

I am late I know but reading all the information that you ladies are able to give is amazing!!! I just got back from vacation and have an LC that I am talking to through email. She keeps telling me the more time I have to prep the better the outcome. Now I just have to schedule a time to meet her but I really dont think I want to schedule anything until we are sure my SO is pregnant.

healz413 the links you have put are great help.

@amandag47 you providing your experience is truly great. I tell me SO a lot about your experience and it really makes us optimistic

healz413 · April 2014

Hey Folks,
I just realized that I forgot to post the induced lactation check-in yesterday and now it's a holiday weekend.
I'm thinking I"ll just wait until next Thursday to post, unless anyone disagrees.
Feel free to update on this thread, though, if you'd like.

Want a personalized experience?

Induced Lactation Check-In 4/3/14 (posted early)

Re: Induced Lactation Check-In 4/3/14 (posted early)

Choose Another Board

Search Boards