[adoptingmomma]

Hi,
I haven't been on here in awhile. We're kind of in the "limbo" stage of the adoption. Hubby gets 3 paychecks this month and one pays the amount of the homestudy 100% so we're waiting for that at the end of the month. Once that comes in we'll be sending in our app and homestudy fee and then everything will get rolling. Until then I had started research and I discovered, I CAN BREASTFEED!! This totally blew my mind!! I've been real upset about not being able to do anything for the baby that is from "ME" specifically and this is the answer I've been praying for!! The baby WILL need me, we WILL bond and get close-yea!! My question, for anyone that has done this is, how in the world do I start producing milk?? Everything I lookd at on-line was more and more confusing. Do you take a pill?? One site almost made it seem that you just started pumping and eventually milk would come- do you hook a machine up to you that feeds milk through to the baby if you don't produce enough? I'm a little confused on this so if someone could help me out I would appreciate it very much!
We're really ready to get going on this and hubby has started telling more and more people about it, which means he's getting more warmed up to the idea too! It's going to be SO NICE to come to the end of trying to start a family and finally have one!
Thanks for your help!
-Joy

[bajj]

First, talk to your OB about the possibilities for you.

Then, more research!

I will PM you something that may help.

[DianeS]

I'm so glad the idea of breastfeeding makes you so happy!

The first place to start is with your doctor. If he doens't know anything about adoptive breastfeeding, he should have others who do. La Leche League is pretty good about helping adoptive moms, too. (But remember, everything is run by humans, so if you meet a single ignorant or rude person, it doesn't mean the end of everything, just go on to the next person.)

To answer your specific questions:
Yes, some people take medications or herbs to stimulate milk development.
Yes, some people just start pumping and eventually get milk.
Yes, some people use a supplimental feeding system if they produce too little milk to satisfy the baby's hunger. It often consists of a tiny, narrow tube from the milk supply that runs right beside the mom's nipple, so baby gets milk from mom and the tube at the same time.

You can see there are several options, which is why research can get a bit confusing. They are ALL possible, you'll just have to keep researching and trying things, and figuring out which one works best for you (and eventually for the baby).

Good luck!

(And BTW, baby would need you even if you didn't breastfeed at all. You really think DAD is going to get up at 2 AM to change a diaper? LOL! Maybe yours is special, but somehow all the MOMs I know ended up with that job.)

[misidawnrn]

Yes you can breastfeed. I am breastfeeding our DD who is 8 weeks old. I don't make 100% of her needs. She gets about 8-12 ounces a day of either formula or donated milk but I make all the rest. I followed the protocol on asklenore.com We knew our birthmom and I had from Sept to Jan to take Yaz, a birthcontrol pill that has 3 mg progesterone in it and Domperidone- a med that changes the breasts, available only in canada or New Zealand, but readily bought on the internet. Then in Jan I started pumping every 3-4 hours and kept taking the DOM but stopped YAZ. I got milk right away although only 2cc's then by about 3 days later i was up to a half ounce. By the time she was born March 6th I was up to an ounce and half. Now at 8 weeks, when I pump at work I get 4 ounces at a time. For us that is considered successful. Some people make a full supply but I am happy she is just getting most of it. She is VERY VERY addicted to the breast and that is what makes her happy. I also take fenugreek, blessed thistle and alfalfa. That is all on that website!
Good luck. Feel free to contact me for more info!

[zombie]

Go to the After Adoption forum (subforum under Adoptive Parents) and then go to Breastfeeding the Adopted Child.

[tem0627]

We are awaiting the arrival of our little one and I met with my OB and did a ton of research about adoptive breastfeeding. I chose to purchase the Lact-Aid Supplemental Nursing System, per recommendations of the OB, our agency and two different lactation consultants. With this system, the average time to make about 75% of the baby's milk intake is about 8-10 weeks. I did not feel comfortable with domperidone, since it is not legal in the states and the Reglan that my OB wanted to put me on can have some serious depression side effects. These also pass through the breastmilk, which I was not comfortable with. I also did not want to take any herbs and I cannot take hormones due to a family history of deep vein thrombosis. The OB also suggested I start pumping; but also told me that I would need a good 4-6 months to establish a supply for baby; by pumping every 3 hours around the clock. With baby here any day now, I just don't have that kind of time and if I did, I don't know that I could have been that committed to a pump for 6 months (it is a lot of work). With the SNS, I don't need to pump, take meds or herbs; nursing the baby once he comes appears to be the best and quickest way I have found to produce milk. If you want to send me a PM in about 6 weeks, I can let you know how it is going!

[rd200]

HI, i dont want to hijack this thread but i have kinda a stupid question. I am thinking about nursing my adoptive child, and i dont really want to use the lact-aid system, my question is that if i dont produce much milk, will my newborn still want to suck from me?? I know my girlfriend says that when he child gets enough then he just uses her as a nuk basically. If i dont produce more than a few ounces a day, is the baby going to want to nurse if he or she doesnt get anything? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks,Rach