First, I have to say: wow. Here I thought I was bumbling along trying to induce lactation and you all made me feel like a breastfeeding rockstar (heh). Thanks.
The size of my boobs is making me feel like a different kind of star, but that’s a story for another day.
A couple of things about your comments:
Both Jen and Sarah talked about using the SNS and it sounds like it just might get easier. I’m relieved. I’ve also ordered the Lact-Aid, which I hear is easier. I’ll keep you posted, but if anyone has any advice about that one I’d love to hear it.
Michelle, thanks for the reminder about skin-to-skin. I’ve been stripping us both down when I breastfeed, but hadn’t thought to do it when I’m pumping. Maybe if I hang him upside down by his ankles while I’m attaching the double pump…
Finally, Art-Sweet asked if NSG had also thought about trying to induce lactation. That’s a definite advantage of having four breasts in a relationship. We did talk about it a lot, and initially she was interested. That said, it’s only in the last few years that she’s started to really recover from a chronic illness, and when we talked to our homeopath about it, he felt like it would take too much energy out of her.
Given that I was still planning to do it, she was willing to let it go and has thrown herself into being as supportive of me doing this as she can – and it HELPS. I won’t pretend that she hasn’t felt jealous at all, which is also compounded by her going back to work and my being on leave. But we’re trying to talk about it and do what we can. She bathes him, burps him as soon as I’m done feeding him, shares night feedings with me, snuggles with him on the couch while I make dinner, wears him in a wrap when we go for walks, etc. That’s definitely helped alleviate some of the jealousy.
Even if Guatebaby isn’t interested in the boob, she would still benefit from breast milk, so if you’re both interested, I say try it!
I’ll keep posting about this, and please keep the comments and advice coming. It’s really very much appreciated.
Next up… I’m hoping to get all the things I felt too vulnerable to blog about in July onto paper (screen) and really tell the story of how we came to be Roo’s mamas and second family.
Round is funny 
Way to go. Sounds like you are doing really well. I would say though to try feeding him just sraight brom the breast and see what he does, if he gets on and stays on then he is getting enough milk to be satisfied. And it might take a little longer to finish a feeding, but it will also increase your supply. And then I wouldn’t even worry about the SNS. And if he seems satisfied after feeding on both sides, don’t even offer him the bottle. Just wait and see how long he goes before he is hungry again and put him right back on the breast. And you might find that he might only need extra milk every other feeding or so, and the more he actually nurses the more your supply will increase and the faster it will increase. So that is just my 2 cents. I had a hard time getting my supply back after I was sick, and was trying to pump and it just wasn’t working. So I just went to feeding him every hour for a few days and started some reglan, and it took about three days and my supply was back full force. It may take longer since you are just starting to get milk, but it might work for you as well. I hope the little man is doing well. And the mammas aren’t to sleep deprived.
congrats on the lactating! I’m impressed by your perseverance. Nursing my babies was the best thing I’ve ever done and I was a bit sad when they weaned themselves. You have my thoughts and well wishes. Wish I had particular advice, but I don’t know much about inducing lactation (though I’ve been terribly fascinated by it!)
Anyhow, didn’t mean to ramble, just offer congrats on your expanded family and all kinds of positive thoughts your way! Looking forward to hearing your story. 🙂
let us know if the lactaid is better. the people over there at Ask Lenore seem to say so but I think they also drink a lot of the lactation koolaid if you know what I mean…they are all about the same pump, too…
WAY TO GO GIRL!!!! It won’t be long and you won’t even need a SNS or to pump unless you want to collect any extra to up your supply to feed in a bottle. If he had milk leaking out of his mouth and a big burp he was satisfied. Awwwwwww so sweet. I second the comment of putting him to the breast for every feed and your milk supply will go beyond what you expect as opposed to using the pump. Also try to remember the more feedings you get in through the day the less he will make up for at night. If you miss even one feeding you can be sure that little darling will make up for every ounce in the wee hours of the morning.
Congratulations on your bundle of joy and bf success.
I’ll stop now. I could go on for pages about bf. Sorry. 🙂
Happy to hear of your success and can’t wait to read the “rest of the story.” Am I dating myself with that comment? Probably. LOL
I’m really proud of you! It sounds like you are doing an awesome job with the bf’ing! I used a Lact-aid and can’t say enough about it!! So, so much more convenient and comfortable that the SNS. And the owner/developer is an adoptive mom, so it more specifically suits our needs – discrete, durable, non-obtrusive. I used it with every feeding for the whole time my little guy nursed (8 months). I would have loved to have stopped with the Lact-aid, but I just didn’t produce enough (didn’t use Dom), and he learned only to suck for nutrition with the tube against his lips. Smarty pants! Anyway, I would love to give you any tips about the Lact-aid but don’t want to go on here. Please feel free to email me with any specific questions!!! Take care! Keep your calories and water up!
Way to go with the breastfeeding!!! Sounds like you are doing great. I agree with the others that he is probably getting more (maybe a lot more) than you pump. I am on the Dom for low supply, and have been using the Lact-aid, too. Its not a magic bullet or anything but I do like it a lot — though it is a pain to clean and takes a little getting used to. Took me about two weeks to really get the hang of it, though I was only using it about 3 times a day or so. I did find it was sometimes hard for her to get the formula out of it, but that was probably partly user error (getting the tube positioned correctly) and her poor sucking/latch. It has gotten better, though!Keep up the good work!
Wow, I can’t believe you have little Roo and congrats on your breast-feeding! That totally rocks, I think it’s awesome. Good luck, I’m sure it will get easier.
Congratulations on your success with breastfeeding baby Roo! I’m in awe, and I hope to follow in your footsteps before too long. You’ll be my online BF mentor, okay?
I wonder if your lactation consultant can recommend a colleague in Worcester. If we’re going to have a newborn, I’d really like to start inducing lactation once our homestudy is approved. If you have any tips for me on how to start contacting folks, please let me know! Thanks.
Wow this brings back so many memories for me! I used (and still own) 2 SNS and wouldn’t give them up for anything. It makes me sick when I hear some bio mom of a 3 month old tell me how she-didn’t-have-enough-milk-so-I-quit-nursing. Puleeze!! I have told more than one IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHAT I WENT THROUGH FOR EVERY SINGLE DROP! I was able to ditch the SNS when Denny was 9 months old. That was an awesome day! Congratulations. Success in adoptive nursing isn’t just measured in milk, it’s also measured in connectedness to your baby. It sounds like you’ve got that part down. The rest will come.