Milk update

I just wanted to mention that my milk has come back full throttle. I was desperate and called Oliver's doctor and my doctor too. I asked my doctor (her partner really. She was outta town.) to prescribe domperidone. But Oliver's doctor asked me not to take it until I tried the herbal supplements, which I did. I took Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle. The second supplement I took because one of my favorite parenting / breastfeeding authors, Dr. Jack Newman, recommended taking it in conjunction with Fenugreek to encourage lactation.

The herbs began to work within a couple of days. Now, while my supply was rapidly dwindling, I was still able to breastfeed Oliver. I just was not able to pump anything extra. In just 2-3 days, at each pumping session I was able to pump 2 oz per breast. That made me very happy and relieved. By Thursday I was fairly confident the herbs were working. During my weekend away, I pumped a total of 4-5 oz's at each session, pumping at 8am, 10am, Noon, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm. In the morning I got 8-9 oz's after a full night's sleep!

My milk supply has maintained and I've finally worked out parallel feeding/pumping sessions with Oliver's care givers so that he will not eat more than I can pump. It's only taken me 5 months to figure this out. I'm getting better. I think I'm finally ready to take on child #2. But that's a whole other post!