How many people breasted their adopted child?

Question

I was geunuenly interested

Iam a teen mother whom gave birth to my son in july 2007 he is 7 months and still breastfed, so iam in not means someone who has adoped.But I truely feel compasionate about breastfeeding, and I admire any woman who does this, and yes it is possible.

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/adoption.html

http://www.lrc.asn.au/forum/viewforum.php?f=13&sid=9828e12e58009411250d575820f63db8

I was wondering how common it is to do this?

Answer 1

It's getting to be more and more common.  There are differing opinions on breastfeeding adopted infants.  My opinion is that it's repulsive and misguided.

Also, what is the purpose of breastfeeding any child after a year old?  Where is it "common"?  I've never seen it.

Answer 2

I also had tremendous support and encouragement from the woman at La Leche League. I never used chemicals to induce lactation. I was able to to bring in my milk before she was born. It was not easy and took some time but it was well worth it! Our pediatrician was astounded. We did purchase a baby scale and kept daily records of feedings and weighings to make sure she was getting enough nutrition and gaining adequate weight. When I was hospitalized for my gallbladder my sister-in-law shared her milk with my daughter and her son while I pumped to keep my supply up.

Breastfeeding was so important to us that I would have tried to find a wet nurse if we had to LOL....well we would have purchased breast milk if we needed too. We only breastfeed to she was one year old.

Answer 3

Firstly I commend you for breastfeeding your son! A lot of us young moms don't do it and its a shame because its such a wonderful experience.

If I adopted a baby, I would love to BF him or her, depending of course on the situation the age of the child, and a few other factors.  Its not fair to force something like that on a baby who doesn't take to it, but in a case of a newborn, it would be wonderful!

Answer 4

My sister-in-law breast-fed the baby girl they adopted 2 years ago.  She went to the La Leche league for assistance in what to do to get her milk flowing.  She was at the birth, and breast-fed her right there at the hospital. She said it was an awesome experience, and recommends it for every new adoptive mother.

congratulations, and best of luck with your baby!

Answer 5

that's so gross

who would let you adopt children?

Answer 6

i did research it.  but decided against it since i would have to pump my body full of meds and hormones that could be passed onto the baby.  there haven't been any concrete studies that show the long term effects of these meds and hormones on babies.  so i decided against it.  there were many other ways for me to bond with my child.

now if you want the benefits of breastmilk there are milk banks where you can feed donated breastmilk without the synthetic meds and hormones involved.  i would find that to be a better choice personally.

and it's your decision, but personally i sure wouldn't breastfeed a child past age 2.  at 2 years my child is drinking from a regular cup, and again we bond in so many other ways.  and i don't see where it would be common for a child under 10 to be breastfed.  i don't know many 9 year olds who are breastfed.  ok i don't know any.

Answer 7

If I was pregnant when I adopted an infant or had just given birth then yes I would breastfeed my adopted child and my own child. But if I wasn't pregnant then no because I don't want a bunch of medical drugs in my system that might possibly give me cancer.  It is common in many countries outside the USA and cultures outside American culture to breastfeed a child up to the age of 5 years old. In my religion (Islam) it is encouraged in the Qur'an to breastfeed your child up until it is 2 years old. I will breastfeed my children until they are 2 years old.

Answer 8

Breastfeeding is fine for Infants up to a year!  I dodn't think it is ok to breastfeed a 5 year old... yuck

Answer 9

I think its becoming more and more common for adoptive mothers to breast feed if they want too. Of the women I know who have adopted with in the past 5 or 6 years all had the option of breast feeding.

Answer 10

Well I am adoping a sibling group of 4,5,6 and although we all don't agree on much here at YA Adoption, I am sure we could all agree that ick ick ick on so many levels if someone breasted children of that age.

Answer 11

Breastfeeding is optimal when the baby is getting the nutrients and antibodies from the mother who made him/her. When a mother nurses her own baby, the constitution of the milk changes with every feeding, based on the symbiotic relationship between the two bodies which are not yet fully separate entities. Otherwise, the baby is getting someone else's mix, which will not be optimized for that particular baby.

If you breastfeed an adopted baby, by definition you are that baby's wet nurse. The baby is getting nutrients, just as he or she would from formula, but it's not the same.

And, has been mentioned above, in most cases there has been a lot of medical intervention to produce the milk, with no research done about long term consequences for either person.