The ductal structure of the breast branches and the milk glands
proliferate during pregnancy.  Though there seems to be involution
between weaning and the next pregnancy, it seems to be reversable to
some degree.  This is why induced lactation works better for women who
have been pregnant in the past, even briefly.  Moms in my practice who
have had first trimester miscarriages have made significantly more milk
than those who were never pregnant.
        This doc sounds like he is going to give the mom hormone injections to
allow the glandular development to take place in the breast.  There is a
published protocol for doing this (see the archives).
        Many moms are not comfortable with the idea of using hormones.  I have
found advising moms to pump for 6-8 weeks before the baby's arrival to
be helpful.  She needs to start out slowly (3-5 mins per session) and
lubricate the nipple, because the lack of milk to reduce friction causes
soreness.  Using this protocol, moms in my practice who have had
spontaneous abortions have made 50% to 100% of the milk their adopted
babies needed.  Moms who had not been pregnant only made drops.  The one
mom who made 100% had previously breastfed her infant niece regularly
for comfort while babysitting for her, and after several months began to
make milk.  So her adopted baby was really her second induced
lactation.  All the moms used a supplemental nursing system with formula
until their supply increased, then most discarded the SNS, and breastfed
exclusively, or with several bottles of abm daily as baby needed.
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  New York City  mailto:[log in to unmask]

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