Anyone have experience with this that wasn't already lactating? I would love to nurse this baby. But I have no idea if I need to go on medication or what...

Baby is due is a little over 8 weeks. :o :D

Hey LeeAnn! :)

I've not nursed an adopted baby before, but I do have some suggestions for you. First, I'd get a hospital grade pump NOW and start pumping at least a few times a day. Also, be prepared to need a SNS or a Lactaid once little Garrett or Harper arrives. I'm not sure on the medications to take/dosages, etc, but there are several mamas here who have or are preparing to BFAR and I'm sure they could help you out!

Good for you!!!!

Here are a lot of resources:

http://snipurl.com/5byv

Try PMing Hana, I believe she lactated for her adopted baby girl, Rose (hope I remembered that right!).

I think there are also meds to help you lactate, or at least start, then the rest of the work is up to you.

:)

parentsplace has an adoptive breastfeeding forum and if you google adoptive breastfeeding, you should find a website that's something like "fourfriends"

I tried this, but was only minimally successful. (But I hadn't nursed before; that will likely make a difference.)

Kas (and others here) can tell you about Domperidone, which will increase milk supply. I also used LOTS of fenugree, some blessed thistle, marshmallow, and alfalfa.

It's a lot of work, but many mamas say its worth it (for me, I'm glad I tried, but I didn't have any support around it, and it was better for both my relationship w/my baby and my relationship w/my partner that I stopped trying after a couple months).

Good luck, mama!
Hana

contact your local la leche league leader & mention adoptive nursing & watch the support you get from these awesome mamas! i LIVED to help adoptive nursing mamas. made my day, week, month, year!

it's so much easier now to induce lactation than it was even 5 yrs ago. hospital grade pump~domperidone~herbs~sns/lactaid nursing system~donor milk, etc.

in addition to the above, the best thing to use as a milk producer is putting baby to the breast every chance you get. the more he/she sucks, the more milk you'll produce. if you're doing all of the other things, you *will* produce milk, maybe not a full supply, but the bonding time with your invited baby will be preciuous to you both :heart:

feel free to pm me for harassment ;)

Wow, didn't expect so many replies so soon!

ACK! See i am reading these posts and feeling so overwhelmed. I failed at bf'eeding Whitley. We quit at a few months. It was a lot harder than I expected so I naturally am fearful of trying to lactate "on my own". DH is skeptical b/c I was so stressed trying to nurse Whitley he doesn't want to see me like that again, but says to do what I want.

Anyway, that aside... is there a website where I could find out if we even have a LLL here?

Do I start pumping *dry*? See I am so ignorant.

Do I call up my Dr. now and ask for that med? Will it make me hormonal and wacky (bc pills do this as does pregnancy so I would need to be prepared. LOL).

My biggest fear is that I will work hard at this and be full of milk and bm will back out. :( But I really DO want to try this! I am just scared! (as if you couldn't tell). Okay vent over. Thanks for all the info. Gonna go look up that website now...

http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebUS.html

that link will take you to lll's page to locate a group close to you. try not to be shy, call up a leader & just tell her your situation, and ask her if she has experience with inducing lacation for adoption~if she doesn't, ask her if she knows of a leader who does, and eventually you'll find someone with the know-how & the desire to see you succeed :)

the domperidone is not going to make you a whacko-it's a gastrointestinal medication that HAPPENS to increase milk supply. you don't necessarily want to get it from your dr either-as getting insurance to cover it can be a nightmare. you can get it online (comes in seal blister packs)-just do a search for it.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/relactation.html#linksadopt

that's a link to a page full of resources on adoptive nursing~at the bottom of the page are books-from what i've read, the most recent adoptive nursing book is the best, as it's most current & up to date. ~Peterson, Debra. Breastfeeding the Adopted Baby. Corona Publishing Co., 1994

Thanks! :thumbsup:

If you want, PM me and I can share my experiences.

(dont' want to talk this personal on a public board, KWIM?)

Hugs and congrats on the baby's upcoming arrival!!!!!!

michelle

You're so awesome!!!!!:bow: Garrett or Harper is one lucky baby!!!

:heart: I hope you get all the help you need to make it a reality....I remember way back when Mothering had an article about adoption and BF'ing

My LLL leader is nursing her second adopted child...if you PM me, I can send you her name and number. She would LOVE LOVE LOVE to talk to you.

Originally posted by lassie
Wow, didn't expect so many replies so soon!


My biggest fear is that I will work hard at this and be full of milk and bm will back out. :( But I really DO want to try this! I am just scared! (as if you couldn't tell). Okay vent over. Thanks for all the info. Gonna go look up that website now...

I have no experience with this, but say Go For It. You'll feel better for trying & if it works you could at least freezer stash for bottles if baby isn't interested. Think of all the $ and nutrional benefits.

You rock for trying.;cool:

the website for you to go to s:
message boards
http://www.fourfriends.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=

regular site
http://www.fourfriends.com/abrw/

domperidone would work best for you (as has been said here already) adn should be started soon so your supply will be up by the time he comes.

I know a mama that produced full supplies for her 2 adopted children...I know her from several other boards, but she posts here as well..her user name is Kerri

Here is some other information:

Jack Newman's :

Using A Lactation Aid (http://www.bflrc.com/newman/breastfeeding/lact_aid.htm)

Domperidone (http://www.bflrc.com/newman/breastfeeding/domperid.htm)

Accelerated protocol for inducing lactation (http://www.asklenore.info/breastfeeding/induced_lactation/accelerated_protocol.html)

Susie (twirlymama i think??) used to post here often. I know she successfully nursed her adopted child. Joyce (elliebelly) and she are good friends I think, so if Susie isn there anymore, you may want to PM joyce and get her email-- i know she would LOVE to talk w you. Also Kerry( I think that is her name, cant remember her username) nursed 2 adoped babies successfully(boys I want to say??? ANyone remember her? does she have a new username now? She used to have a family pic in her sig??

Originally posted by herc
Also Kerry( I think that is her name, cant remember her username) nursed 2 adoped babies successfully(boys I want to say??? ANyone remember her? does she have a new username now? She used to have a family pic in her sig??

yup--that is who I posted above...her name is Kerri....KerriJeanSmith

If you can't reach her here at AW...she does post on the adoptive moms site i posted above too

Thanks girls!!!!!!

Laurie - would you know where I can get a SNS? What is the difference in this and a Lactaid?

you should be able to get a SNS from a local lactation consultants office (those associated with the hospitals) or a LLL leader (and the website) the lact-aid is also available through LLL http://www.lalecheleague.org/Web_store/web_store.cgi?product=Accessories&cart_id=7073268_3821

the main difference between a SNS and a lact-aid is simple: the lact-aid holds the formula or breastmilk in a soft plastic bag while the SNS holds it in a hard plastic container:

Lact-Aid:

http://www.lact-aid.com/images/duo_001.jpg

http://www.lact-aid.com

SNS:


http://www.medela.com/graphics/SNS2.jpg

HTH

Good for you LeeAnn!!!! Hope we find out what babe is soon.


Huggles....

Oh THANK YOU THANK you guys!

From looks and sound of it, I think I would much prefer a Lac-taid. Off to search the links! THANKS!

Darlene, thanks! I am dying to know the sex. At this point with her u/s being post-poned twice, I am figuring that we won't find out until birth (that way I'll be surprised if we find out before). I've picked up a few boy NB things JIC! :D