Pregnant man and breastfeeding

[tankgirl73]

This is actually pretty cool -- I just read about the newborn daughter of the "pregnant man" (if you haven't heard about it, he was formerly a she, went through the whole sex change thing but kept the female parts as well). His wife is breastfeeding the baby through induced lactation (hormones and stimulation with a breast pump).

I think it's neat that this made the news... the more that people know about the possibility of induced lactation, the better (ie, "I couldn't breastfeed because I adopted").

[littlecityfarmer]

I've been kinda following this story-- thumbs up for the family!! I wondered if there was a way for baby to breastfeed... I'm so glad that things are working out for them!

[Jaysfamily]

How can you induce lactation through hormones? I thought pumping and herbal supplement, maybe some domperidone were the only options. When I was only making about 3-10 ounces a day for my baby, I asked my ob if there was anything else I could take that would help me make more milk, and he said no.

[My*Scorpio]

You already had the hormones naturally from the pregnancy and birth.

[MilkTrance]

Originally Posted by tankgirl73

This is actually pretty cool -- I just read about the newborn daughter of the "pregnant man" (if you haven't heard about it, he was formerly a she, went through the whole sex change thing but kept the female parts as well). His wife is breastfeeding the baby through induced lactation (hormones and stimulation with a breast pump).

I think it's neat that this made the news... the more that people know about the possibility of induced lactation, the better (ie, "I couldn't breastfeed because I adopted").

WOW. Really? GOOD for them. They have had to make some very, very difficult decisions and sacrifice a lot for their babe. If only all parents were so giving.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by My*Scorpio

You already had the hormones naturally from the pregnancy and birth.

Although that does make me wonder if some cases of low supply are from low prolactin levels.

Anyway, way awesome about another baby getting to nurse!

[Hemiola]

I asked my ob if there was anything else I could take that would help me make more milk, and he said no.

Sadly, MD's are often some of the worst resouces of information about breastfeeding I hope yours offered support!

http://www.asklenore.info/breastfeed...html#protocols (scroll down to adoptive breastfeeding)

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/adopt/rel...resources.html

[Shenjall]

This is so cool. I'd like to know where the heck I've been as this is the first I've heard about this family! lol

Congrats to them all. :

[MaryJaneLouise]

Originally Posted by Jaysfamily

How can you induce lactation through hormones? I thought pumping and herbal supplement, maybe some domperidone were the only options. When I was only making about 3-10 ounces a day for my baby, I asked my ob if there was anything else I could take that would help me make more milk, and he said no.

For adoptive moms, the Newman-Goldfard protocol includes taking birth control pills first, then stopping, to simulate a pregnancy and birth (not very effectively but better than nothing). Then you do the pumping / herbals / domperidone treatments.

Unfortunately, most of the non-medical world thinks there is some magic pill or "hormone" you can take to induce lactation or improve supply. We low supply mamas would wish! :.

[tankgirl73]

Heh... I was just roughly paraphrasing the news blurb I read, which simply said hormones and stimulation through pumping. I have NO idea what specific protocal they followed!

I'm assuming they had to go through a massive amount of trouble to get her lactation going... I have nothing but respect for her dedication!

[JessasMilkMama]

Here is the link to them talking about it

http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008...nt-man-su.html


And a picture of the baby
http://www.people.com/people/article...214360,00.html

[mytwogirls]

wow.

[Love_My_Bubba]

Originally Posted by Jaysfamily

How can you induce lactation through hormones? I thought pumping and herbal supplement, maybe some domperidone were the only options. When I was only making about 3-10 ounces a day for my baby, I asked my ob if there was anything else I could take that would help me make more milk, and he said no.

My DS was EBF and refused bottles so when he was about 4 mo and I went to nurse him to sleep and had NO milk I freaked. She suggested a drug to stimulate lactation that I tried and it made me severely depressed. My LLL leader at the time did some digging for me and suggested Domperidone. You have to get it from a compounding pharmacist and it's actual use is for gastrointestinal disease but a side effect is an increase in the production of prolactin. It has been given directly to children in the past and very little secretes into breastmilk. Anyway, I took it 3 times a day for over a year and never had one side effect (me or DS) except for having TONS of milk. DS thrived and I slowly weaned myself off as DS started more solids and now he's 2.5 and nurses twice a day and I have just enough milk to make him happy (most days )

[elizaMM]

Originally Posted by Jaysfamily

How can you induce lactation through hormones?

I may be pulling this out of my bum (is there a rule about a$$?) but I think it has to do with mimicking the hormones during pregnancy, and then the dramatic change (drop in hormones?) that occurs during/after birth, so you boobs/brain think (know) there's a babe to feed.

[waylonsmama]

I was actually coming here to post this. I was so happy to read that the mama was bfing.

[mama_lola]

That's so awesome!

[ma_vie_en_rose]

How wonderful for them!

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by Jaysfamily

How can you induce lactation through hormones?

The protocols to induce lactation in mothers who are are not giving birth to the baby (the non-pregnant partner in a same sex couple, or adopting or having a child through surrogacy, etc) often have several months of birth control pills taken without a break to simulate the hormones of pregnancy. Domperidone is taken to increase prolactin levels, and then when the hormone hills are stopped, pumping starts, which stimulates milk production.

Moms who have given birth and are now breastfeeding but want to increase the suppy don't take the hormones (that would severely decrease milk production) but often do take domperidone (or herbs) and pump.

Hope that helps

[tallulahma]

that is great!

i also love that this is making the news!

[ananas]

Wow, cool! As much as the whole "pregnant MAN" thing drives me nuts, that is pretty awesome.