Adoption and Breastfeeding??

Question

NO NEGATIVE ANSWERS PLEASE...THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL TIME IN OUR LIFE'S AND DON'T NEED THE NEGATIVITY! THANK YOU...

We just found out we are going to adopt an infant girl. She will be born in about three weeks (due date anyway). We have been reading alot about how adoptive mothers can breastfeed there new babies. I was wondering if anyone has done this or knows how to do this. I have had three children of my own before that I have breastfeed. I was told it is easier to restart your milk if you have done this already. Any help with this would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Google relactation and adoption and you'll find tons of lovely information.

Kudos to you for doing the best thing for your daughter!

Answer 2

Congrats!!!! I think it would be so awesome for you to be able to do this!!!  What a gift to this lil baby to have breast milk instead of formula... God Bless.

To answer your question:  I have heard of woman getting medication (I think a hormone) from their doctor that will help them lactate and I would assume that once you brought the milk in that you could keep it up.  

I would totally contact your local LaLeche League.  Find a local woman from there and she will contact you over the phone and I bet she would be a wealth of information!!!  You can also request colostrum from a donated source for the first few days so she will get that as well because I am not sure if you would produce colostrum before breast milk if you were just bringing it back in as opposed to a pregnancy bringing in your milk.

How exciting!!  I would totally give the  LaLeche League a call.  They are your breast feeding hub!! and they will have a lot of resources for you.

Good Luck to you and Congrats!!!!

Answer 3

I see that you already have LLLI & kellymom on your responses, so I don't have anything *useful* to add.  I just wanted to say YOU GO GIRL!!!  That little baby girl is incredibly lucky that you are such a loving & giving mom!

Answer 4

That is awesome!! You are going to be a great mom to your new baby..this is completely the best thing you could do for your little one!! If I were you I would start stimulating your nipple now..try pumping for a couple hors a day to jump start you milk!! Take care and congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

You may be able to do it.  Here a couple of sources.  

Good luck!

Answer 6

I think that is an AMAZING thing you are doing! Adopting AND breast feeding! You sound like an amazing woman! Congrats on your new little bundle of joy ..

God bless you!

Here is a site you might be interested in:

http://motherstuff.com/html/breastfd-ado...

Answer 7

you need to take the supplement Fenugreek and Brewer's yeast. You NEED to get in touch with an IBCLC (your doc can give you a reference).  Your OB needs to get involved also.

Adoptive lactation is a difficult process, but it CAN be done.

Kudos to you for trying to do this.  I commend you for it.

Answer 8

This is completely possible! And you're right, it is easier if you have already previously breastfed! I think it's great you're going to try to breastfeed your new daughter.

I have never done it myself, but I know it is possible. The link can give you some information. Also, you can contact a lactation consultant, or talk to your doctor and they can help get you started. I've also heard in some cases, where mothers (especially if they have previously breastfed) can start pumping and the stimulation will bring back their supply, but that's not in all cases :]

Good luck!