induced lactation

[Kezz]

Hi,

My name is Kerry and I was unable to acheive my own pregnancy of my son Ethan my cousin carried him for us through a surrogacy arrangement. I managed to breastfeed my son for 8 weeks even though I never gave birth to him. It was one of the most amazing, rewarding experiences I beleive of being a mother and it gave me a wonderful bond with him as I didnt carry him. If anyone else has done this I would love to hear from you or if anyone would like help with breastfeeding a foster baby or adopted baby I would love to help you with how I made it work for my son and I as I am now going to prepare for it again as my cousin is going to have another baby for us and I want to breastfeed this one for as long as I can also.:)

[kyeaj]

WOW, that's amazing!!! I never thought that it was possible to do this and think it is a great way to bond with your baby! Good on you!!!:D

[JenNT]

Hi, wow thats great, I recently saw a show where a lday on tv did this
I had a bad experience trying to breastfeed and often wonder now at 5.5 months if its possible to relactate somehow? I wonder if it would come together better now that he is older and im less stressed etc.......has anyone achieved this....and Kezza can i ask what was involved to make you lactate.
They gave me maxolon to try and help me but it did nothing and my milk ( which was minimal) dried up in no time.

Thats wonderful what you cousin has done for you...miracle none the less :D
Cheers Jen

[cwsmum]

I had a bad experience trying to breastfeed and often wonder now at 5.5 months if its possible to relactate somehow? I wonder if it would come together better now that he is older and im less stressed etc.......has anyone achieved this....and Kezza can i ask what was involved to make you lactate.

My DD is 12weeks and I am also wondering the same thing? I stopped breastfeeding when bub was about 3weeks old...I was too stressed by christmas, my almost 3yr old DS and some badly cracked & bleeding nipples and I was going slightly mad :p

[JenNT]

I am really keen to find out as bub keeps going for the boob all the time and it breaks my heart that i've got nothing now :(

Be great if it was easy!

[the_queen]

Here's some links related to relactation:


http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation.html
http://www.artofbreastfeeding.com/relact.html
http://breastfeed.com/resources/arti...elactation.htm
http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/nat...tfeeding01.htm


I wish I'd known about relactation after we had to stop breastfeeding (long painful story...)

Fenugreek (not sure if it's a herb or a vegetable, I've only read about it, not actually bought or taken it) is said to increase breastmilk production.

A pint of Guiness a day is supposed to help too!!! I'd definately try it, but wait an hour after drinking it before feeding LOL !!!!

[JenNT]

Thanks for that Queen and sorry for steering your thread off track Kazz.
:) Jen

[JenNT]

OOPS KEZZ sorry I have called you everything but tonight :rolleyes:

[occbee]

Kezz, that's fantastic. Such a great experience for you both. :D :D :D .

And just to keep things off track a bit longer - those interested in relactation - it is definitely possible. Kezz has to be testimony to that, if she can do it without physically giving birth. The ABA have some fantastic counsellors experienced in relactation, so if you are really interested give them a call. They also hire out breastpumps etc.

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/

[Kezz]

The web site that I found all of this information on is www.asklenore.com.
she is a doctor who has devised up a protocol for all sorts of lactation. I followed the protocol by going on the pill for 6 months, combined with Domperidone without taking the sugar pills so as not to have a bleed, then on the last month take the sugar pills and a very heavy bleed occurs, stop the pill but continue domperidone and your body is convinced that you have just given birth so it releases very high levels of the hormones used to lactate. When the bleed commences you start taking fenungreek herb 3 times a day and another very good herb for milk supply is blessed thistle which I also took 3 times a day when I started on these herbs I hired a breast pump from nursing mothers and started to express and stimulate the breasts 4 times a day. After 2 weeks of the herbs and pumping my milk started to come in full on and I was flooded with it after 4 weeks. Our boy was born 4 weeks early so I had a full on supply when he was born the only trouble that I had was that he was severely constipated and did not pass the meconium for over 5 days this had the doctors stumped but my midwife who was helping me with my breastfeeding said afterwards that it was because I did not produce that intial colostrum which for the baby is their natural laxative, so next time we are prepared and now experienced to know what to do about the intital constiaption. I can honestly say that taking all of the drugs and herbs and the pain associated with the initial pumping was so worth it that is why I am doing it again for the next. If you want to start feeding again all you need to do is stimulate the breasts whether that be by pumping or by baby suckling and sooner or later your milk supply will come back this is how they do it in 3rd world countries when women die others breastfeed their baby for them just by putting it to their breast the stimulation starts the milk production. Fenungreek and blessed thistle made a lot of difference for me also. hope this helps:)

[Angelmist♥]

What a great thread! I had a lot of drama's with breastfeeding and was also wondering about re-lactation.Thank you all so much!

And Kezz, what a saint your cousin must be! Congratulations!!!