I posted an intro on the intro board, and am now wandering over here. I'm a long time MDC mama, and have just found this site!

I have two daughters, 3.5 years old, and 9.5 months old.

The 3.5 year old is still nursing happily.:D

I'm here because of the situation with my baby. She was a home waterbirth after cesaerean. It was a dr. attended birth, but a very unobtrusive one. It was a beautiful birth and very healing after my intervention filled surgical birth with my first.

We started nursing and things didn't seem quite right. But I figured things would settle out soon enough. 5 weeks later, she was still losing weight. She had been seen by the dr. that attended the delivery weekly for weight checks. I was becoming quite worried.

It turns out she has a cleft palate. There are a host of emotional issues that come with discovering the palate so late, but I won't get into them right now. I only mention the late discovery to explain why we have nursing experience for 5 weeks (or at least my dd does. I've been nursing quite a bit longer with my older daughter).

I started pumping for her immediately. It took about two months for me to build my supply back up. We had to supplement with formula for two weeks.

I have been pumping with her ever since. She will be having surgery to repair her cleft in a little over a week. When she is recovered from it, she will, technically, be able to nurse again.

Exclusive pumping has taken a toll on me, and I do not know how much past a year I will be able to continue. So I really hope she is able to get back on the breast.

So, a long story to ask a simple question. Has anyone ever gotten a baby back on the breast and nursing after going for such a long time without?

Thanks if you made it this far!


Bec

There's a woman who occasionally comes to my LLL chapter meetings who pumped exclusively for several months (I think maybe 6-7) and then got her daughter back to the breast and nursed her well into toddlerhood. That's really all the info I have about her, but I just wanted to let you know that, yes, it can be done.

Yes it can most certainly be done.

You may find some good ideas actually if you do a search on breastfeeding your adopted baby. You will have the advantage of already having a milk supply & of your baby already having had nursing "experience".

I would recommend contacting La Leche League as well.

Thanks! I am already a member of LLL, have searched the adoptive breastfeeding websites, and talked to lactation consultants about it. I think I have all my ducks in a row.

I guess I was hoping for some personal success stories.


Bec

hey bec!

<waves>


i ep for tig till a week before he turned 6 mos, when he learned to nurse...