So a month or so ago I got an email in my inbox from a post-partum doula colleague asking if anyone had boobjuice to donate for a client of hers who would be adopting a newborn within a few days. I offered my services and she put me in touch with Adoptive Mama (AM), who hooked me up with a Pump In Style (electric double pump) and herbs. I took some blood tests to ensure I didn't have anything transmissible and started pumping. We waited to give boobjuice to the baby until I got the test results back, which took a few weeks.

Well, poor little Baby J was having a terrible time with the formula; he was so constipated they had to use glycerin on him every day. They tried switching to a low-iron formula but he was still in misery. Much to my dismay, despite trying the herbs and pumping four or five times a day, the most I was getting in a day was 4 oz. (My eleven-month-old son is still 90% breastfed, so he takes a lot of milk; my body only seems willing to make 3-4oz beyond what Moo takes.) Baby J needs 16 oz of formula a day. I consoled myself with the thought that at least 25% of his food intake will be boobjuice, which is way better than 0%. And AM is feeding him using a supplemental nursing system - yay for her! (She's trying to induce lactation but can't take domperidone due to a heart arrythmia, so her chances of success aren't very good.)

My test results finally got back a week ago so we started giving him boobjuice. Even though he was only getting one feeding of boobie a day, AM says she's seen a dramatic change - "he's a different baby" is how she put it. He's pooping regularly now and is in enormously better spirits now that he isn't hurting all the time.

It makes all the time I spend pumping (for free) feel worth it, let me tell you. :) I'm thrilled to know little Baby J is having a much easier time with life now!