[mom-of- 5]

Has anyone ever tried breastfeeding after their adopted baby was formula fed for 7 months? I was considering trying as I breastfed all my bio children until they were toddlers. I really want to try but don't know how practical that really is. I was going to try and use the SNS system and start pumping a few months before we get him. Of course , not know when is a little bit of a difficulty in itself! Especially with all the k/o I have been hearing about!

[uramos]

I am not breastfeeding my son, but my sister in law has donated her breastmilk to our 9 month old son. He has been home for two weeks (I was with him for one month in Guatemala before we came home). He wasn't sure of the taste at first so I mixed it 50/50 in a bottle. After one week we are up to 2/3 breastmilk and 1/3 formula. I tried to give him a bottle of just formula in a pinch a couple of days ago and he didn't like it (after a little over a week!). He does root around quite a bit when he wants his bottle so I have wondered if he might have taken to nursing if I had tried. Good luck.
Ursula

[mombyfaith]

I pm'd you

[LadyP]

I say GO FOR IT!!! While I can't say I had success with nursing an adopted baby, it would have worked out nicely if circumstances had been different. Although she did know how to take a bottle, my little Guatemalan princess was most DEFINITELY breastfed. She was almost 7 months when I got her, and she kept trying to nurse. As I was also 7 months pregnant, I had no milk and it wasn't realistic to induce lactation at the time. I had hoped to nurse her after my wee one came along, but she is not really interested anymore. I do know it is possible to breastfeed an older baby that has only had bottles...but it is more challenging. But some of the foster moms nurse the babies...so you never know...

Also, I think the SNS is a great idea.

Good luck.

[purpleLulu]

Try this link, its full of very helpful info and they have a forum.

http://www.fourfriends.com/abrw/

[csw]

Hi
Lot's of women have gotten older babies to nurse..I know of one woman who adopted a 18 month old from Ethiopia and she is nursing..as well as a woman with a 3 year old from China who nursed her for 4 years!
As purplelu said..ABRW is a great website..there is a section specifically for getting older babies to nurse..
Also..just FYI..the Lact-aid is recommended over the Medela SNS..the babies prefer the tubing and you can nurse lying down..also..it is activated by the baby sucking..not by gravity.so it will stimulate your own supply to come in. You can get a milk supply this way (about 1/4 to 1/2 of the babies needs) or you can take domeridone and pump ahead of time..or..you can do a medical protocol to make a full milk supply (Newman-Goldfarb protocol for inducing lactation)
I am an expert on adoptive nursing..feel free to PM me for any information...