AUTHOR: M. DATE: 9:34:00 PM ----- BODY:

I'm inspired by the good things happening over at Milkshake, American Family's new adoptive breastfeeding blog. Warning: if you don't want to read about my breasts, STOP READING NOW. (You know who you are). As she wrote today: how the heck do you squeeze water from a stone? I'm working on it my own way. I've been debating about whether or not to write about my plans for adoptive breastfeeding. I vacillate between wanting to be completely open and all "hell yeah look what my body can do even without growing a kid first" and being cowed by our culture's "ick factor" around breastfeeding in general. Besides, I followed the firestorm at Afrindie Mum's about adoptive breastfeeding a while back and was a little hesitant to tie myself on those particular train tracks at a time when we're feeling pretty vulnerable. But this is ridiculous. I make my living talking about things that many people would prefer never to say out loud. And, though it does happen that we have a potential placement on the close-by horizon, I'm not inducing lactation specifically for this kid (though I hope this is the one who will eventually be our kid), and I'm not planning on hiding anything from the birth family. Ultimately, if all goes well, this is about Building a Healthy Baby. So enough with the caveats. I decided when we started this adoption process that I wanted to try adoptive breastfeeding, but I knew I wasn't going to start trying to induce lactation until we were done with our home study and ready to go. My goals are to produce enough breast milk to have some impact on my kid's immune system, and to do something that will promote bonding and provide comfort. I figure my body has never done this before, so if I get to a point where I can provide 10% of this kid's nutrition, that's 10% more than he or she would get otherwise. I looked first at the Newman-Goldfarb accelerated protocol, since the time between when we were ready to go and when we got this call was so short that it seemed like it might make sense to try to do this fast. It involves birth control pills, domperidone (which I think you need to buy on-line from Mexico), herbs, and fenugreek. They recommend pumping every 3 hours and once at night. I panicked. Drugs from Mexico, 18-25 pills a day, pumping every three hours in an office with no privacy... and besides: when I call our family doctor, the one who has been seing both me and my wife for years, and ask for birth control pills, that might require an appointment to do a little 'splainin'. My midwife sister-in-law steered me towards a lactation consultant who talked me off the ledge. She said I could start now, but if I wanted to I could also even wait until I have a baby. Since I wanted to get started, she said to take fenugreek (3 pills twice a day), get some fenugreek tea, and use a hand pump for 10 minutes at a time, 3 times a day. She cautioned me to keep my expectations low, but said that skin-to-skin contact and "mom instinct" would kick in and give the process a boost when I do have a baby. At her suggestion, I also ordered a Supplemental Nursing System, this fancy little gadget that you actually tape to your breast if you're not producing breast milk (or enough breast milk) and still want the other benefits while feeding your kid formula. It can help stimulate more milk production in the same way that breastfeeding keeps nursing moms producing milk. Anyway, the tea smells like ass, and I can't get it past my nose. But pills are easy, and the pump is making me a little sore but it's nothing I can't live with at this point. And of course there's something fun and self-righteous about complaining about sore boobs when it's for this particular purpose (hard-core breastfeeders, go ahead and laugh... I'm sure the self-righteousness will wear off soon enough). And it helps enormously that I can talk about this with the lactation consultant, my sister-in-law, and my friend the Breastfeeding Goddess. Anyway, this is day 11 of the pills and day 4 of pumping and guess what I got: 3 of the teensiest, tiniest little drops of breast milk you ever did see. Whoo! I can produce enough to keep an ant alive for an hour! But it's a start. I'm happy. More to come. (Blogging about it, I mean. But hopefully more breastmilk too).

-------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:10:45 PM COMMENT-BODY:You can also do just dom and herbs without the BCP. I order my Dom from New Zealand and haven't had a problem.

When I went to my nurse practitioner to tell her what I am going to do, I came prepared with a printout of the protocol. She wouldn't write the scrip for the Dom, but she gave me the Yasmin without flinching even though I already have an IUD.

After just 3 weeks on the protocol, I can hand express multiple drops with no effort at all. It is freaky, really. I am glad to be in such good company as I try to figure this all out! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Elizabeth F. COMMENT-DATE:11:27 PM COMMENT-BODY:Well good luck with the BFing. I happen to find you and will visit to get an update. I have some experiene with Lactation, and I have read that you can take Fenugreek 3 times a day. I read that you were taking it twice. You might want to check into that. BFing is so impt!!! Not only to meet the nutritional needs of your baby, but maybe even more importantly their emotional needs.

"The newborn baby has has only 3 demands. They are the warmth in the arms of it's mother/father, food from her breasts, and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three." Dr. Grantly Dick-Read

You may even want to check out some books on Attachment Parenting, wear your baby in a sling, or in general keep baby close to promote bonding. Good luck! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:11:35 PM COMMENT-BODY:you can get domperidone in the states as well. If your doctor is willing to write you a prescription, you can get it from a compounding pharmacy (Found in most major metropolitan areas). You do pay american prices, but it is available. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Dyke One COMMENT-DATE:1:48 AM COMMENT-BODY:that's awesome that it's working! my sister induced lactation for my neice (born via gestational carrier) and she had enough milk for homefeedings, but did have to supplement with formula after she went back to work.

congratulations on the three drops!! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Shirky COMMENT-DATE:8:51 AM COMMENT-BODY:I was all excited to get a package from vanuatu. so exotic! but the medicine is made in Germany. How boring is that. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: FemiKnitMafia COMMENT-DATE:9:11 AM COMMENT-BODY:Holy shit, that's incredible! Well done. You got that boob lube we included in your first installment of baby goods, right? Wifey claims it works wonders. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: nina beana COMMENT-DATE:9:44 AM COMMENT-BODY:you are really inspiring. regardless of what some naysayers may say(ers), even thinking about doing what you're doing is so special. good luck during the whole process- and let me know if there's anything you need (i might have it) or if you need to debrief or prebrief. i'm here! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: carrym COMMENT-DATE:11:06 AM COMMENT-BODY:You are quite wonderful for sharing everything you are going through. Good luck with the breastfeeding, isn't it wonderful how our bodies can do these things? Definitely don't sweat other peoples' "ick factor" your body, your baby, your choice! Way to go!!! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Elowyn COMMENT-DATE:12:20 PM COMMENT-BODY:Good for you! I'm doing the "regular Newman protocol" but all of us ABF-ers (or wannabes) have to stick together! Rah! :D -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Clementine COMMENT-DATE:12:58 PM COMMENT-BODY:That's awesome! If we get an infant, I'm planning to induce lactation when s/he arrives. It's good to know that other folks are writing and talking about ABF. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: art-sweet COMMENT-DATE:9:55 PM COMMENT-BODY:I'm so psyched that so many people out there are doing this - and talking about it!

I was planning on it when Pili was pregnant, and AmFam has inspired me that I might be able to do it even with a little one who's used to the bottle already.

I'm just scared we'll get a little one who's got teeth already.

Congrats on the ant food! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:11:42 PM COMMENT-BODY:That's fantastic. I really hope those first little drops are the beginning of something really important for your family. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Amyesq COMMENT-DATE:11:51 PM COMMENT-BODY:Good luck! Will be starting the protocol myself soon so I'll will be waiting to read your boob news with bated breath. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:8:36 AM COMMENT-BODY:I think that's AWESOME. I nursed my two bio sons for 18 and 19 months and so missed being able to nurse my adopted daughter -- she was 10 months when she came to us so inducing lactation off the table. It is really the best most wonderful way to bond. Definitely use the assistant thing -- even with my daughter I fed her bottles skin to skin and she loved the warmth and contact. Good luck!
DS-L -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:5:06 PM COMMENT-BODY:Sorry, but I had to put a link to this t-shirt. I actually saw a girl wearing one of these and was so disturbed. But in light of your post and the website, it's kind of funny. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: King Noah COMMENT-DATE:5:27 PM COMMENT-BODY:Oh My, I was away from my computer for a few weeks and missed the live updates and great news from your blog. I am definitely crossing my fingers for you. I'll keep reading about your breastfeeding inducing experience. I also read Afrindiemum's blog on this but the more feedback I get, the less scared I might be about the whole process. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Lollipop Goldstein COMMENT-DATE:9:01 PM COMMENT-BODY:Go go go three drops! I think it's fantastic that you're doing this. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: M3 COMMENT-DATE:9:34 PM COMMENT-BODY:I say screw what anyone thinks - it's your body and your blog. So write away. Personally the adoptive breastfeeding isn't my thing, but I sure think it's interesting to hear about. Good luck! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:1:27 AM COMMENT-BODY:Congrats on the drops---next it'll be sprays;-)!

I abf'd my daughter from birth without using anything other than a supplemental system (lact-aid.com has a system that is MUCH better than the sns for adoptive or supplemental nursing. I highly reccomend it). I probably got a quarter to a third of a supply on my own, and we were doing fine with that.

But when my daughter developed a milk allergy at five months, I decided to try and produce more breastmilk using dom, as fenugreek gave me the spins, literally. Not fun. I was able to up my supply to probably three quarters on only 40mgs a day (half of the recommended dose). We did away with formula (and the lact-aid) entirely once she started eating solids.

So, there are lots of options out there for an breastfeeding adoptive mom! You can tailor any "protocol" to fit your own needs. I had never breastfed a child before, or been pregnant long enough to develop "the works", and was very suprised at how well my body responded....my daughter is now almost two and is still nursing (I take one dom a day now, 10mg).

The whole experience has absolutely been worth it, despite washing myriad supplementors in those early groggy days, and dealing with the occasional squicked-out relative;-). My daughter has loved nursing and I think has probably been healthier for it. I would do it again for another child in a heartbeat!

I love hearing that more and more adoptive parents are looking into breastfeeding. If you have any questions, if I can I'd be happy to answer them---good luck to you! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Sarah COMMENT-DATE:12:53 PM COMMENT-BODY:I came across your blog as you do many things on the web, one site leads to another, leads to another. I just wanted to say go you! :)Congratulations on being a strong Mama and working hard at the adoptive breastfeeding. I can't imagine how hard it must be and I admire you for wanting to give your child the very best. Take care and I'll have to book mark "this one" to see how it all turns out! :)

Sarah -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: my mind & welcome to it COMMENT-DATE:6:49 AM COMMENT-BODY:this is the first ive seen your blog, having followed the link from this womans work. i am a strong advocate of breastfeeding, having nursed my dd9 for many years.
she and i have a great relationship. (perhaps all moms and their dd9s do, i dont know.) i wd like to think its partly cause of nursing. during the first thru third year i often nursed in public. i had three overt responses. two positive, one negative (this one from afar). dont let the ick factor interfere. i think its wonderful and important for both the baby and
you. i wd write more, but must get to work. (thats prob your gain) --------