[Steph-Jason]

I didn't do this with DD. I found out it was possible right before we were on the list & since evertyhign went so fast I didn't have alot of time to research it. I've always wanted to breastfeed & have thought it is the best option. Granted- with DD she's grown tons of weight so I definately haven't had to worry about her getting enough nutrition My main reason for wanting to do it is because of the formula scare a few months ago. Anywho- I was just thinking today that for #2 I think I'd like to give it a try... not that we're thinking of #2 anytime soon- probably be a couple of years before we try for another but it's me over plannin

So 2 questions:
#1 - if I didn't with my first but I do with my 2nd does that cause a problem? Will DD feel left out? Is it wrong to do it with #2 since I didn't do it with #1.
#2 - where do I get started?? I know I've heard people saying that they've taken herbs & that sort of thing...

Any thoughts on this overall?

Thanks guys!!

[meadowroad]

i did this, for a little bit...i BF my home grown girl and relactated for our adopted girl, she was 8 months when i got her and had pumped and stored for a month, she didn't latch on, though i have friends who have a good success, there is a yahoo group, just look up adoptive breastfeeding...
you induce lactation by taking a combination of birthcontrol and domperidone for a couple months, the get off the birthcontrol and start pumping, it take a couple weeks to build up any kind of supply, but even a couple ozs a day is better than nothing...
i say give it a try!

[KLL08]

I wanted to BF with our dd but my ob/gyn gave me the run around. She had me crying my eyes out by the time I left (grr...I'm switching dr's) But she tried to tell me it wasn't nutritious for our dd and I would be poisoning her b/c it wouldn't have all the nutrients b/c I wasn't actually pregnant. I had to literally go online in her office and show her the protocals I had found for it! Then she prescribed me the wrong meds and never returned my calls or the pharmacists!! I would love to BF #2 in a few years. I don't think that our DD would know the difference if I BF #2 she wouldn't remember taking a bottle or BF herself.

[Magic_Hat]

KLL08, that's horrible! I'm sorry you were treated that way. Dr. sounds like an idiot.

I tried to do it with our daughter but we only had two days notice and she was already 16 days old and it ended up being to stressful so we gave up. If you don't want to take the prescription drugs for it, you can always take the herb fenugreek (pills and/or tea) and pump. I got drops after only a few days.

GL!

[DianeS]

I've never breastfed, so the only part of your post I'll address is this question: "#1 - if I didn't with my first but I do with my 2nd does that cause a problem? Will DD feel left out? Is it wrong to do it with #2 since I didn't do it with #1."

If we were only allowed to do with our second the same things we did with our first, how would we EVER correct mistakes? Why would we ever bother learning anything after our first?

We do the best that we know how with each child. If we learn better after one, we do better with the second. It's OK.

If you believed formula was right before you had your first, then you acted the best you knew then. If you believe that breastfeeding is right now, then you will act the best you know in the future.

It is unlikely that your DD will be jealous about your second child breastfeeding because she was bottle fed. She may be jealous about the amount of time and attention breastfeeding takes, but that would likely exist whether you breastfed or bottle fed her.

You're going to do a lot of things differently with your second than you did with your first. It's normal. This breastfeeding question is just the first one you've encountered. Hang in there!

[isitnaptime]

Yep, its possible, check out the forum farther down just for that topic!
Some other links

Lact-Aid Webmap, your guide to lact-aid.com web site
Ask Lenore ~ Home Page
Organic herbal products for pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding moms and babys - Motherlove
The Adoptive Breastfeeding Resource Website - Homepage

Good luck!

[calee]

Just throwing this out there-I hope it comes across as I mean it to, and not hurtful!

Since you say that the primary reason you are interested is because of the formula scare, I just wanted to throw out there that you may not produce enough breastmilk to exclusively breastfeed. Oftentimes with induced lacation, supplimenting is necessary.

Women who have previously breastfed a child (and even moreso if it was recent) sometimes have more success than someone who has never lactated.

I am not saying that to upset you! I just wanted to put that out there so that you are able to realistically look at your options, including a formula suppliment that you are comfortable with should you need it.

[isitnaptime]

You can also use the supplementor with donated or prepumped and deep frozen breastmilk.

[Steph-Jason]

Originally Posted by KLL08

I wanted to BF with our dd but my ob/gyn gave me the run around. She had me crying my eyes out by the time I left (grr...I'm switching dr's) But she tried to tell me it wasn't nutritious for our dd and I would be poisoning her b/c it wouldn't have all the nutrients b/c I wasn't actually pregnant. I had to literally go online in her office and show her the protocals I had found for it! Then she prescribed me the wrong meds and never returned my calls or the pharmacists!! I would love to BF #2 in a few years. I don't think that our DD would know the difference if I BF #2 she wouldn't remember taking a bottle or BF herself.

KLL08- that's awful!! Sorry you had such a bad experience.

[Steph-Jason]

Originally Posted by Magic_Hat

If you don't want to take the prescription drugs for it, you can always take the herb fenugreek (pills and/or tea) and pump. I got drops after only a few days.

GL!

Thanks Magic Hat!!I'd look into this- I don't think I like the thought of doing prescription drugs- I'm too worried they'd cross over to the baby.

[Steph-Jason]

Originally Posted by DianeS

I've never breastfed, so the only part of your post I'll address is this question: "#1 - if I didn't with my first but I do with my 2nd does that cause a problem? Will DD feel left out? Is it wrong to do it with #2 since I didn't do it with #1."

If we were only allowed to do with our second the same things we did with our first, how would we EVER correct mistakes? Why would we ever bother learning anything after our first?

We do the best that we know how with each child. If we learn better after one, we do better with the second. It's OK.

If you believed formula was right before you had your first, then you acted the best you knew then. If you believe that breastfeeding is right now, then you will act the best you know in the future.

It is unlikely that your DD will be jealous about your second child breastfeeding because she was bottle fed. She may be jealous about the amount of time and attention breastfeeding takes, but that would likely exist whether you breastfed or bottle fed her.

You're going to do a lot of things differently with your second than you did with your first. It's normal. This breastfeeding question is just the first one you've encountered. Hang in there!

Diane- thanks for saying all of this. I think I was having some insecurities regarding my decision & I needed to be reminded that it's OK. Thanks

[Steph-Jason]

Originally Posted by calee

Just throwing this out there-I hope it comes across as I mean it to, and not hurtful!

Since you say that the primary reason you are interested is because of the formula scare, I just wanted to throw out there that you may not produce enough breastmilk to exclusively breastfeed. Oftentimes with induced lacation, supplimenting is necessary.

Women who have previously breastfed a child (and even moreso if it was recent) sometimes have more success than someone who has never lactated.

I am not saying that to upset you! I just wanted to put that out there so that you are able to realistically look at your options, including a formula suppliment that you are comfortable with should you need it.

You're not being hurtful at all I appreciate your feedback. That part was something that I have considered and will research as well. I know I've heard of lactation banks for this exact reason. I definatly have alot of research to do!

[Steph-Jason]

Originally Posted by isitnaptime

You can also use the supplementor with donated or prepumped and deep frozen breastmilk.

Isitnaptime- thanks for this advice & for the websites. I'll check them out. If you don't mind me asking- is this something that you did? If so- what was your experience.

[kara05kara]

Hi-
I wanted to share my breastfeeding experience...

Just like you, for our first adoption things happened quick, and although I thought about breastfeeding, I didn't. When we started our homestudy for #2 I went to my ob-gyn and asked for birth control pills (I followed the protocol on asklenore). I ordered the motillum online and had no problems getting that. I was on that combo for a month, then I started pumping. (Oh, and I got a script for a hospital grade breastpump from the ob-gyn and rented it from the hospital for about $50/mo). It took about 2 weeks for me to get drops of breastmilk. Then, SURPRISE, a baby born situation! So I immediately began nursing him with a supplimenter, using similac in the supplimenter. (I believe I needed a peditircian's scrpit to get breastmilk from the bank). After about a month of nursing with the supplimenter I was producing about 2 oz a day. That was with adding water & oatmeal to my diet as well as fenegreek and blessed thistle. I smelled yummy- just like maple syrup! I was a little discouraged because it was annoying to use the supplimenter (lots of little parts to clean each time), but very happy at the same time because I figured each drop of bmilk was like liquid gold.

Then, at 6 weeks old, my son developed a cough, that turned into viral pneumonia, and he was hospitalized for 8 days. I totally lost all of my breastmilk. I don't know if it was the few days he stopped eating, or the stress, or the combo, but after that I gave up. It was a relief at the time to let it go, but a part of me wishes I hadn't.

My older child, who was 2 at the time, had major jealousy when I nursed the baby. I don't believe it had anything to do with how the baby was being feed as much as it was something I was doing without my older son.

Now, as we think about maybe going for #3, I am already getting birthcontrol and squirreling it away until I'm ready to take it. I think if I follow the protocol a little longer before pumping I might get a larger supply. I hope to breastfeed again, even if it's just for a few weeks.

I do have to say that emotionally I felt very victorious when I got my first drops of breastmilk. Finally my body was doing something right! And it was nice to be able to be the only one who could feed my son... well, mostly nice except a few times for the second middle-of-the-night feeding...

Oh, and one other thing- I did not get many positive reactions to nursing my non-biological son. Part of it may have been that it was a transracial adoption, and it may have just looked wierd. My mother was supportive, and one nurse at the hospial when he was ill was supportive, but that was pretty much it. Luckily I can ignore almost anything, so it didn't bug me, but be prepared.

Natalie

[isitnaptime]

Originally Posted by Steph-Jason

Isitnaptime- thanks for this advice & for the websites. I'll check them out. If you don't mind me asking- is this something that you did? If so- what was your experience.

No, I haven't yet, but I am still nursing my bio 28m old for a couple more months and we are just about ready to be waiting with an agency.
So I am going to continue to pump (once a day after I wean my bio in a couple months) as long as I can keep up with it and see what happens. I really never have liked/been good at pumping and neither bio kid would take bottles so I don't have much pumping experience.

I plan on using the Lact-Aid, or at least trying it, and supplementing with frozen/donated milk and formula. If I am not increasing production I may try some herbs or dom.

I dont even have a clue how much milk I make right now, I only nurse 3x day.