Adoptive Breastfeeding

Adoptive breastfeeding is not only possible but has many advantages. If you are adopting a child that has been abused or that has been taken from temporary parents, breast feeding can actually help the adopted child heal, become content and it will also aid in the bonding process. Some moms that adopt a baby when the child is over 6 months old, have found that adoptive breastfeeding really helps to get the baby relaxed and feeling wanted and safe.

Some moms might need to use an at-the-breast nursing supplementer for some feedings, in this way baby will be receiving your milk, the supplement and at the same time you will be able to increase your milk supply. Some moms take up to 5 months before being able to produce a full supply of breast milk for baby, others never develop a full breast milk supply...but every little bit counts. Successful adoptive breastfeeding and milk supply also have to do with normal breastfeeding problems like bad latch, bad positioning, not feeding or pumping enough

With adoptive nursing you can enjoy the physical closeness, skin-to-skin contact and mother-infant connection same as if it where your own biological child.

How does relactation work

When baby sucks on your breasts it will trigger milk production, so you do not have to be pregnant to breastfeed. When you stimulate the breast enough your “milk hormones” (prolactin levels) will go up and therefore stimulate milk production. Stimulating lactation in mothers who have been pregnant previously has been found to be easier since their breasts have already gone through a growth process in which the ducts and alveoli are made ready for lactation

What if I don’t produce enough breast milk?

It doesn’t matter. You can supplement breast milk with formula or just have baby on the breast with only formula. With a supplemental feeding system your baby will still be getting the benefits of bonding with you and also get the benefits of oral development which happens with breastfeeding.

Instead of using formula you could always contact a breast milk bank.

A nursing supplementer consists of a silicone tube attached to a milk reservoir. The reservoir is filled with formula or your breastmilk. The tube is taped to your breast so that the tip of the tube comes out past your nipple. Baby then sucks on the tube and receives the milk in the reservoir but as the same time stimulates the breast, which causes you to produce more milk.

Read more on how to use a Lact aid here

Induced lactation for breastfeeding adopted children

To induce lactation for adoptive breastfeeding you can:

- Pump – You will need to pump at least six times a day for ten minutes on each breast (An electric, hospital grade pump is the best to use)

- Using herbs and foods that increase supply. Also drink lots of water, at least three liters daily.

- Using special drugs that increase supply (metoclopramide) Domperidone: This drug can help you produce more breastmilk. It is not needed for you to use in order to breastfeed an adopted baby, but it will assist in developing a more abundant milk supply faster.

- Taking hormones: Oestrogen and Progesterone

How to increase lactation (things you can do)

- Always make sure that your baby empties a breast before offering the other one.

- Pump after each feeding but never pump more than every two hours

- Eat a good, well varied diet

- Breast massage and nipple stimulation

- Remember that a pump can never remove the same amount of milk as a baby. And a pump does not stimulate your breasts like a baby. So always breastfeed baby and then afterwards you can pump to remove the remaining milk.

- Always breastfeed skin to skin. This will not only get your milk flowing but will also be more natural and help with the bonding process.

- Check for normal breastfeeding problems

- Stay away from using a pacifier

- Try waking baby at least twice in the night to breastfeed. Read more on co sleeping

- Other tips and techniques to increase milk supply

What about nipple confusion?

If baby is accustomed to drinking out of a bottle, he might not want to breastfeed. Finger feeding is something that most adoptive moms have found works to help prevent the frustration in the beginning. Baby will still be consuming the breast milk and can slowly be weaned onto the breast.

Read more on nipple confusion here

How to get baby to accept the breast

- The earlier you can start adoptive breastfeeding the better. If it is possible to be there straight after birth, it will be a good idea to start breastfeeding the same day.

- Using a lactation Aid ( Lact aid ) or supplemental feeding device can help get baby on the breast

- Some mothers start breastfeeding their babies at 6 months. So it is possible. If you really want to do this you can. It takes time and patience but is worth it in the end.

Breastfeeding the adopted baby when you are already breastfeeding

Some mothers that are still breastfeeding their own babies, adopt a child and wonder whether the milk will be substantial enough for a new born. Although you won’t be producing colostrum for your baby, the breast milk is still superior to formula. Breastmilk contains immune and growth factors and is also much easier for baby to digest.

Adoptive breastfeeding support

With adoptive nursing it’s especially important that you get as much support as possible. Try talking to other adoptive breastfeeding moms

Another great alternative for those moms who would like their adopted baby to receive all the benefits of breast milk but who just don’t see chance to breastfeed themselves… they might want to consider a milk bank.

Other pages on “breastfeeding problems” in connection with breastfeeding adopted babies

- The benefits of breastfeeding

- Breast massage

- Lactation stories

- Low milk supply

- Breast milk banks

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