Infant adoption, child adoption, domestic adoption

03/30/07

Adoptive Breastfeeding Series

Posted by : Faith Allen in Hoping to Adopt Blog at 05:04 am , 334 words, 184 views
Categories: Adoptive Breastfeeding

For those of you who are just looking into adopting, you might be surprised to learn that it is possible to breastfeed an adopted baby. I was absolutely FLOORED when I learned this. I assumed that missing out on this experience was another one of my infertility losses to be grieved.

I learned about adoptive breastfeeding by reading a book about adoption. (I wish I could remember which book it was. I read so many books while I was researching the adoption process.) The author was talking about adopting an infant and mentioned breastfeeding the baby as an aside. I reread the sentence several times, certain that I had misunderstood her. So, I did some research and learned that an adopted baby CAN be breastfed.

I am writing this series to let you know about this possibility, to tell you how to do it, and to discuss the pros and cons. I, personally, chose to breastfeed my adopted baby, and I have no regrets. However, now that I have had this experience, I would not choose to do it again. I believe that the choice to breastfeed or bottle-feed a baby, whether that baby joins your family through birth or adoption, is a personal choice, and that other people need to butt out of this decision. (If you need help with dealing with unsolicited advice, refer back to my series on the Top Ten Ways to Deal with Meddlers. You will need that advice if you choose to breastfeed. Believe me!)

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Breastfeeding an adopted baby can be a very positive experience, but it can also be frustrating. There are some good resources available to guide you through the experience, so you don’t have to feel like you are all alone. The Le Leche League is very supportive of adoptive breastfeeding, so you can have ready access to people who will support you in this decision if you choose to try it. Just be sure that you choose to breastfeed for the right reasons.

6 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: BethPie [Member]

Another fantastic resource is http://fourfriends.com/abrw/

It's dedicated to adoptive breastfeeding. :o)

Permalink 03/30/07 @ 08:58

Comment from: Faith Allen [Member]

· http://hoping.adoptionblogs.com/

Thanks for the link!

- Faith

Permalink 03/30/07 @ 10:48

Comment from: Julia Fuller [Member]

· http://special-needs.adoptionblogs.com/

I tried to breast feed Amigrace but it had been 14 years since I had done it and couldn't get the milk flowing. I do think it was a positve bonding experience though. She's the only baby I've ever parented (20 or so) that refused to take a bottle from anyone but me. She would wait for me to get home to feed her which reminded me of a breastfed baby. So I think if you work on eye contact and holding close during feedings you can bond and have a special closeness regardless of method.

Permalink 03/30/07 @ 11:56

Comment from: Faith Allen [Member]

· http://hoping.adoptionblogs.com/

I agree that eye contact and holding close during feedings, whether feeding by breast or bottle, facilitates the bonding process. I am excited to see that we have other adoptive moms here who have breastfed their adopted babies!

- Faith

Permalink 03/30/07 @ 17:00

Comment from: Kerry [Member]

I breastfed my adopted daughter although I had never been pregnant before. Although it was a lot of work in the beginning, I was extrememly successful, even able to go off the Motilium/Domperidone and continue feeding her fully. I had more than enough milk. I know that this is unusual, but it is impossible to know what your body will do unless you try! That said, I think women need to be prepared for the likelihood that they will not be able to provide all of their baby's milk, and certainly with the work, time, and emotions involved, it is not for everyone. But for me,breastfeeding my daughter was the most amazing experience I've ever had, after becoming her Mom in the first place.

Permalink 04/03/07 @ 11:07

Comment from: Faith Allen [Member]

· http://hoping.adoptionblogs.com/

Kerry,

Thank you for sharing your story!! Yours is the most successful adoptive breastfeeding story that I have ever read, especially since you have never been pregnant. Usually I hear these successes from women who have previously breastfed a bio child.

Thank you for offering hope to others who read your story.

Take care,

- Faith

Permalink 04/03/07 @ 12:17

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