I wanna breastfeed my adoptive child but...?

Rachele

Kudos to you for wanting to do this for your baby!

Adoptive breastfeeding will take a lot of work on your part, but its worth it.

Here are some resources that will help you prepare for this

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

http://www.llli.org/NB/NBadoptive.html

http://breast-feeding.adoption.com/

Sam

Yes you can breastfeed if you adopt a child. Have you chosen a pediatrician? Call the pediatricians office and ask if they can suggest a Lactation Consultant (breastfeeding specialist). She will walk you through the steps you need to take to breastfeed the adopted baby. You will probably have to take regran (can't spell it.. and I can't remember the name of the other drug) that sends messages to your body to begin producing milk.
The Lactation Consultant will also give you hands on experience with how to latch the baby on (and surely he/she will if they are hungry : P).
Also.. if you have the money for it, call a hospital or a pediatricians office and ask if they offer breastfeeding classes.
Women are born with milk ducts and the ability to breastfeed. Our bodies just need the proper signals to begin producing milk.

Crucio

You would need to talk to your doctor and start hormones. Most likely you would not produce enough milk to sustain the baby on just that so you would have to supplement with formula.

Gaia Raain

Many adoptees are against this practice. A few support it, but I'd suggest doing your research. They've got a lot to say about this subject, and it would be worth your while to find out what it's like from the adoptee's point of view.

grapesgum

Please read about how adopted adults feel about this - many feel very creepy about it. Please be totally honest about why you want to do this. Is it for the baby or for you? Are you doing it to simulate child birth?

Will you have a relationship with the child's natural mother? How will she feel about it? Some natural mothers who give their children away are 100% against adopters breast feeding.

sunny

Did you know that in order to produce enough breast milk, you'd have to take HORMONES?

It's hard to express to people who haven't been around newborns just how HUNGRY they are. They actually make snorting noises in their desperation to get nourishment.

Making them struggle to get food from a woman who was not designed to produce it is tantamount to child abuse, IMO.

MamaKate

It can be done but it won't be nearly as beneficial to the baby as breastfeeding from the biological mother because you will have already lost your colostrum.

Personally, I think it is creepy, but yes, it has been done.

Heather Leigh

Sorry, but this just seems sick and wrong.... In my opinion, it is a way for someone to "pretend" the adopted child is their own. Why not let the original mother breast feed or express milk for the baby?

only1bub

I know a lady who breastfed her adoptive baby. She had a bunch of hormones she had to take, and successfully breastfed your baby. Speak with your doctor and get some recommendations as to how you go about it, and who to see.

I'm sure baby will latch - all babies have to learn at the beginning.

GEE-GEE

You can still do it. There are some good places out there that can help you. Like La Leche and others. http://www.llli.org/
You can take a few shots that will help you develop the breast milk etc. Some womens hormones will just kick in naturally and you can generate your own milk.

Smarty Pants

unless you give birth, I dont think your hormones can produce enough milk to breastfeed.

sammi

no you cant breastfeed if you adopt

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