I have heard that women who have not had a pregnancy can lactate and breasfeed an adopted baby?

Question

How true is this, would anyone know? My sister in law and her husband have been foster parents for over 11 years and have recently been approved to adopt a newborn sibling of one of their children (they have already adopted the elder child). Being a newborn, and the child of a drug and alcohol addict, my sister in law would love to give this baby the best possible start to life by breastfeeding, or at least feeding breastmilk. The poor baby is so underweight and sickly, if anyone could help us on this it would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

There are hormone treatments that are available.  However, there has been some research showing that these treatments may increase the chances of breast and ovarian cancers, as well as heart disease.  If you are considering this, get as much information as you can.

Answer 2

This is completely possible, but it requires lots of dedication and hard work.

There is a lot of information at http://www.llli.org about adoptive breastfeeding.   Kagaroo care and lots of skin to skin contact help milk production.

There might also be a milk bank in your area, or if she has friends with newborns, they might be willing to pump and donate.

http://www.4woman.gov/breastfeeding/inde...

I wish her the best of luck, and thank her for wanting to get this little one the best possible start!

Answer 3

if the baby is sickly and underweight only the doctor can advise

if the priority is baby's health, then a visit to the pediatrician would be the first step; depending on the doctor's findings and recommendations, if breast milk is advisable, then it can be obtained a.s.a.p. through milk banks, donating mothers, and prescreened wet nurses

La Leche League is a good resource to contact for more information

good lluck

Answer 4

Yeah, pump up with HORMONES to make something unnatural seem natural.

SELFISH to the CORE.

Answer 5

It's possible but she will not produce the colostrum which is the most important thing for antibodies etc... Also, she will not produce enough milk. She will still have to supplement with formula.

She can try to find a place that donates breast milk and try that route.

My suggestion is for her to either use donated breast milk or formula feed. If this baby is already underweight, she needs as much food as possible ASAP. This would best be accomplished through formula feeding or donated breast milk.

Think about how hard it can be for some women to breast feed their bio children and their body has naturally produced the milk. Does she really want to go through this with a child who has already been malnourished?

Answer 6

Adoptive mothers have been known to lactate, however, due to the lack of the pregnancy hormones, have not produced "enough" breast milk for the baby.

Answer 7

I have heard of that too. I am not sure exactly, but I think it goes by pumping regularly until the body just produces. the case I heard of like this, it took a year for the milk to come in. And it was just a story I heard, so I can't verify it's accuracy. Also it makes sense to me, that a mother may have to take a hormone supplement. I am not entirely sure though, but I have heard of it.

Answer 8

The AP for my daughter tried the same thing. She watched video after video on breast feeding, she wore maternity clothes to the hospital to get my daughter. I should have taken these as red flags that this was about her, and not my daughter. She even came in and asked if I had breast fed my baby. I would say this is a sign of serious concern. She is a screwball. Not all mothers who give birth can breast feed.

This just makes me sick to think that she's so self-absorbed. That poor baby. give it formula and tell her to come back to reality. She never birthed the child and she can't fake it.

Your sister in law wouldn't be able to give the baby the most important nutrient, which is produced by the natural mom, it's the colostrum.

Her name isn't Jennifer is it?

It's hard enough to breastfeed for alot of women after having a baby, to have people tell you this is a possibility is cruel. That baby needs to eat, not have some woman try to spend all her waking moments trying to drum up a couple of drops of milk. This has absolutely nothing to do with bonding or helping this child. That baby is going to know that she's stressing over trying to do something that is just impossible. Why put the baby of an addict under anymore undue stress?? SHE NEEDS TO HOLD THE BABY AND GIVE IT ATTENTION, NOT SIT AROUND TRYING TO PUMP HER BREAST FOR IMAGINARY MILK.

Answer 9

I did a paper on this while I was in university studying for my nursing degree.

From what I found, it is possible to a point. The most recommended way is to use a piggy back type apperatus (availible at nursing specialty stores) it has tubes that run down the breast to the nipple, so that while the baby is suckling on the breast they'll also be getting a supplement of formula.

The mother will start producing milk from the suckling, but won't produce enough to be able to feed the child completly on her own

Another option you may want to look at is milk banks. I know their out there, a quick search on the internet would probably turn up a few.

Answer 10

Yes, it is definitely possible for her to produce breastmilk for the baby.  She might have to supplement in addition to nursing.  Or, at the very least, she could pump breastmilk for the baby and also give some formula too.

She needs to speak with her dr who can prescribe domperodone - or something like that.  Also, she needs to call the local La Leche League director, and find a good lactation specialist.  

But yes it is definitely possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

Kudos to your sister!!

Answer 11

I suppose it would depend upon why she can not get pregant.

She would need to introduce the pregancy level of hormones to her body, and then have them cut off and start with a different type of hormone.

I know they can do this with cows, never heard of it done with humans but it is possible.

Answer 12

Imagine that, you got the 'nobs from the adoption category answering a breastfeeding question.  I hope you also asked this in "Newborn and Baby", you're more likely to get an unbiased, educated answer.

Lactating without giving birth can totally be done.   It has nothing to do with the adoptive mothers having some side agenda, it's about giving the baby the best possible nutrition, period- often essential in the face of what the babies have already gone through.  These babies need more than artificial baby food, and it's admirable of the amoms who will go the distance for babies who need the health and immunity benefits of breastmilk.

Another valuable resource for your sister-in-law would be http://www.kellymom.com they answer all questions related to breastfeeding.  Here is their link specifically to adoptive breastfeeding and relactation:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/adopt/index.h...

I would also recommend she contacts her local hospital to talk to a lactation consultant as soon as possible.  Your SIL can also contact LLL (La Leche League) by phone or have someone come to her house for free.  

Hope this helps~

Answer 13

Hi Old Fashioned Mom,

This question has been brought up before in this category.  Here are some of the links to previous answers for you to browse:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Just because something may be possible to an extent, does not necessarily mean it is the best choice for a baby. To sum up some of the previous responses, it is not as healthy for the child.  Though some adoptive mothers thought it would help them bond with the child, many adoptees are repulsed by the idea of an adoptive parent trying to breastfeed them.  Think of the baby's health needs & of how confusing  & frustrating that could be for the baby.  If she is worried about not bonding with the baby, plenty of bottle babies, adopted and not, have bonded just fine with their parents.

Generally speaking, if a natural mother pumps milk or is available to breastfeed the baby, then that would be better than formula feeding, as it would contain the specific nutrients & antibodies that specific baby would require.  In this case, it would not be recommended if the mother had been using drugs.

Adoptive mothers are not equipped to provide the proper nutrition for the child without being induced with artificial hormones or drugs, which could be harmful for the child, as well as to the adoptive mother.  The quantity would not be sufficient to nourish a baby without supplemental formula either.  

The biggest deterrent would have to be the "ick" factor.  It seems that some adoptive parents are trying a bit too hard to duplicate what natural mothers and infants do, when it is not the same at all, nor should it have to be.  She should question what her motives are, whether for her own needs or for the child's.  If it's only to provide the best nutrition, then artifical breastfeeding is not the best choice.  Being realistic, if the baby is already born, there will not be enough time for your friend to go through the process to attempt to make her own body lactate.  The baby needs the antibodies immediately after birth and through the first month to be the most effective.

If the baby is already underweight and sick, he/she needs the best possible nutrition.  I would recommend consulting a pediatrician for specific requirements this child will need.

julie j

reunited adoptee