Breast Feeding a Adopted Baby

Hi S.,
I am so proud of you for wanting to do this! I breastfed our adopted daughter and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. A couple of things you need to know. First of all, you need to get on the protocol right away. It consists of a strong birth control like Yasmin once a day(not the placebo pills - you're trying to trick your body into thinking you're pregnant) and a drug called Domperidone 6x/day. I ordered mine from New Zealand under the brand name Motilium. I'm sure I can dig up the number for you if you don't find another way of getting it. It's used for a different purpose here in the U.S. so not all doctors are willing to prescribe it. Warning - not all doctors are supportive or educated about this. I just had my doc make sure that the drugs wouldn't have an ill effect on my health. I have some other health issues that I'm always concerned with. You take those meds until you're ready to start pumping then you stop the birth control, not the Domperidone. You keep taking that the whole time you breastfeed. Ideally, you need to be on the protocol for 6 months for full milk production. We didn't know about our little girl until 3 months before she was born and by the time I got all the meds another 2 weeks had passed. So I did not have full milk production but I always figured that even the little bit I could do could only help her health and our bonding. I supplemented with the Lact-Aid nursing trainer system. Here are some sites for you to check out;

http://www.lact-aid.com/uses.htm
http://adopting.adoption.com/

If you have any other questions or want to talk more please feel free to email me. Congratulations on your adoption - she'll be the greatest blessing in your life!
R.

I just wanted to say congratulations. This is such a special and amazing time. My 2 1/2 year old daughter is also adopted. What an amazing gift! I looked into breastfeeding when we got matched, but I didn't really have enough time to prepare. From what I remember, there are medicines and hormones you have to take for a few months and then your milk doesn't fulling come in for about 6 months after you start breastfeeding. This wasn't really an option for us. I had to go back to work 2 months later and I had just been through a lot with infertility treatments, so that wasn't the best thing to put my body through.

If you are able to do it, I would definetly encourage you to. I really hoped that I could breastfeed. That being said, if you aren't able to don't worry about bonding with your baby. I read so much about how much you bond with your baby while breastfeeding, but you don't have to breastfeed to bond with your baby. As soon as my daughter was born we had such an amazing connection.

I wish you all the luck in the world. If you ever need to talk to someone that has been through adoption, feel free to contact me.

Congratulations on the best gift ever given to you! I also adopted my son 8 years ago and he has been the best thing in my life. I did not breast feed my son, he was bottle fed. I was told that I could try to breast feed if I wanted to, to help with the bonding. I choose to bottle feed and we still had a special time at feedings. I simply talked to him every time I held him in my arms. I always held him for his feedings and talked to him in my normal voice. I did not talk to him in baby talk, just had a smile and love in my voice. We bonded without any problems and he learned to recognize my voice almost instantly. Good luck and God Bless you and your family. Enjoy your daughter and the time you spend with her, they grow up to fast.

A.

I would like to recommend two lactation consultants to you, Sharon Mattes and Linda Worzer. You can find their contact information on their website, www.naturalbeginningsonline.com . They are both board-certified and very experienced, and should be able to help you come up with a plan for inducing lactation.

My husband and I adopted a little girl. She was born in April 2008. We discussed breast feeding but my husband was a little freaked about it. lol So we didn't. I did research it at the time. You can get an SNS system which basically is an iv type bag that you put the formula in and tape a hose to your breast. It would simulate breast feeding b/c the baby would nurse but the milk would come from the bag/line. My understanding is that it can stimulate milk production. You can also get on meds that will make you produce milk. That may be the way to go. Talk to your doc. Good Luck!!

Look up "Supplemental Nursing System" by Medella.

I also recommend speaking with someone at La Leche League. They will definitely be supportive. Please repost with your results as I am considering adoption and would love tp breastfeed an adoptive baby as well!

yes it can be done! talk with a laation speicalist and she will tell you how. we did it when we adopted our daughter at birth. there is a little bag that you can put formula in for now and it has a little long tubing that you attach to your breast and nipple. when the baby nurses, it will tell tell yuor brain to produce milk. good luck and CONGRATIONS. you are going to have so much joy.

I think it is wonderful that you are considering this! It would be so wonderful for the both of you. I know this will make you closer to your new little bundle of joy!

Hi - congratulations on your impending parenthood! You might want to contact the La Leche League. Here's their local numbers: http://www.lllusa.org/web/DallasTX.html

Here's what they say about themselves: La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.

Hi, it sounds like you got a lot of helpful advice. I just wanted to say I admire you for even trying. Coincidentally I, too, have an angel in Heaven who would've been 4 today and my husband is an active duty Marine. :) By the grace of God we had the strength to try again. Thankfully we already had our 6 year old and have had our 2 year old since our loss. They're our angels here on earth. God bless you for what you are doing and congratulations!

Everyone has given the advice I would have given. I just want to encourage you. I'm proud that you are even thinking about BF.

I don't have any advice for you, but wanted to say congratulations and good luck! I think it is wonderful that you want to breastfeed. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences for me. I see you have gotten numerous referrals to LaLeche League. I used LaLeche League for advice a few times, too. They offer very good advice and are very open minded. I'm sure they'll be able to help you.

I haven't done this, but I have heard about it. You need to find a lactation consultant as well as a doctor to help you do this. It takes work, but It can be wonderful, I'm sure! Perhaps the adoption agency can recommend someone for you. I had to use a tool that was like a formula IV - a little tube that went from the a formula container that hung off my bra to my nipple and the baby sucked on it while breastfeeding. It improved my supply and got enough nourishment to the baby at the same time. I hope this helps and congratulations!

We adopted out daughter in Sept 07 and we tried but we only had five weeks. I would say to really try the natural things before you go onto meds. I had a wonderful midwife that helped alot but she was in Kansas so I could only call her. If you contact a health food store that is really good like Sunflower shop in FT Worth they have people who know what to take. I was adviced by multiple doctors, nutritionists, and different lactation consultants that meds really need to be a last resort. They told me that if I had been pregant before even if I lost the baby they told me that the body knows what you are asking from it when you start pumping. There are some good lactation consultants at Harris downtown one of them adopted and pumped and got full milk supply. Find someone that you trust. Hope that this helps and Congrats on the baby girl.

We have had some success at The nestingplace helping adoptive moms be able to nurse. You need to start now, please feel free to give one of our lactation consultants a call. We will work with your MD to get you the hormone stimulants you need.
call ###-###-####.

I also think you got great advice. Most traditional drs. will not be informed on this topic and know very little about breastfeeding in general (besides the benefits). Definitely contact your local LLL and the other recommendations people gave you here. I know you'd have to start meds before the baby got here and I've heard they have pretty high success rates. I admire you SOOOO much for wanting to give your baby the best nutrition possible and to develop that special bond. I pray it works out for you! Oh, I really recommend any new mom who wants to breastfeed to take one of the classes. I read two books on the subject because I had heard how hard it was and neither compared to the actual class. They are pretty cheap but soooo worth it. Good luck on finding the help you need and congrats on your new baby!!

I was reading an article just recently about the "man" who gave birth and is now pregnant again (you know, the transgender "male" that kept all his reproductive organs - Thomas Beaty or something similar is his/her name". Anyway, his partner who had nothing to do with the birthing process is breastfeeding the baby girl. She mentioned in the article that she began taking some kind of meds prior to the baby's birth that helped start her lactating. I'm sure your doctor will know about it - maybe you could actually google and find out before hand what it could be. Best wishes and congratulations.

Maybe this website would be helpful:
http://www.fourfriends.com/abrw/Perspectives/jack.htm

Hi. You probably won't be able to fully nourish your adopted baby by breastfeeding, but breastfeeding will help the two of you to bond. Before you talk to your doctor for meds, I recommend contacting a lactation consultant. I used Judy Eastburn after the births of my 2 dd's. You can easily find her by "googling" her name. She can come to you, or you can go to her, or you may just be able to do a phone consult. She is so knowlegable and keeps up with the latest research. I have heard more than one doctor call her "the mother of all lactation consultants". She will know what to do to help you. Good luck.

Definitely contact LLL of Fort Worth! I used to attend meetings when my now three year old was an infant, and they had a mother who regularly attended who had nursed an adopted baby through toddlerhood. I don't remember her name, but she was very knowledgable. We had another woman join who was looking to nurse an adopted baby, and this woman was so excited to help her get started. If you asked at LLL of Fort Worth, I'm sure they would know who I'm talking about. Good luck!

Also try checking out milkshare online. It's a site focused on sharing an overabundant supply but many of the mammas seeking are in your same boat and have tons of advice. Good luck!!

I went to my first La Leche League meeting while I was pregnant. I met a woman there who was planning on doing this with her adoptive baby. I too would highly suggest you get in contact with them for advice and suggestions. There are also other ways to get the baby at the breast (such as using a lactaid or sns) which might be an option for you as well. Do not be surprised if your Dr has limited experience or guidance on this.

One bit of warning... Over the years, I found Drs such as my son's ped especially, to be of little assistance. I really had to do much of my own research. LLL, my OB and my lactation consultant (I had a great one if you need a referal) were the best over all. Also, check out the website www.kellymom.com (search for adoption, etc.). It's an great resource.

Good luck & congratulations!

I think it is wonderful that you are considering this! It would be so wonderful for the both of you. There is tons of wonderful advice on here already but I will second,
contacting La Leche League and speaking with a lactation consultant. You can also do things to increase your supply and it may help in establishing your supply. Mother's milk tea, oatmeal and Fenugreek all aid in milk production and you can find these at Sunflower Shoppe, Central Market and Whole Foods.

Congratulations! I can't tell you how it is done, but I have heard it is possible. I agree that you need to contact Le Leche legue or a good lactation consultant. I know of one, but I'm not sure how much experience she has had with your situation. Her name is Melanie Shepperd. She runs a free nursing support group that meets at a church on Eden Rd. and Matlock in S. Arlington. ( I think it is Eden Road Church of Christ). They meet every Tues. night at 7pm. You should come before you bring home you new little one. There is also a yahoo group, that is made up of the same women who come to the group at the church each week. It is called For Babies Sake. YOu could join that and contact Melanie that way. My best friend was a surrogate for a family and the IM (the baby's mommy) induced lactation very successfully by taking a medicine she got from Canada, I think. I'm not sure if you have time to do that or not but it is worth looking into.

What a lucky little baby you have on the way mama! Good luck!

I say talk to your doctor & start the meds now! We adopted in June, but had just 24 hrs notice that we were going to be parents. What a miracle (!) but I was unable to breast feed because of the short notice. I wouldn't change a thing, but I wish I could have breast-fed her. I say give it a shot- lots of people do, and I would have loved the opportunity to share that with my daughter. I'll be praying for you, the baby & the birth mom that what's best for all of you happens. I know how hard this waiting is. Just keep the faith that God has chosen a child for you & that you will be a parent when He wants you to be. That's what saved us & gave us peace through the waiting. I hope this is the one!

Congrats!! Talk with lactation consultents. They have truly helped! Ask them about the sns system if you dont produce enough milk. Its a bottle that you pour formula into and hang around your neck. Small tubes come off of it. tape the small tubes to your breast. Then baby is getting formula and breast milk at the same time.