Author Archives: juliebyers

Or, Breastfeeding After Reduction Surgery–Part 2.  In case you missed it, part 1 found here.

My primary sources for choosing my milk-making plan are the books Defining Your Own Success, Mother Food, and The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk.  Please note:  this is MY plan.  It is not to be interpreted as advice to others.  Some of these herbs and medications are controversial and not without risk.

During Pregnancy

I’ve added Alfalfa to my diet.  Yep, the same thing farmers give to cows to increase production. 

Beginning in week 37, I will add Goat’s Rue tincture.  10-15 drops 3x daily.  Thank you Carey for sharing your homemade tinctures! 

Beginning in week 38, I will take 1 Chasteberry supplement daily–ending on Birth day.

Just before due date:  I’ll pick up a hospital grade pump so I’ll be set to go.

Postpartum

I’ve ordered Domperidone from Italy (where it is available over the counter).  Because of lots of FDA/big pharma politics, it is not available in the US except in compounding pharmacies. 

My babe will be skin-to-skin as much as possible.  If you’re visiting me postpartum, be prepared!  The Moby and My Baby Nest will be close friends.   

I’ll begin pumping as I can.  Hey, I remember the postpartum whirlwind, so I’m giving myself some leeway on this one.

I have a huge stash of Mother’s Milk Tea which I’ll mix with my nettles, caraway, and oatstraw.  I grew to love the taste of MM tea when Norah was itty. 

The trusty fenugreek and blessed thistle will make an appearance.  The sweet smell of maple syrup will be in the air.  And I’m toying with the idea of Shatavari.  Some sources suggest it might duplicate the work of domperidone.  Others say it does something different.  Maybe I’ll hold off. 

I will continue the alfalfa, my prenatals (containing spirulina), goat’s rue, and cal-mag.     

Food

If I can tolerate it, I’ll add blackstrap molassas to my mother’s milk tea.  I’ve been trying it for iron this week and it is a tough flavor to swallow. 

I’d like to find a coffee-substitute made with chicory, malt, and barley (all lactogenic).  Anyone?  I’ve heard the brand names CARO, Roma, Caffix, Pero or Dandy Blend.  But I don’t know where they might be sold.

Barley water is on the menu along with oatmeal, tahini, and pesto (for the basil and garlic).  I’d like to explore some ways to add millet to the diet but I haven’t worked with that grain much.  Ideas? 

Oh, and a sweet friend donated 200 oz of her breastmilk in case supplementation (hopefully) temporary is needed.  What a gift!!

Acupressure

I’ve looked at two points that might help with milk supply.  Cassandra, I’ll look to you for a lesson!  The points are Absolute Yin Meridian of the arm-Point 1 and Meridian of the Spleen- Point 12. 

Hypnosis

I completed my Hypnobabies training last weekend and will use some of these techniques including their breastfeeding hypnosis CD. 

Sounds overwhelming, yes?  Well, I have a small window to build a milk supply.  A short-term madness.  As a BFAR mama, I have one shot.  So, I’ll give it everything and then slowly back away from things as I evaluate success.  Scott is 100% certain and 100% supportive.  He understands that my only task for the first few weeks is building a milk supply.  And I have amazing friends and family who will surround me with love (and food!).

BFAR.  That is how we “survivors” refer to it.  This post is tough for me to write.  A little more intimate that I’d like to be.  But here goes. 

I had a breast reduction when I was 19.  When I found out I was pregnant years later, I scrambled to find information on BFAR.  I found Diana West’s wonderful book and website dedicated to the topic.  I learned and prepared–as much as a first-time mama can.  I knew it was a very real possibility that I would not have enough milk but I was determined to make it happen. 

My milk came in slowly.  Norah was a reluctant nurser and a fussy baby–how much because of supply, I don’t know.  We carefully recorded diaper output, weight, and feedings.  We worked closely with our midwives and the lactation consultant at our pediatrician’s office.  

On her 8th day, Norah’s blood sugar was low and our midwife gave her a bottle of supplement.  Of all the moments I wish I could change during that painful time, it is this moment.  With so many ways to feed a baby, why did it have to be a bottle?  It wasn’t even a good bottle–it was a bottle made by the formula company [read:  fast flow].  I bet you know what happened next.  Yep, nipple preference.  It would take another three weeks to woo Norah back to the breast.  The LC showed us how to use an SNS.  Norah was a smart one, though, and she learned quickly how to simply suck the SNS like a straw.  So, the LC gave us the life-saver:  a hazelbaker finger feeder.  There was no way Norah could eat from this device without getting a work-out.  No lazy gulping down milk.  It was tedious and awful; each feeding took close to an hour.  My smart little girl began to prefer another nipple then.  Mine!    

Of course, during this time, I was pumping with a hospital grade pump, taking fenugreek until I smelled like maple syrup, and guzzling mother’s milk tea.  But without the gold standard–my baby–I couldn’t reach a full supply.  The LC even prescribed Reglan which can increase milk supply (though with considerable side-effects; I would not take this drug again).  This LC told me with (I think) false optimism, “I think you’re going to be fine.  You’ll make enough.”  Then she sent me home with two cans of formula.  A second LC I saw offered the same happy message (sans formula).  Neither gave the kind of involved help I wanted/needed.  (Why didn’t I contact La Leche League?  I have no idea and cannot remember now.  I think I didn’t want to *bother* someone.  I was paying the other LC’s).     

Thus began a routine of nursing Norah at the breast and then supplementing.  And then pumping.  An exhaustive, emotional journey.  I would proudly nurse in public.  Then hide in a bathroom to supplement.  I furtively purchased formula and hid it under my other groceries like I was buying junk food.  I was so happy when Norah began solid foods and I could cut down the supplements.  And I threw a little party when she reached a year and I could stop using supplement entirely. 

It turned out that Norah was a boob-baby.  We enjoyed a nursing relationship until she was 19 months old.  And she would still choose to nurse if I had not made the decision to wean (pregnant with Leaf–I was a wimp–it hurt).  She still nurses her stuffed animals and has serious plans to nurse baby Cedar.  🙂

So what is the plan for Cedar?  Oh my, it is a massive and thorough plan.  Stay tuned…I’ll post THE milk-making plan in part 2.