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My breastfeeding experience as an Intended Mother
Total Views: 677 - Total Replies: 6
Apr 15 2011, 4:58 pm - By Kristen_IM


When we were going through our first surrogacy, I met with my son's future pediatrician to basically introduce my DH and I and get to know him and let him know our situation and that we were just months away from having a child. It was then he suggested that I try to breastfeed. I looked at him like he was crazy at first, I had never thought about it or thought it was possible. He's a
lactation specialist and recommended some herbs & Domperidone for
increasing lactation, then recommended getting in touch with Lenore, from http://www.askLenore.com. So, after contacting her, she sent me this information I thought I'd share with everyone.. Oh, please keep in mind I was only 1 month away from my son's birth, so she sent me an "accelerated protocol", so if you're interested, check out her website or contact her for the extended protocol:

"Accelerated protocol"

What most mothers in your situation do is follow the accelerated protocol for a full 30 days without pumping. The medications recommended by Dr. Jack Newman and the doctors at our breastfeeding clinic are Ortho 1/35 (once daily, only active pills, no sugar pills, no periods) and domperidone (10 mg 4 times per day for the first week and then increase to 20 mg 4 times per day).

Domperidone is available at some compounding pharmacies in the US but they can be very expensive and some do not prepare the compound exactly. If you do not experience breast changes or if you start to develop an itchy rash, please consider obtaining your domperidone from www.globaldrug.tv which obtains it from a pharmaceutical company. It's far less expensive and no adverse side effects have been reported from this source.
 
Once you have completed at least 30 days on the combination of Ortho 1/35 (once a day, note these days we prefer Ortho 1/35 to Yasmin) and domperidone (20 mg 4 times a day) and have experienced significant breast changes you can stop the Ortho 1/35, maintain the domperidone and begin pumping with a double electric breast pump. A hand pump is just not up to the job. The double electric pump fools your body into thinking you have a really hungry set of twins at the breast and is the fastest way to increase your milk supply. The most reliable pumps are the Medela Pump n Style (buy) and the Medela Lactina Select (rent). A new pump has become available recently that many mothers have started using with excellent results. It's the PJ junior by Limerick . It has flexible breast shields that compress the breast while suction is applied, acting very much like a baby at the breast. It's available through Joan.Ortiz@limerickinc.com
 
You’ll need to pump every 3 hours and once during the night. Some mothers report it helps to eat oatmeal for breakfast at least 3 times a week and drink 6 glasses of water a day but it's important that you don’t make yourself sick.
 
You can expect clear drops, which become more opaque. Then spray, then stream. It may take a few days, a week, or two, or more for you milk supply to come in. Everyone is different.
 
If your baby arrives before you have completed the acelerated protocol you simply maintain your medications, and put your baby to the breast with the help of a supplemental feeding tube device such as a Lact-aid www.lact-aid.com or Medela SNS filled with either donor breastmilk or formula. Once the 30 days are complete, you would stop the Ortho 1/35, maintain the domperidone, and continue to breastfeed but try to pump for about 10 minutes after most feeds to build your milk supply.

I hope this helps if you're an IM interested in breastfeeding.. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to produce very much milk and after a couple of weeks after he was born I had to stop due to palpitations. I'm on heart medications (part of why I can't carry my own child) and I was not able to take the herbs suggested due to my medications and the effect that they would have, so that is probably why I wasn't able to produce as much milk. I also started having palpatations and due to my heart condition, I felt it was best to stop pumping.. I'm interested in hearing from those who have tried this and were successful... or not successful..

Ready for Journey #2 with an amazing friend!!
Jul 04 2011, 7:48 am - Replied by: Amanda_GS


Kristen, I was going to ask you about this the other day, but I didnt want you to look at me crazy.  DId you end up nursing Brax?  Are you going to with the next?

The Gift of LIFE: God's calling ME!
Sep 06 2011, 7:00 pm - Replied by: Kristen_IM


Ok, how did I JUST notice your response!! Sorry I just noticed you responded to my post!! I wouldn't have looked at you crazy! I tried nursing him for about 2 weeks.. I had to start the accelerated protocol, because it wasn't until I talked to my pediatrician shortly before Braxton's birth that I realized I could breastfeed. I was on Domperidone to help with the lactation and started pumping right before he was born. Unfortunately, I started having lots of heart complications not realizing that Domperidone was interacting with my other heart meds.. I started having a lot of chest pain & palpitations so I had to stop . I wasn't producing very much milk, but the little I did I was very proud of! I was very disappointed I wasn't able to continue, and will not be able to do this again. My cardiologist did not recommend that I continue with the protocol then, so I doubt I'll be able to this time.

Ready for Journey #2 with an amazing friend!!
Dec 20 2011, 1:40 pm - Replied by: tnchick


This is very interesting. I hadn't even thought about nursing. I'm sorry you were unable to. That's something to think about.

Need some help please
Dec 23 2011, 10:42 am - Replied by: Kristen_IM


If I didn't already have a heart condition, I'm sure this probably would've worked much better for me!

Ready for Journey #2 with an amazing friend!!
Dec 23 2011, 10:57 am - Replied by: want2bemom


I plan on trying this, that is if we can get started on our journey! I'm so glad I found this website. Very informational

Just want a family..
Feb 23 2012, 12:23 pm - Replied by: experiencedx4


One of my IM's also breastfed her new baby son.  By the time baby was born, she had quite a collection already in the freezer.  She only breastfed for a couple of months, but she sure enjoyed it! 

Unsuccessful with Journey number 5. Looking for new IPs.
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