Breastfeeding An Adopted Baby

You are about to adopt a baby and you want to breastfeed. Breastfeeding an adoptive baby is possible with the proper guidance, planning, and preparation. Many moms feel that breastfeeding an adoptive baby completes a special bond she now feels for this baby. In fact, every mom deserves the right to choose or not choose to breastfeed their adoptive baby. Breastfeeding an adopted baby helps form a very strong bond. Many moms feel that breastfeeding has many health benefits to giving their babies. The benefits of breastfeeding physiologically as well as emotionally for babies are great and can be felt throughout their lifetime. Furthermore, it is also very important for the mom to hold, spend time, sing and play with the baby. So, how does a mom who decides to adopt a baby breastfeed?A mother who decides to adopt a child and breastfeed this child needs to understand that she may never be able to sustain the infant completely by her milk alone, therefore, she needs to supplement. It takes a great deal of dedication and time to have a full milk supply and some moms only produce small amounts. The Supplemental Feeder works well and I greatly encourage moms to purchase the Last-Aid device. This way, you will not have to bottle feed your baby as much. It is also nice to experience to do as much sucking as possible at the breasts. Last last-aid supplemental feeder is nice and easy to use. I have had the pleasure of seeing an adoptive mother breastfeed her baby.I came to her home and corrected something for her which made breastfeeding more enjoyable and less painful for her. She was so grateful and happy when I left. This mom used the Last-Aid Supplemental Feeder and was very comfortable with it. The baby was gaining nicely. She felt so confident about her ability to be a mom to her adopted baby and be able to nurture him in this way that it brought tears to my eyes. There are some moments in my career that I will never forget and this will be one of them. Watching your adopted baby on your breast properly is very important. Sometimes, you may need to use a nipple shield for extra comfort. You may also need to use creams when your nipples are sore. Lansinoh puts out my favorite cream for sore nipples. I recommend this one. You can always consult me through email or text or a phone call. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, I am trained to help you breastfeed successfully. So how does an adoptive mom educate herself about breastfeeding?First of all, read all the benefits that breastfeeding has for your new baby. Some people call the Supplemental Feeder an "external milk duct." Stimulating the breast is very important. The best way is by having your adopted baby suck you. The next best way is pumping. An adoptive mom can purchase an electric pump and start every few hours pumping before the adoption. However, sometimes a family makes a decision not to give up the baby. It can then become both physically and emotionally draining. I hope this never happens to you, however, just stop expressing and pumping your milk gradually. You can call me if you need to contact a Lactation Consultant or if you just need to talk.I am here for you. During pregnancy, the body prepares the breast by the hormones generated by the pregnancy, which includes: estrogen, progesterone and human placental lactogen, a hormone secreted by the placenta. An adopted mom needs to mimic these hormones, therefore, a course of estrogen, progesterone would be right to start such as oral contraceptives. However, the hormones need to be stopped one month before breastfeeding your adopted baby. Stimulating the breast by pumping should be done gradually. You should begin to gradually pump five minutes, three times a day, then ten minutes, three times a day, increasing to every four hours.Usually, it takes a month to see any results. Domperidone can be started at this time. Dr. Newman suggests 10 mg three times a day increasing after a month to 20 mg four times a day. Every woman is different so always consult your physician before taking drugs. There are also other medications that your doctor can prescribe. In conclusion, breastfeeding an adopted baby is the most rewarding and wonderful experience a mother can have. Breast milk is so healthy and beneficial to your baby that any amount that you give your baby makes a tremendous difference in your baby's health.Set your expectations about breastfeeding at a reasonable level. Lastly, breastfeeding should always be enjoyable and emotionally rewarding so enjoy your special bond and closeness with your baby.