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Did you know it’s possible for a woman to breastfeed a child even if she hasn’t given birth to that child? It’s true! It’s amazing! And it happens all the time.
Technically called Induced Lactation, breastfeeding an adopted child typically works best if the child is an infant when adopted, although it’s possible to nurse a child adopted at a slightly later age as long as the conditions are right.
Why bother to breastfeed? Kay Green, an adoptive mother who sucessfully breastfed her adopted daughter says:
WHY? Why not? It is better for the babies. They receive antibodies, better nutrients and enzymes, bonding and much more. It is a wonderful way to bond with a newly adopted child. Many have successfully nursed an older adopted child too. I know of several who have gotten 6-9 month olds to nurse after being adopted.
To me, a women who had all kinds of trouble sucessfully breastfeeding my biological child, this seems miraculous. But it’s apparently possible, and one of my friends, Mama Shepherd, did this with her first child, adopted at 3 weeks old.
Here’s what Kay Green says she did when preparing to breastfeed her daughter:
I started by pumping every 3-4 hours with a Hospital grade breast pump (Medela Lactina double pump). http://www.medela.com/products/lactina.html The lightweight pumps available at most stores will not do the job of Induced Lactation. The Lactina is $700-900 to buy so I rented it for 3 months.
I also started taking herbs: 9 Fenugreek (an Indian spice that makes your sweat smell like maple syrup), 6 Blessed Thistle (NOT Milk Thistle),
6 Marshmallow Root (make the milk thicker and higher in calorie). I also drank Mothers Milk Tea and lots of water. Eating oatmeal. pineapple, and Henry Weinhart’s Root beer will also help.
Go to Part 2
