Any thoughts?

LauraH · #1 (**permalink**) 06-26-2007, 07:36 PM

When DP first started TTC we talked about me breastfeeding (she has no intrest in doing it) , but now that it's getting to be more of a reality I feel a little weird about it (I haven't told her that though). I know it's much healthier for the baby and I the bonding must be so special. From what I have researched it doesn't seem so difficult. Any thoughts, ideas, input???

JBB373 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 07:32 AM

Laura, although its completely natural I found it weird and uncomfortable at first with BFing DS and that was my birth. I'm sure you have another layer to go through thinking about BFing a baby not from your womb.

On the flip side, I think it may help the problem you were telling us about resolving the feelings of never have a baby of your "own" - by this I mean carrying the baby because this baby will be yours in everyway. I personally find it more troublesome preparing the endless supply of bottles for my foster twins, washing, and of course the cost of formula is a small fortune. From my experience the BM's smell quite a bit more from formula. Some days I feel it would be so much easier if I could just BF these little ones - especially on the two occasions when I opened the diaper bag and realized the can of formula didn't make it into the diaper bag and I having a screaming child.

BFing is a personal decision and I'm not sure what you will have to do in order to produce milk in terms of taking hormones. It may be more trouble or it may be the most rewarding experience. I'm so much help, aren't I? I would way the pros and cons with the realization that I think many girls don't feel like its the most natural thing at first even with their birthchild. It really does become easier for most . . . GL

theluvof2moms · #3 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 08:34 AM

Hi Laura,
I think breastfeeding non bio children is starting to become very common in today's world. I think if I was adopting a newborn I might give it a try but since the baby I will be adopting will be somewhere between 3-12 months I think it would just prove to be to difficult and wierd for me and my DP is not a fan of breastfeeding at all so the lack of support there would be a little bit of a challenge.

With all that being said, I do know it is possible and if I was in your situation I would probably totally give it a try. It will probably take you a couple of months to produce the milk but I bet if you went over to the breastfeeding board they could give you all the info. I know there is some pill you can take to help produce the milk and then you have to start pumping every so many hours daily. I say if you really feel like this will help with the bonding and it may help heal your heart from the IF issues you experienced then go for it. I also know if a blog I read that a girl was preparing to BF her adopted child I'm sure she could be a pretty good wealth of knowledge too.

Good Luck and sorry if I just rambled on.

bdunkadunk · #4 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 01:22 PM

I am hoping to breastfeed my adoptive baby! I have already started the progesterone (Yasmin) and will start the domperdone once we match. I am really hoping to make it work! Good for you!

LauraH · #5 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 01:59 PM

Wow ladies - you helped me SO much! You all said things I really needed to hear. It helpes to know that it's weird for some women even with a bio child -makes me feel so much better! I also didn't realize there is a BF board - I'll definately check that out.
Bdunk - how did you learn about taking progesterone & domperdone? Is that something I should call my doctor about or la leche league?
Thanks again!

bdunkadunk · #6 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 04:12 PM

My doctor (and the five others I called) were clueless, I am educating him!

There is an established protocol developed by a doctor which outlines what you need to do. Basically, you start by taking a high progesterone birth control pill (ironic, I know) to change your breast tissue and then later add a medicine called domperidone which you have to order online (legal but scary...I have researched it and think it will be safe). Dom is not FDA approved in the US (because other drugs in its class, like Reglan, already are) but has been used for a long time in Canada and is used to treat tummy issues but also causes lactation. Later on, I will start pumping and use a Lact-Aid supplemental feeder to supplement breast milk with formula until/if my supply is sufficient. Many adoptive moms can produce 50-100% of their baby's needs.

It takes a lot of commitment but for us who are not giving birth, it is a great way for our bodies to get involved, provide antibodies and bond with our little ones! Keep in my mind, I have not actually done this yet so this is just my plan!

here's the protocol website: http://www.asklenore.info/breastfeed..._protocol.html

mildlydelirious · #7 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 05:23 PM

I highly recommend it. I never thought I would be such a BFing fan but I am just about a BF fanatic!

I BFed DD (birth DD) for 18 months and never would have stopped that soon but I really wanted to TTC #2. I highly regret not inducing lactation for Lilly.
It would have been so good for her. I am currently FFing two babies and neither of them really "loves" their bottle the way DD loved to nurse.

It really was a magical kind of thing. It made us connected in a way that nothing else could have. It was her and me. No one else. We were a team. I knew she was getting what was best for her and I was getting to be so close to her. BTW - she did not have to go see a doctor for anything like an ear infection, etc., until this year. She is three-years-old. She was just about as healthy as you can get.

Plus, once you get established and get good at it, it is SOOO very much easier than bottle feeding. Bottles are a major pain in the a**. Not that they don't work to feed babies nutrition, but they require a lot of extra work, time and money. But, then again, Avery was two before she ever spent the night anywhere else. It's kinda hard to ever get away from a breast-fed baby.

I'm not saying it was easy. I had major problems after birth and was not able to nurse Avery right away and that resulted in some issues. She knew what to do but she had what was called a "weak suck" because she was a preemie. I also had difficulties and had to wear breast shields, etc. I had to use a breast pump to pump before she ate (to get my milk to come down) and then she would eat as much as she could, and then I had to pump both breasts and then bottle feed her to make sure she was eating enough. We did this around the clock... We're talking a major commitment. It really will take a very big commitment. But it is so worth it.

I don't think the process I went through is so different than what you have to do to induce lactation. The process is about the same except you might have to use a supplemental system in the beginning. (Like Lact-Aid)

For more information get a hold of your La Leche League, but also there is a group on Yahoo. It's an Adoptive Mother's Breastfeeding group. They have a ton of information and hopefully can help and support you.

Wishing you the best. I will be here to support you with it all, if that's what you decide. Good luck!

~m

LauraH · #8 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 07:22 PM

Seriously, you ladies ROCK! I appreciate the resources & especially the support.