Category Archives: Lactation

Overabundant wellspring: new dilemma resolved

29 Thursday Mar 2018

Posted by in Jesus Christ, Lactation, Leakage, Lust, Milk supply, Trusting God, Women

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He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
And there he lets the hungry dwell

– Psalm 107:35-36a

Gentlemen, imagine walking through your favorite garden, the most beautiful garden of all. Further imagine that in this most beautiful garden are some water fountains. Now picture the fountains gushing not water, but milk. Warm, sweet milk overflowing till your cup runneth over. All over this lovely garden. Stop dreaming, start tasting – or at least making moves towards tasting. You can easily make this fantastic dream a reality, depending on the woman you marry.

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Autostreaming is the automatic spraying of milk from a woman’s breasts. This happens when they get so engorged that the slightest stimulation forces the milk out in a way that resembles a shower head in use, and her breasts literally become mini milk fountains. Hands-free. Fully automatic. Locked and loaded and good to go. Super Soaker everyday. From doing some research, I think I can generalize that ANR wives don’t like wasting milk. They want to see every drop go into him. I’m not a fan of waste either. I’d like spraying to only be a fun side attraction. There’s nothing like the main course, but autostreaming also happens to be incredibly erotic, arousing, exciting, beautiful — and even godly.

I’m strongly convinced that God doesn’t like dry wells, arid conditions and deserts. When listening to the radio earlier this year, a young woman working with a Christian charity — I believe it was Compassion International — said poverty was foreign to God’s original creation. It entered the world after Adam and Eve fell. She described how in the Garden of Eden, everything was available for our ancestors to eat and enjoy. I completely concur. That’s why I think breasts that are overflowing and leaking actually glorify God and point back to his original abundance prior to the Fall. Indeed, God exhorts me to let her breasts drench me at all times. Yeah, God is not at all fond of dryness.

But I have a new dilemma. Ever since the Fall, productivity/bountifulness have declined and dryness, vanity, unproductivity and waste have become our new reality. In fact, the two verses that immediately precede the italicized ones above state “He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.” So although the original dilemma mentioned in Skydiving without a parachute has been resolved, a new one has replaced it: how can I be certain that even if the primary hurdle of having her agree to an ANR has been cleared in the first place, that she would also be capable of meeting my erotic fantasy* of autostreaming/leaking, upon which I’m convinced God smiles when used as an “outlet” for a wife’s blessing?

What if I finally find her, and she gladly agrees to an ANR only to produce a few drops? This has cost me some worry and concern, even sin. An agreement to an ANR isn’t sufficient. The couple must also agree to do whatever it takes to maintain a good supply.

I’m reminded to keep things in perspective. “Son, you’re jumping the gun,” God seems to warn me at times when I get anxious. “You’ve never even been married and don’t know for sure if you’ll eventually be in an ANR. You just might die tomorrow.”

True, only God knows the end of my days and I just might die tomorrow. But I do know that statistically, I’m likely to live a few more decades and get married. As discussed in Skydiving, faith without works is dead, so I did some research in order to maximize my chances of finding a woman who meets my preferences. I have investigated some non-sinful sources (and most regrettably, some sinful ones too**) and will present my findings.

Another reason I feel I should be rest assured — but I’m not always — is I know that if future Mrs. Prov519 and I don’t give up, nurse often, she drinks lots of water, uses all the herbs available, we stick to a strict nursing schedule, (as lactation operates on a supply and demand basis), we’ll have some success getting her supply up. And if all else fails, there’s Domperidone.

For those of you who don’t like taking prescriptions, I listed it as a last resort precisely for this reason. It undoubtedly produces results, though. I’ve heard and seen pictures of the difference it makes.

But prevention is better than cure. Before even getting to that stage, it’s critical to discuss this with your would-be spouse. From now on, I’ll augment my three-point plan mentioned in Skydiving. There, I said I’ll only bring up the topic of ANR once, and if she agrees, that’s it. No more testing the boundaries by discussing it before marriage.

Now that I’m a little more mature and experienced in discussing this erotic lifestyle with potential wives, I feel more confident in talking about some of its more erotic aspects. So on my next date, after she agrees to an ANR, the next hurdle would be to ascertain that she’s likely to have a large supply. And how on earth did I go about finding that out without sinning? I’d like to think I have the profile of the ANR-likely woman nailed down by now, but what about that of the abundant wellspring-likely woman? This question cuts to the heart of my dilemma over the past 12 or so months.

From my research, I’ve seen that the key to a woman’s ability to overflow is engorgement. It’s her having such an excessive milk supply that she’s easily and frequently engorged. Having large and responsive breasts, nipples and areolas is also of secondary importance. Henceforth, I plan to tell future dates about this concern. I’ll mention that having an overabundant supply is important to me, a discussion that would have been inconceivable back when I was a legalistic Puritan. Of the last four times I introduced Couples Nursing to ladies, despite being godly women, two had no problem mentioning the word “nipples.” Sigh of relief. Not all Christians are a bunch of uptight prudes.

I have struggled with this new dilemma, albeit to a lesser degree than the original. I was especially concerned about a potential slippery slope, since the flesh never quits. If I’m wondering how responsive she is in her erogenous areas and wanting to discuss it on the first few dates, who knows what’s next, perhaps I’d want to see those erogenous areas and “find out for sure,” and you and I know the progression from that point on won’t be pretty. God won’t be smiling.

As I just said two paragraphs above, I have been on a date with a godly woman who has volunteered some of this information about her own breasts. While considering my ANR proposal, she candidly told me that she had sensitive breasts, which might be considered inappropriate information by some believers, especially for the first date. No physical boundaries were pushed, however, and nothing sinful happened. I didn’t immediately start picturing her breasts or having sex with her in my imagination, as many puritanical Christians would fear, and when we parted ways, I was able to exhort her to purity (by advising to only visit sites like Christ-centered ANR : )) and she really liked the idea of Couples Nursing. So this gives me confidence that it’s possible to take the conversation to this slightly higher level without sinning.

My renewed struggle makes us revisit the fact that Christians can sometimes be caught between a rock and a hard place. Almost all of us have certain desires, kinks or fantasies that are best left out of corporate worship and ecclesiastical discussions, especially when kids are in attendance. But unfortunately, they get left out of the church completely. I believe that in mature, small group settings, we should be able to discuss such struggles tactfully. When it comes to sex within marriage, God is extremely liberal, while He’s ultra conservative with regards to sex outside marriage, and we ought to have exactly the same approach but the problem is we tend to blur the line and conflate the two statuses, as the outside-inside tension and dramatic shift in God’s disposition toward sex depending on one’s marital status can create bewilderment and confusion for those of us believers with uncommon bedroom desires. “What if you marry someone then later find out you don’t like the sex?” asked a very liberal coworker that teaches Sunday school classes in a very liberal denomination. My response was that God in His matchless wisdom has equipped us to discern who we’re very likely to greatly enjoy sex with, even before marriage. But those of us with less common desires like Couples Nursing are in a quandary, more so if we also desire features like overabundance/spraying. In God’s design, marriage is only meant to happen once, thus the importance of making a careful decision and ensuring that our non-negotiables are met can’t be overstated.

In my quest to resolve this new dilemma, I’ve recently realized that the bottomline is doing some honest, Spirit-led introspection by asking myself how marrying a woman capable of overabundant letdown enhances my marriage biblically. What advantage would such a woman have over a godly one who makes enough milk but lacks this ability? How does a milk-spraying and overflowing wife make my marriage godlier, and paint a better picture of Christ and His sacrifice for His Bride?

My answers are as follows. First of all, in the Old Testament, God repeatedly refers to the Promised Land as the land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:8; Numbers 14:8; Deuteronomy 31:20; Ezekiel 20:15) [1]. Secondly, as mentioned in the third paragraph of this post, an ANR that entails overabundant letdown would enable us to better appreciate God’s providence and bountiful blessings on the marriage relationship. Consider Isaiah 66:11, where God says: “That you may nurse and be satisfied with [Jerusalem’s] comforting breasts, that you may suck and be delighted with her bountiful bosom.” We have even more examples of God doing things like raining down manna on the Israelites and Jesus feeding several thousands and having 12 basketfuls leftover.

Further, in John 2:6, Christ turned water into wine. Between 120 and 180 gallons of wine to be precise. If God weren’t a proponent of overflowing abundance, why would He choose to bless a brand new marital union by miraculously creating between 454 and 681 liters of wine?

Therefore, we can surely conclude that God views an abundance of nourishment as a great blessing.

Because Christ has ransomed His Bride from death with His very own blood, she owes Him her complete allegiance and must bear fruit for Him, see Ephesians 2:10.
In an analogous way, after a long hard day’s work providing for her, I’d like a wife who reciprocates by raining down her best on me. It truly is a beautiful thing when a wife wants to bear abundant fruit for her dear hardworking husband who loves her like Christ loves the Church.

Also, keep in mind that one of my biggest reasons for desiring Couples Nursing is to have my wife physically becoming part of me. The more of her in me, the better.
Likewise, the Spirit of Christ doesn’t partially indwell me. God doesn’t believe in half-hearted efforts. The only reason observers are able to see partial Spiritual fruit is my sin. My rationale is ‘why settle for a wife who can partially fill me if I can marry one that can fill me to the brim?’

And to put it quite simply, overabundant letdown/autostreaming is fun and exciting and a woman who can do that has an advantage over one who can’t.

I hope I’ve been able to convince you of the divine, biblical validity of engorged, overflowing, autostreaming breasts and how they are a sign of God’s blessing.

Single guys, from doing some** non-sinful research, I can confidently tell you that the women who produce the most milk and can therefore autostream more than the rest are Oriental Asian. But don’t book your flights to Tokyo just yet. They seem to make a lot more thin, watery foremilk than creamy, nutritious hindmilk, which I’m guessing is related to their diet. (DISCLAIMER: gentlemen, this useful bit of info is only meant to provide guidance to the single Christian man who longs for a solid Christian woman that meets his desires. If it causes you to lust or objectify Asian women, I can’t be held responsible.

I think the rules can be bent in this case for the sake of mercy and prudence, to prevent the believer from being sexually unfulfilled for the rest of his life after getting married. My study Bible notes about 1 Samuel 21:4-5, where the priest gave a famished David the holy bread which was only for consumption by priests: “Ahimelech was bending the rules, since only priests were allowed to eat the bread, and only in a holy place. However, Jesus endorsed Ahimelech’s judgment in putting mercy before ceremonial law.”)

If only the translators of Proverbs had maintained a high degree of fidelity to the original Hebrew, the entire dilemma described herein could have been averted. Had I known that God directly exhorts me to “let her breasts drench me,” such knowledge would have saved me a lot of time and sin. God does not equivocate, so “let her breasts drench you at all times” means “let her breast drench you at all times.” God is very liberal and permissive indeed when it comes to marital sex, and we ought to be the same way.

When with my future wife, I would love her to be an overflowing fountain of blessing, and us making her overflow one of the highlights of our Adult Nursing Relationship. I want to take highly confidential, tightly secured pictures and record videos : ) I want to drink from her overflowing abundance.

 

Footnotes:

*I’m cautious about using the word “fantasy.” Elder T advises against holding on to any fantasies due to Philippians 4:8: “…whatever is true … think about such things.” He has my vote, except for one qualification. I agree that the Bible teaches to focus more on the here and now rather than worrying about the unknown future, but I think some fantasies can be realistic. Ladies, if you’re waiting for an extremely handsome and godly multi-billionaire to sweep you off your feet and tell you how much he loves you every hour on the hour, 24 times a day, that’s probably not gonna happen. Guys, neither is the desire to find a Baywatch babe turned Christian who wants to have sex with you seven times a day. But if you hope (without obsessing) for an attractive Christian gentleman who wants to drink your essence daily, or a godly, well-endowed woman who would love to drench you everyday, then you’re on solid ground. They do exist. I’ve met some. I could be married to one right now if it weren’t for the inadequate chemistry. There’s a difference between exotic but realistic, and wild and imaginary.

** Christians looking for resources on ANR are often in an exceedingly difficult position. It’s a beautiful gift that’s biblical but also sexual and not highly looked upon in our day so it’s a challenge to avoid visiting disgusting sites. We need a lot more clean and Christian ANR resources so we can forgo any “insights” that the dirty ones may offer.

1. Why was Israel called the land of milk and honey? Got Questions

See also:

Let him drink deeply of your overflowing abundance

Super-producing mom donates 600 gallons of breast milk

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Favorite comments on lactation in general

28 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Breastfeeding, Jesus Christ, Lactation

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“I miss being able to lactate, actually. It was a very powerful feeling.” [That’s because your breasts are yearning to be used for their original purpose. When we realize the intrinsic value of human body parts and human life in general, our joy becomes fuller and we feel more powerful.]

“Breastfeeding helps me to maintain a basic level of respect for my body. I may not like it sometimes, and I may often wish I was smaller/firmer/flatter/tighter/more pert, but knowing my body has an important purpose helps me silence those self-destructive voices that we are all victim to at times….There’s something wonderful about breastfeeding that can’t be explained, quantified or compared. The feeling that wells up in your heart when the … person … is looking you straight in the eye whilst feeding from your breast is something quite astonishing. Breastfeeding is pure love; not just the transference of nutrients and antibodies but the fostering of love and trust that will last a lifetime.”
“PERMISSION TO BE LAZY REST. Every nursing [woman] knows that when you start breastfeeding the sofa becomes your permanent residence, your best friend, your throne. You have absolutely no choice but to let others cater to your every need. Drinks made, dinner served, house cleaned, shopping bought, cushions plumped. WAISTLINE. Breastfeeding releases hormones which cause your uterus to shrink more quickly to its pre-pregnancy size. The uterus of non-breastfeeding mothers will never shrink back. It will always remain slightly enlarged (Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. “Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity.” Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1994; 101:804-805). Furthermore, breastfeeding burns up to 500 calories per day (double that if you’re nursing twins). Unlike Weightwatchers, Slimming World and Jenny Craig, breastfeeding is proven to enhance your figure (Kramer, F., “Breastfeeding reduces maternal lower body fat.” J. Am Diet Assoc 1993; 93(4):429-33). What’s more, having a va-va-voom cleavage flatters your thinning waistline even more. NATURE’S SPLIFF. Breastfeeding makes you high, in a pleasant, calm, serene way. Nursing stimulates the release of the hormones oxytocin and prolactin in the mother’s body. These hormones relax the nursing mum and make her feel more nurturing toward her baby. The effect is similar to cannabis yet legal and you can do it in public. Furthermore, as the hormones are passed through the breast milk, nursing acts like a natural baby tranquilizer. Which leads us to… SLEEP. Whoever created the ‘lying down whilst breastfeeding’ position needs [an] award or something because it has preserved the sanity of many.”

“I’ve also never been a super touchy-feely person, often wanting my personal space, but now I can say that the act of breastfeeding is the one thing that has helped me cope with my new life with a baby. It reminds of how special and miraculous this whole motherhood thing is. It forces me to slow down and take it all in. It’s like this designated pause throughout the day — a welcomed break in the busyness of life…Who knew an I-need-my-space kind of person could love such an intimate affair? Becoming a mother is a process, but loving things I didn’t know I would or could, I now know, comes much more naturally than I thought.”

 

“It is my excuse to eat LOTS of Cake. I eat what I like.  When I like.  OK so this is mainly cake and the excuse is I’m breastfeeding I need the calories. Ok ok ok I probably don’t and if I do its from good healthy food not beautiful blissful toblerone cheesecake.  But hey.  I’m breastfeeding what’s your excuse?…  I take time out for cuddles…

Breastfeeding is AN ACHIEVEMENT. Something which is often overlooked and I, for one, I am amazingly proud of myself for achieving. I love breastfeeding for giving me that confidence to be proud in my ability to give what I want to give to my children.”

Nursing Bra Buying Guide — Consumer Reports

30 Saturday Sep 2017

Posted by in Breastfeeding, Breasts, Jesus Christ, Lactation, Women

≈ 1 Comment

[*Pardon the references to babies.]

Getting Started

Nursing bras look like regular bras, but the cups open or lower when you pull them aside, or unsnap, unzip, or unhook the closure. It’s convenient, but not essential, that you be able to open the cup for nursing quickly and simply with one hand. You might be holding your hungry baby with the other. If you can close it one-handed, too, that’s even better.

Whichever style you choose, proper fit is the key to comfort. Besides being uncomfortable, a bra that fits poorly may put pressure on your milk ducts, which can cause them to get plugged and lead to inflammation in the breast.

Many women buy the wrong-size nursing bra. A common mistake is to buy a larger band size but the same cup size you wear when you’re not pregnant. In fact, some women can stay with their original band size. The rib cage expands during pregnancy, but usually not enough to require a larger band size, although everyone is different. Some women may want to go up a band size for comfort. That’s fine as long as your bra has plenty of adjustment hooks in the back.

Most women will need a larger cup size during pregnancy. Wear what you find most comfortable and supportive–either a larger regular bra, a maternity bra, or a nursing bra that you buy early. Just as with nursing bras, an expert fitter can help you with maternity bras.

Depending on the manufacturer, cup sizes can range from A through D, then DD, DDD, E, F, G, H, and I. Another mistake, experts say, is that women may not invest in good-quality nursing bras since they don’t think they’ll be using them for long. Since this is a time when you most need extra support, it’s worth the investment to get something that will help you and keep you comfortable.

A professional fitting will ensure a comfortable fit and the correct size. Try on bras for size and feel, and practice with nursing pads in place. After you’ve bought one properly fitting bra, you can order more of the same style and size online or from a catalog. Many websites offer competitive deals.

Best for Breasts
Tempted to use your regular bra for nursing instead of a nursing bra? That’s one cost-saving measure you don’t want to make. Regular bras aren’t designed for nursing and may not give you the extra support you need to be comfortable. And lifting your regular bra up over your breast to nurse can put a lot of pressure on breast tissue.

Recommendations
The best nursing bras are comfortable and offer good support but don’t bind breasts in any way that could interfere with milk flow. For optimum support, the band and the straps should be made of nonstretchy fabric. But cups should have some “give” to accommodate your changing breast size at different phases of nursing.

Look for bras that are 100 percent cotton or a blend of cotton and Lycra or other stretchy synthetic. Since the right bra size is important and can help reduce the risk of breast-feeding complications, such as clogged milk ducts, shop at a maternity store or boutique that has an experienced bra fitter.

Talk to the Experts
Every woman’s body changes at different rates during pregnancy and after childbirth, and experts don’t all agree on when you should get fitted for nursing bras.

Pat Marcus, who founded the online company Decent Exposures after she was unable to find a comfortable bra for her larger bust, said some clients go up two cup sizes after they give birth. But in general, she says, women will find that their breasts get bigger when they first become pregnant, then their rib cage size may increase (or not). Once the baby is born, their breasts will increase again when they are ready to nurse, and then possibly decrease after a few weeks.

Marcus, who nursed her four children, tells clients to get at least one good supportive nursing bra late in their pregnancy but before they give birth, since they may not feel like going out to shop once they are home with the baby, and because their breasts might leak. “You should get one that fits your rib cage now and is a cup size bigger than what you think you need,” she says.

Jan Barger, a Chicago-area lactation consultant and registered nurse who breast-fed her three children, recommends not buying more than one nursing bra before your baby arrives because your size could be bigger once your baby is born and your milk comes in.

Barger says women should focus on getting used to nursing. To establish breast-feeding in the beginning, she says, it’s actually best if you don’t have much in the way. You’ll want your baby to figure out how to properly latch on by himself, which is critical. Meanwhile, you’ll be figuring out the most comfortable way to hold him. “For first time moms, in the first few weeks, you practically need to get naked,” she adds.

But since nursing bras are important, especially to avoid leaks and protect your nipples if they become sore during feedings as they adjust to the process, Barger recommends getting something inexpensive and easy to use at first. “Get some very comfortable sports bras for the first week or so, slightly larger than you’re wearing now, that you can pull down easily,” she says. Other experts suggest getting something similar to a sports bra, such as a “bralet,” which looks like a sports bra but has less support built into it, or a nursing “sleep bra.” You can nurse with any of these by simply pulling them; they don’t have hooks, snaps, or Velcro to worry about.

Once you get the hang of nursing and you’re more comfortable, your size will be easier to determine. That’s a great time to get professionally fitted for a nursing bra, Barger says, adding, “go out and get two or three good nursing bras.”

Your goal should be to find a nursing bra that gives you good support and feels comfortable. With a little experimenting and patience, your nursing bra will become something you don’t think about that often, just like your regular bra.

You can also discuss your choices with a lactation consultant. To find a one in your area, contact the hospital or birth center where you’ll deliver, or go to the International Lactation Consultant Association. Nursing mothers can also get support and advice from La Leche League International, a group that encourages breast-feeding through mother-to-mother support and meet-ups across the country.

Types

Just like regular bras, you’ll find a wide range of styles and prices for nursing bras. Whether you want an underwire design, a sports bra style, or a bra built into a camisole top, you can find it in a nursing bra. One innovation is the breast-pumping bra, which lets you pump milk hands-free. We haven’t tested these or any other nursing bras.

Closure locations vary depending on the bra, and include flaps that attach at the top near the shoulder strap, flaps that open and close between the two cups, and no flaps at all, where the cups just pull down for quick access. Latches vary, too. Squeeze or push-type latches are usually easy to operate with one hand compared with snaps or hooks. Here are some nursing bra types you may find available:

Sleep Nursing Bras
Most manufacturers have several nursing-bra lines, including models that are comfortable for sleeping or lounging in.

Soft-Cup Nursing Bras
You’ll also see traditional, seamless “soft cup” bras, that let you lower the cups from the hook closure near the shoulder strap.

Underwire Nursing Bras
Some women prefer an underwire style, that has clips to open the cups quickly.

Sports Nursing Bras
There are different kinds of sports nursing bras, usually wireless and made of spandex and nylon.

Tank-Top Bras
Nursing bras that are built into tank tops offer discreet nursing clips for quick breast-feeding access. “Some of my moms have had really cute cami-type tops that are made for nursing, and, especially in the summer, you don’t even notice that they are nursing tops,” says Jan Barger, a lactation consultant near Chicago.

Breast-Pumping Bras
Pumping bras can replace a nursing bra or in some cases be worn over one. They allow you to pump “hands free” with almost any brand of electric breast pump, either double or single. You can also try a pumping bustier.

Features

Support
In the world of nursing bras, support is queen. “This is when you are at your fullest,” says Rebecca Aughton, who owns a boutique near Detroit that offers a special “nursing salon.” Aughton says if you’re concerned about maintaining your figure after pregnancy and nursing, the best thing you can do is look for a really supportive nursing bra, whether or not it looks pretty or fashionable.

The best nursing bras fasten in the back but have flaps in the front for access. They also have strong side and under-cup support, and sometimes an extra-wide back for a fit that doesn’t feel tight and helps distribute the weight. Straps should be nonstretch but adjustable. Soft-cup styles usually feature a “no roll” band, which is a plus.

Extra Support
If your breasts are extra-ample, you might be a candidate for bras with extra-wide, padded shoulder straps and fuller cups. But be sure to try them on before you buy to see if they’re comfortable.

Closures
How you open and close the flaps on your nursing bra is important. The front flap on many nursing bras fastens at the top, near the shoulder strap. Other nursing-bra flaps open and close between the cups. Some don’t have a flap at all; the cups just pull down for quick access. Go with whichever type is easier for you to use with one hand without having to put your baby down. Squeeze or push-type latches are easy to operate with one hand compared with snaps, which usually take two hands to close. Practice in the dressing room at the store.

Adjustability
Near the end of your pregnancy and in the early weeks of nursing, your breasts may enlarge, sometimes significantly, and then return to a smaller size once breast-feeding is established. For greatest comfort, you’ll want a nursing bra with adjustable straps and multiple hook positions on the band so you can adjust it for comfort. Don’t be discouraged if the first bra you buy ends up not fitting; you may have to get fitted again once you start nursing, but the experts say it’s worth it.

Color and Style
While white is still common in nursing bras you can find pretty much any color you want now, including hot pink and prints. Some bras will look simple and utilitarian, while others might be lacy and fall more into the lingerie category.

Brands

Bebe au Lait
This Los Gatos, Calif.,-based brand develops products that pair “beautiful prints with luxurious fabrics to meet the needs of modern, active parents.” Established in 2004, Bebe au Lait has since grown into three brands: Hooter Hiders, Bebe au Lait, and most recently, Lille. Its products include burp cloths, hooded towels, luxury blankets, and nursing-cover sets, and are available through its website, specialty retailers, and national retail chains such as Babies “R” Us and Nordstrom.

Bravado!
Based in Toronto, this company started out with a leopard-print bra and two breast-feeding moms, about 20 years ago. Today, the company’s products include nursing bras and nursing tanks. Available at specialty shops and the company’s website.

Decent Exposures
For more than 15 years, this Seattle-based company has been fitting women of virtually every size and shape, from 30AAA to 60J, and every size in between. Its expanded product line includes nursing bras, front closure bras, clothing, and baby accessories, and even men’s undergarments.

Elomi
Begun by its parent company, Eveden, this European company produces lingerie, including nursing bras, for the fuller-figured woman.

Japanese Weekend
All of the company’s designing, sample sewing, and shipping take place in its headquarters in San Francisco, and nearly all of its garments are manufactured in San Francisco and Oakland, Calif. The company has patented several innovative and fashionable designs, which include the Ok support waistband, and Hug line.

La Leche League
Q-T Intimates is the newest licensee to be aligned with La Leche League International. It has created innovative nursing bras, including one that adjusts to a woman’s ever-changing body size. Its easy-to-open cups are mindful of the busy mom on the go. A portion of all LLLI licensed products goes to La Leche League International to support its many programs and services worldwide.

Le Mystere
Built on the premise that the fit of a bra “can truly change the life of a woman,” Le Mystère incorporates its “all about fit” approach to its designs. Products include smooth, T-shirt styles, lacy date-night styles, support-seamed options, nursing bras, and specialty/convertible bras.

Leading Lady
Leading Lady is a nursing and full-figure intimate apparel company. For more than 70 years, Leading Lady has
manufactured nursing and full-figure bras for various brands and retailers across North America. Now, Leading Lady’s comprehensive line of nursing and full-figure intimates can be purchased directly online.

Medela
Founded in 1961 in Zug, Switzerland, by Olle Larsson, the company continues under the ownership of the Larsson family. Medela serves its customers through 15 subsidiaries distributing to more than 90 countries worldwide. Medela’s U.S. subsidiary, Medela Inc., has been serving the American market for nearly 30 years. Products include breast pumps and accessories, breast-feeding devices, intimate apparel, and cleaning and mom-care products. Its website includes information for the expectant and nursing mother, a discussion board, and an “Ask the LC (Lactation Consultant)” section.

Shopping Tips

When you’re a nursing, a properly fitting bra is more important than ever. You’ll want comfortable ones that provide the right support, ones that don’t bind, pinch, hike up in the back or front, or irritate breast tissue. As we’ve said, most women experience changes in breast size during pregnancy and lactation. That’s why Rebecca Aughton, who has 17 years experience in the industry, recommends that women shop for a nursing bra two weeks before their due date.

Certified Bra Fitting
At Aughton’s Bra-vo Intimates shop, which opened 10 years ago in Royal Oak, Michigan, there’s a special “nursing salon” staffed with certified maternity and nursing-bra fitters. Pregnant or not, most women don’t wear the right size bra, Aughton says, but it’s even more important to get fitted when you are pregnant and nursing since that’s when the bust is fullest and needs more support.

Aughton recommends getting fitted for a maternity bra during pregnancy when your regular bras no longer fit. Then, when her clients come in two weeks before their due date, Aughton and her staff fit them for a supportive nursing bra as well as a sleep bra for those early, postdelivery days. Customers often come back and get fitted once again after they’ve established a nursing routine.

“When your milk comes in you just feel huge, and then after week four or five, you settle into the nursing, and you may come down a little bit in size,” Aughton says, “so it is nice to come back in and get fitted again.”

In addition to boutiques, you can also find nursing bras at maternity shops and some department stores, both of which should have staff on hand that can help you. Macy’s, for example, carries the Le Mystere line, while Nordstrom carries Elomi nursing bras (from the United Kingdom company Eveden, which has all sizes but also specializes in D+ sized intimate apparel). The Elomi Soft Cup Nursing Bra (about $56) is made from a “moisture-wicking” microfiber and features a quick-release clasp.

And of course, once you know your correct size, you can hunt for nursing bras in catalogs or online.

The Details
You’ll want some “give” or stretchiness in the bra cup to accommodate not only changes in your breast size, but also normal changes during the course of the day once you begin to nurse (breasts will become firm with milk and softer after nursing). The band on your bra should be comfortable, but that part of the bra also needs to be firm for proper support. Buy a bra with multiple hook positions so you can adjust it if needed. Shoulder straps should also be firm–not stretchy–for additional support and stability.

“The band should be firm,” Aughton says. “The band should be a really strong fabric. You want it to feel firm, bordering on tight,” she continues. “Ninety percent of your support comes from that band; 10 from the strap.”

Shop at a maternity store or boutique and ask if there’s a certified bra fitter on staff. This service is usually free. Aughton says you should try on bras and practice opening and closing the clips with one hand.

If you don’t know of a certified bra fitter or lactation consultant, perhaps someone affiliated with the hospital where you plan to deliver can offer advice and a referral to a certified fitter. Or go to the International Lactation Consultant Association. Many hospitals and birthing centers have lactation consultants on staff, and you should take advantage of their expertise if you can.

Support is the most important thing, so don’t get hung up on having a seamless bra if it doesn’t give you the best fit. “Don’t sacrifice support for fashion,” Aughton says.

Getting the Right Fit
When you’re being fitted, you’ll be measured under your arms. The tape measure will also be wrapped around your torso at the fullest point of the bust. The difference between the two measurements is your cup size. Once you get your official size, you can find a style you like and feel comfortable in. Don’t be put off by the size the fitter recommends, which could be much different from what you normally wear. Keep an open mind and try bras on before you decide whether they’re right for you. Once you realize the difference in support, comfort, and appearance (a properly fitting bra will make you look much better!), you won’t be hung up on letters of the alphabet. You may not end up with the bra size you thought you’d wear, but the bra probably will fit well.

If you decide to buy a nursing bra online or from a catalog, double-check the retailer’s instructions for measuring, since brands might be sized differently. And make sure you can return it in case it doesn’t fit.

If you have a large chest, you might have to search longer for a bra that fits well. One problem, says Pat Marcus, owner of the Decent Exposures lingerie boutique, is that some women with large breasts might need a big cup but still have a small back. Many traditional nursing bras that you’ll find in stores, she says, only go as far as DD or DDD cups, but you can find a wider variety of styles at specialty retailers. Aughton, of Bra-vo Intimates, says her best-selling nursing bra is a G cup, and she also sells bras up to cup size L.

What to Buy
Buy two or more bras; Aughton recommends having three on hand at all times—one to wear, one in the laundry, and a clean one in their drawer.

Plan to buy a sleep/loungewear bra for the early days of nursing when you’ll want to wear your nursing bra and pads 24/7 for leakage control. “Not everybody leaks,” says Pat Marcus, but you’ll want to have nursing pads on hand in case.

Cracked or sore nipples can lead to mastitis, a breast infection caused by bacteria. Aughton recommends changing your nursing pads frequently. You can find disposable ones as well as re-useable ones you throw in the wash. According to La Leche League, sore nipples are usually the result of improperly positioning the baby, so if you run into latching problems, reach out to a lactation consultant or the organization.

It’s fine to wear an underwire nursing bra if that is what you like, but make sure it fits properly. “The underwire should sit against the body; it should be flat,” Aughton says. “If you can fit your finger in the front, between your breasts, it’s the wrong size.”

Nursing-Bra Accessories
In addition to nursing bras, you’ll need disposable or washable cotton pads that you can tuck inside to absorb any leakage. The disposable types are usually made of super-absorbent material that wicks moisture away from the skin. They’re higher-tech than cotton nursing pads, but both types cost about the same. Both kinds prevent clothing stains and skin irritation, and are invisible to the outside world, so it’s just a matter of personal preference. You may also need special bra shells that can protect sore nipples from irritation or help draw out inverted nipples. You can find nursing pads and bra shells at drugstores, specialty maternity shops, and stores that sell baby products.

For instant privacy, many women use a baby blanket to cover their baby when nursing in public. But a nursing cover-up can be more secure because it won’t slip off as easily. Cover-ups have a strap that’s worn around the neck, which prevents them from shifting or allowing a baby to yank it off.

Whatever you choose, make sure there’s sufficient airflow for your baby once you’re covered up.

Nursing Clothes

You can buy special nursing shirts, dresses, and sleep garments that have strategically placed slits and flaps for quick access. While they make breast-feeding convenient, they’re not essential. Many moms make do with large shirts, button-down blouses, and tank tops they can easily lift or lower.

Jan Barger, a lactation consultant, says the one piece of nursing clothing that might really come in handy is a nursing nightgown or pajamas. “It’s something nice to have, so it’s easier for you,” she says.

Some nursing shirts can advertise that you’re nursing because of their front flaps, which consist of two extra pieces of fabric. If you plan to nurse for a while and want to be able to do it in public, a nursing top can make it easier and more comfortable.

With more manufacturers in the nursing-wear marketplace, you can find plenty of chic garments.

The newest generation of nursing wear—clingy tank tops and other shirts—have a built-in nursing bra (usually a shelf-type bra as opposed to one with individual cups) so you don’t have to wear one underneath. They’re something to consider for a change of pace, but make sure they provide the support you’ll need. And keep in mind that, like other “nursing” shirts, they might be more expensive than conventional clothes.

Some clothes are designed to help you move from maternity into nursing, which means you can get more wear out of them. Because maternity and nursing clothes are flexible and accommodating, they can be very comfortable in the first weeks or months of your child’s life. But if you plan to breast-feed for a while, you might eventually reintroduce your pre-pregnancy clothes into the mix and end up breast-feeding in whatever you wear that day.

 

Source: Consumer Reports: Nursing Bra Buying Guide

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The finest food-producing system in the world

11 Monday Sep 2017

Breast-Milk-Production

“Song of Solomon 7:8 likens breasts to clusters of the vine. What’s the resemblance of breasts to clusters of grapes? None. Except they both produce a sweet liquid. In my opinion, this most likely refers to Adult Breastfeeding.”

–From A biblical defense of ANRs

See also Am I twisting Scripture to justify my kinky fetish?

Posted by | Filed under Breastfeeding, Breasts, Jesus Christ, Lactation, Women

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Reblog: Domperidone: Does It Work?

26 Monday Jun 2017

Posted by in Breasts, God, Jesus Christ, Lactation, Milk supply, Reblog

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Above: took a whole day to pump this before using Domperidone

Day 1 with Dom

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 6

 

Eventual Momma

As someone who suffers from numerous breast feeding issues, I didn’t think Domperidone would work for me. We finally figured out what was going on with my body, and why despite my best efforts I could not increase my milk supply. My problem is three-fold: I suffer from mammary hypoplasia (also known as IGT), have a slow refill rate and low prolactin levels. Each problem in itself is easily rectified…..the three together is somewhat more of a challenge.

Mammary hypoplasia, IGT, occurs when a woman does not develop proper glandular tissue during adolescence. While breasts can be either small or large, the most common characteristics are narrow widely spaced breasts, swollen/puffy areolas, asymmetrical breasts where one is much larger than the other, and milk that either never comes in or comes in after 3-5 days after delivery. Women with hypoplasia will never be able to exclusively breast feed (or at least…

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Lactation cookies recipe and more

29 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by in Breastfeeding, Couples Nursing, Jesus Christ, Lactation, Women

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90% of BelleBelle’s fans say this recipe works

Source: BellyBelly lactation cookies recipe

By in . Last updated on June 29, 2016

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Lactation Cookies

BellyBelly’s lactation cookies recipe is deliciously suitable for both pregnant and breastfeeding [women].

And oh boy, do they work!

“My boobs are spraying like a fire hose. I am waking up [soaking] in the night in a way I haven’t since the early days. They are mental!” — Audax

“YES, they DO WORK! I’ve found them especially helpful for afternoons and evenings when bub is cluster feeding and I seem to be all out of liquid gold. Munch a couple of bikkies, have a big drink of water or milk (yum!) and you can feel your boobies expanding with fresh milk” — Glamourcide

IMPORTANT: If you’re having supply problems, please read our article about common milk supply issues. It discusses several common reasons why breastfeeding mothers have supply issues, and suggests how to fix them.


Most breastfeeding problems are preventable and fixable, and many are caused by incorrect latch or scheduled feeding. Only a small percentage are due to medical conditions – an example of this is hypoplasia (insufficient glandular breast tissue).

Please contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association (or La Leche League in the US) for support, or hire a lactation consultant (IBCLCs are best) to help diagnose what’s really going on. Most GPs are not trained in breastfeeding beyond a few hours of information, and can’t give the same level of advice and support that well trained breastfeeding workers can.

Lactation Cookies Recipe – Ingredients

Prep time: approx. 15 minutes
Oven temp: preheat to 170C or 338F
Makes approx. 14-16 cookies, using a dessert spoon per cookie (double the recipe for more)

When making these lactation cookies, please try to source organic, local ingredients wherever possible. They’re so much better for you. I’ve tried to use healthy alternatives where I can, however the lactation cookies need to be sweet enough to hide the very bitter taste of one of the most powerful ingredients.

If you’re already breastfeeding, try eating the dough as well as the cookies, as it seems to be even more effective at increasing supply.

Do not eat uncooked dough if you are pregnant. There is a risk of bacterial infection from eating raw egg.

  • 1 cup self raising wholemeal flour (if you have plain flour, add 1/2 teaspoon baking powder)
  • 1/2 cup butter (for a healthier option, use organic, virgin coconut oil instead – it’s super good for you!)
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar (if you want to reduce sugar, you could try just 1/2 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
  • 1 egg
  • 2-3 tablespoons of water (depends on how moist you prefer the cookies to be)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (optional, for flavour)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional, for flavour)
  • 1-2 tablespoons of brewers yeast – do not substitute with bakers yeast or any other yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt – use himalayan salt if possible
  • 1 & 1/2 cups oats – organic, steel cut oats are best for you, but rolled oats are fine
  • OPTIONAL: 1/2 cup of your favourite biscuit ingredients (see suggested list below)

DO NOT 

leave out or substitute the brewers yeast when making lactation cookies. It’s one of the main ingredients that makes them work. Nutritional yeast and bakers yeast are different and will not work in the same way.

Lactation Cookies Recipe – Method

  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar, then add the egg and vanilla. Mix well.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the flaxseed and water, let them sit for a few minutes before adding to mix.
  • Add the dry ingredients (apart from the oats and your additional ingredients) and mix well again.
  • Finally, stir in the oats and your additional ingredients.
  • Make the biscuits (I use a dessert spoon as a rough size guide) and place them onto a lightly greased or lined baking tray. Flatten them a little with your fingers or a spatula – if you like a soft centre, don’t squash them down too much. If you like you can just make them into balls – I do this and I love the soft centre!

Bake the lactation cookies for around 10-12 minutes, depending on how well cooked or crunchy you like your biscuits.

“I know they worked for me, because I squirted after eating them for a bit, and I hadn’t done that for months” — PumpkinZulu

Boosting Your Lactation Cookies For Better Results

Try the above lactation cookies recipe first, but if you don’t notice much of an increase in supply, add more brewers yeast.

If you like, add more flaxseed meal too, but don’t forget to increase the water when you add more dry ingredients. Add a tablespoon of water for each tablespoon of flaxseed meal. If the lactation cookies aren’t working or for supply issues in general, please get some reliable help from a qualified lactation consultant or breastfeeding support organisation.

Lactation Cookies – Ingredient and Variation Ideas

There are so many delicious ingredients you can add to your lactation cookies to flavour them up! You might like to add coconut, banana, grated apple, chic chips, sultanas, almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, chopped dried apricots, chopped prunes, dates… the list is endless.

Our members have made variations of the lactation cookies recipe by using these delicious combinations:

  • Coconut and banana
  • Choc chip and cranberry
  • White choc chips and macadamias
  • Dried apricot and white chocolate
  • Apple cinnamon: 1 teaspoon of cinnamon instead of vanilla, 1/2 cup chopped dried apple and 1/2 cup sultanas. BellyBelly member, Audax, also added 2 tablespoons of stewed apple and found the cookies turned out lovely and moist.
  • For a healthier cookie, replace some or all of the butter with virgin coconut oil, which is SO good for your body (inside and out). Virgin coconut oil has a mountain of benefits, including anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Choose an organic oil if you can. For more benefits of coconut oil, visit the Coconut Research Center website.
  • For a healthier, more fibre rich flour, use 50% or 100% coconut flour (you might need to add an extra egg). If you only have regular white flour to make lactation cookies, it’s fine, but remember it’s the most unhealthy flour.

Lactation Cookies - 90% Of Our Fans Say This Recipe Works!

“I have only used them for about 24 hours and the milk is flowing! So happy and excited that they are working so well!” — Rika-Marie

“I was eating 1-2 each feed and had only just cooked them so they were still quite soft. I noticed a huge difference when I had them, and I soaked through everything. When my son is feeding I hold a cup under my other breast and collect about 40mls just from leakage!” — Ryatha

“I made a particularly potent batch this week. I haven’t needed to use breast pads for a couple of months, but after this batch, my friends call me ‘Wet Patches’. I doubled the flaxseed meal, added cocoa and hazelnut meal – they taste like Nutella.” — Audax

Lactation Cookies – Where to Get Brewers Yeast

You can get brewers yeast from most health food stores. If you prefer quick and easy, you can order it online from a store like Amazon.

Lactation Cookies Recipe – Where to Get Flaxseed Meal

Flaxseed meal has been included as an ingredient in the lactation cookies recipe because it’s high in omega-3 and dietary fibre. It contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and potassium.

You should be able to find flaxseed meal in the health food isle of your supermarket, if not your health food store. You can also get flaxseed meal on Amazon.

Try to purchase organic products whenever you can.

“I love these things!! Made a heap yesterday, and ate some dough as well, oh yum! First time in a week I’ve been full, and bubs got boobie drunk!” — Sarah

Will I Get Results Eating Lactation Cookies?

Personally, I have ended up dripping overnight after having lactation cookies in the evening. While the majority of BellyBelly members find that this lactation cookies recipe works very well for them, I can’t guarantee results for everyone. As far as I am aware, there is no official research into lactation cookies.

However, BellyBelly forum member Pholi (who had been working hard to overcome low milk supply issues) took it upon herself to run a little test. Here are her results:

“Started eating cooked lactation cookies at a rate of approximately 2 per feed. Average 24 hour yield over 5 days was: Before: 372ml. After: 412ml.
Increase of 40ml, or 11%.

Stopped eating cookies for 2 days. Average 24 hour yield: 397ml.
Decrease of 4%.

Started eating raw lactation cookie dough, which, according to collective BellyBelly wisdom, is supposed to be even more effective than cooked dough, also at a rate of the equivalent of 2 per feed. Average 24 hour yield over 4 days: 449ml.
Increase (from cooked dough average) of 37ml, or 8%.
Increase (from no dough in the previous 2 days) of 52ml, or 13%.

Increase (from before eating any cookies or dough) of 77ml, or 20%.

Conclusion: When I ate the cookies, raw or cooked, it made a positive, measurable difference to my supply, but the raw dough made a bigger difference. I was certainly not leaking or spraying, or even feeling any fuller. I think that the fact that the numbers dropped when I stopped for 2 days strengthens the results.”

What Else Besides Lactation Cookies Will Help With My Supply?

  • Read our article on milk supply issues for tips on how to increase your supply
  • Eat a healthy breakfast – here are 13 great suggestions.
  • Remember to keep up your water intake … as this can make a big difference. Have a glass of water next to you every time you breastfeed (right next to your cookies!). Ideally, have a water bottle with you all the time and try to sip every 15 minutes. Your body needs more water when breastfeeding, and if you don’t drink enough, you could ending up with constipation, haemorrhoids and/or anal issues, especially in the early days of breastfeeding. Drinking water helps boost energy and concentration levels, which dehydration messes with. There’s plenty of really good reasons to drink more water!
  • Drinking fennel tea can also help increase supply
  • …
  • Offer the breast more frequently. Demand equals supply as far as breastmilk goes – when your baby is sucking at the breast it sends your body signals to make more milk
  • Fenugreek can also increase supply, but if you’re thinking of adding it to the cookie recipe, BellyBelly member, entreat, has this warning: “Do not add ground fenugreek unless you have some serious sugar to counteract the bitter flavour! I wasted a whole batch.” …
  •  …

“I made a batch yesterday morning. I’ve had to get up this early to express, as I woke up feeling very full and leaky and uncomfortable!! So they have definitely made a difference” — eza

A reluctant pastor embraces ANR

02 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by in ANR, Breasts, God, Gospel, Jesus Christ, Lactation, Marriage, Proverbs 5

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CUDDLES

I’m Pastor E. I’m 34, my wife, Mrs. R, is 33. We both have degrees, so we are educated. (I have a grad degree.) We’ve been married for 10 years. We have 3 children, and are part of a mainline Christian Church.

We stumbled upon ANR while pregnant with number 2 during sex. What’s really funny is that I wouldn’t taste her milk at all, or played very little with my wife’s breasts before that night. But that night, I was lost in our lovemaking and wasn’t thinking about milk being in her breasts, so just started kissing and suckling them. I started to get milk and didn’t realize until she let down that I was. Something in that moment drew me in and I swallowed and just ravished the milk and her breasts. At that moment I felt so close to her, so in love with her. I gave myself completely to her and drank from her breasts. She gave herself to me completely, allowing me to receive a blessing from her. It was, and is, an experience of transcendence, a connection with each other beyond what words can say. Yet what we can ascribe to it is intimacy that is real, closeness as we’ve moved closer to each other’s heart. Barriers and walls that once were in our way of connecting and communicating have come down, and we share more openly our feelings with each other, there’s less hiding of our feelings. I feel like we have always been very close and open but cuddles (that’s what we call ANR) has drawn us in deeper and made us feel more like one.

We’ve been having our cuddles for about 2.5 years now and every time we share that special moment I fall in love with my wife all over again. My wife fills me with love and delight. I’m happier, calmer, I’m a better father and husband. I have more joy and fulfillment in life. I receive great comfort from my wife’s breasts and she is gracious enough to provide for that; she believes she was created to fill. She is my helper. I bless my wife in many ways as a husband. She blesses me in many ways as well. Every time I nurse from my beautiful wife’s breasts, she bestows a blessing from God to me.

We are convinced that Satan has been behind the taboo of ANR. If more marriages practiced ANR, I think there would be a lot less divorce. I’m trying to find the right way to share with couples that I counsel that ANR would be a good practice for their marriage. I believe strongly, that it is important. Maybe not a must, but those who don’t, don’t know what they are missing.

Here is my translation/interpretation from Proverbs 5:15-20: Drink milk from your wife’s breasts, flowing milk from her breasts. Let them be for yourself alone and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain (wife’s breasts) be blessed and rejoice in the wife of your youth, she is a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts (nipples literally) fill (literally- drench, saturate, water abundantly) with delight be intoxicated always from drinking at her breasts. Why should you be intoxicated my son, with a forbidden woman and suckle milk from the breasts of an adulteress?

Source: http://www.bountifulfruits.com/cuddles/

Disclaimer: this post isn’t necessarily an endorsement of everything on Bountiful Fruits. Although Married Milkmaid and I are both professing Christians and ANR advocates, our blogs aren’t exactly identical in mission. I do, however, support her efforts to normalize this beautiful lifestyle.

How to induce lactation

28 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by in Erotic lactation, Jesus Christ, Lactation, Milk supply, Women

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The key is nipple and areola stimulation, done consistently.

Multiple manual stimulation sessions daily, with the help of your loving husband over the course of some few weeks should result in at least a few drops. It varies from woman to woman. It takes some much longer while others, especially those trying to relactate, can almost readily start producing.

Breast milk production works by supply and demand. The more the stimulation, the more a woman’s body will respond to the need for milk. Patience and tenacity are crucial.

Pumping can do the trick but some women report how breast and nipple-unfriendly this technique gets. Plus having to carry the equipment around is no fun.
I read from a woman who said an electric pump worked for her.

Also, herbs help increase supply. Popular ones include Fenugreek – 3 capsules, taken 3 times a day with food, and Blessed Thistle – same regimen.

And finally, I have seen domperidone‘s marked effects. As a prescription, I think it should be a last resort, but it definitely yields results.