My husband and I are talking about adopting a baby sometime in the next year. We were going to have another bio baby and adopt later but, I just can't handle another pregnancy yet. We feel like we may as well take advantage of the fact that I am lactating to feed the adopted baby rather than put it on formula. Is this ok for the baby? I know that the composition and quantity changes as the baby gets older so, I dunno if it would be ok to put say, a much younger baby on when Jim will be already partially weaned. Or would my milk adjust to the new baby? It just seems such a shame to put the new guy on a bottle when I have all this good human milk!
from what I understand about the supply and demand thing, it would adjust. There's also a pill out there that helps with production. As for the type of milk (as it changes as babes gets older), that I don't know.
Here are some articles from the LLL site on adoptive nursing. There are also several books, which would be helpful, they are available in the OnLine catalogue. http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBadoptive.html I would also talk to a good LLL leader or a Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Even a womyn who has nursed a baby is going to find challenges while adoptive nursing. It is better to get as much info as possible before the actual adoption. The age of the baby is important, too. The longer the baby has been in foster care on a bottle the harder it will be. If you get a newborn right after birth it will be easier. A child over 6 months is difficult to teach to breastfeed, although I have heard of children as old as a year starting up.
That would be so awesome to do that, and it would be such a bonding experience between the two of you (as you already know!) Good luck to you, I'm sure you can do it! {{{Hugs}}}
There is also a long thread on mothering.com about breastfeeding adopted children. There are other online resources as well but I can't think of them right now. It is so great for both you and the baby and a real strength of the bond. Even if you have no milk, some women use an artifical feeding device just for the bonding. Some women start pumping months ahead of time. There are also drugs that you can take to promote lactation. But you've got to have a good support system. Since you're already lactating it should be a lot easier. I've heard of mothers who were breastfeeding both a bio child and an adopted child. I felt that because I worked fulltime and my age, I was 52 when we adopted Dakota, that it would just be too hard. But I always held him while he had his bottle. The day care got really upset with me that he didn't hold his own bottle after a while. But I felt it was best for our bond for me to hold it for him. Are you planning on adopting domestically or internationally? Be prepared for the emotional rollercoaster. It can take you for a real ride. Blessings, Kathi
The only downside i can see, is that sometimes it takes YEARS to get your child. If you're planning on keeping up your supply, it could mean alot of pumping...but then again, that might end up being a blessing if the baby doesn't end up taking to it (breastfeeding) because then you at least have a stash of milk if you have to resort to the bottle Good luck with the nursing, and adopting
One more thing, it is very hard to get a newborn if you are at all fertile. And, like RyverWillow said, it takes a long time to get a baby. With an international adoption, the child is usually several months old. These children (and often newborns born in your county) have been given bottles, and that will make it more challenging. It can be done, thought, moms do it, and I would do it, if neccesary. But, you need to be armed with a lot of information and Lactation help before you get the baby. Good luck. Please read the link and get the books on adoptive breastfeeding, because it isn't something that most people can just do on their own. It is neccesary to have good support. I hope things work for you.
