Breastfeeding Outside the Box

This podcast episode is so absolutely rich with information and ideas, no matter what your breastfeeding outside the box situation, you won't want to pass this one up. Starting with her own "lactastrophe", Kristen shares with us how to find help, causes of low milk production such as insufficient glandular tissue (IGT) and insulin resistance, herbs and medications that can help increase milk production, sources of milk donations, LGBTQ breastfeeding, and more.

• Mothers who've birthed and breastfed before tend to make more milk.
• Mothers who work with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) tend to make more milk.
• Mothers who effectively and frequently empty their breasts make more milk, usually either by pumping with a hospital-grade breast pump or by breastfeeding with an at-breast supplementer.
• Mothers who take the medication domperidone tend to make more milk.
• Mothers who have experienced infertility due to hormonal reasons tend to make less milk.

Alyssa emphasized that nursing very frequently (up to 14 times per day) was a challenge, yet she believes it was an important factor in why she was able to breastfeed her adopted daughter without supplementation. She explained that frequently nursing her baby allowed her to get enough milk over the course of the day, even though her breasts probably didn't produce very much milk at each feeding. Producing a small amount of milk each time the breasts are emptied is referred to as "small breast storage capacity" and is typical of mothers whose bodies haven't just undergone pregnancy.

• The asklenore website* got her started with a step-by-step approach for inducing lactation, called the Newman-Goldfarb Protocol. The Newman-Goldfarb Protocol primarily consists of pumping and the use of pharmaceutical medications to induce lactation.
• Several months later, Hope discovered additional options for inducing lactation in the newly released book, Breastfeeding Without Birthing. Using some ideas she read about, she choose to enhance the steps in the Newman-Goldfarb protocol by adding some natural techniques, such as herbs and acupuncture
• Hope also discovered an amazingly supportive and informative Facebook group called Adoptive Breastfeeding.
• Hope consulted with a local International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) to help guide and support her as she induced lactation, and then with nursing once her baby arrived. To find an IBCLC in your area who works with mothers through adoption or surrogacy, see the Find a Lactation Consultant page on the Breastfeeding Without Birthing website.

• At 3 days, normal intake during a feeding is 1 ounce.
• At 1 week, normal intake during a feeding is 1.5 ounces.
• At 2 weeks, normal intake during a feeding is 2-2.5 ounces.
• At 1-6 months, normal intake during a feeding is 3-4 ounces

Cathy, like so many other non-birthing parents wanting to induce lactation or relactate, is trying to unravel all of the varying information she has received. So she emailed us for help. When I suggested we might share her email on the podcast so that we could help others in her shoes, Cathy agreed. This podcast episode is devoted to addressing Cathy's questions, concerns, and confusion around the basics of how to induce lactation/relactate -- and you might find it addresses some of yours as well! Below is the email that is the inspiration for today's episode:

For as long as I've known my podcast co-host Hope Lien, she has been my go-to person for questions about at-breast/chest supplementation. When nursing her daughter by adoption (pictured here), at-breast supplementation was a key to her success - as it is for most parents who need to provide long-term supplementation. She understands first-hand how frustrating at-breast/chest supplementation can be at the beginning and how invaluable it can be in the long run. Getting from frustration to long-term success is the key and Hope tells us how!

View full show notes Here: http://sweetpeabreastfeeding.com/podcast/52-at-breastchest-supplementation-tips-and-more