Wanna hear a funny story?

Okay then.

So y'all know I was inducing lactation to help feed baby Hester. I took the fenugreek and the goat's rue and the blessed thistle and the alfalfa and I pumped till I was calloused. And for all that effort (and also after putting my gag reflex on overdrive with those nasty alfalfa tablets), I only got a few drops of milk. I spoke with my midwife friend about starting the domperidone, and I had just decided to order it when I got sick with a stomach bug. And then I got sick again with the Mother of All Stomach Bugs, and I didn't pump or take herbs or even think about breast milk for a couple of weeks. And then I felt really guilty, but when Hester arrived and needed such intensive nursing, I let myself feel a little better that she was on formula. The poor kid had a tough enough time without trying to nurse from a dry well.

But then!

On the day of her 40th birthday, Petunia began lactating spontaneously! FOR REAL, Y'ALL.

Can you beat that, folks? Will wonders ever cease?

Still waiting (and a dash of moo juice)

Yesterday the stress of waiting to hear from Ms. Scary got to me and I totally freaked. I still haven't cried or carried on yet, but yesterday I was absolutely convinced that this Situation would fall apart at any moment. It was a v. tough day.

But today I'm hanging in there. [An aside: When you see the words "Hanging in there," don't you always think of that poster with the kitten from your 3rd grade classroom? I do.] I woke up in a vicious mood, but it's been steadily improving. Now that I know Ms. Stork will call Ms. Scary tomorrow if we don't hear from Ms. Scary today, I can be more patient. Y'all know I like to have a plan.

And also! ALSO! Last night Petunia and I bought a secondhand Medela Pump in Style from the Craigslist. And guess who got some milk droplets this morning and this afternoon? No, not Clara, though she was v. curious about the whole affair. ME! That's right, friends, just call me Bessie. I hand pumped for 26 days and got a big fat nothing, but 2 sessions with the fancy double electric pump got me several droplets. It's a start, anyway. I'm pretty proud of myself.

Adoptive nursing, part 2

During our baby care class, the instructor (a pediatric nurse) encouraged the class to consider adoptive nursing. Y'all know it was just the opening I needed to email Ms. Stork about the prospect of adoptive breastfeeding!

Ms. Stork emailed a couple of people in the central office to inquire about it, and today we got an answer: The Department gives a thumbs-up to adoptive breastfeeding as long as: 1. the baby's pediatrician okays it; and 2. the preadoptive mom doesn't have a disease or take medication that can be passed to the baby via breastmilk. Basically, the Department just needs a doctor's note to that effect. Wild, huh? This state is HELLA hippie/crunchy! I thought for sure they'd be all, "WHAT THE FUCK?!?!" but instead they're all, "Sure, that's been done before." Even better, Ms. Stork is very supportive.

So now the big questions: To attempt to induce lactation, or not? And if so, how druggy am I willing to go? I'm down with the oatmeal and fenugreek and I'll even try some of that nasty Mother's Tea, but I'm a little sketched out about taking birth control pills or domperidone for the sole purpose of inducing lactation for a child who might be 2 years old. Plus, pumping will take up all my free time; it'll be my new hobby (though if we do get matched with an infant, I'm planning to go the Round is Funny route and ask my doc to prescribe an electric pump for me--insurance will pay 80%! Ms. RiF is wicked smart). Hmm, lots to think about.

Has anyone actually read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding? If so, would you recommend it?

If you have any advice for me about inducing lactation, I'm all ears.