Breastfeeding an adpoted baby?

[AvaLou]

My friends have been through IVF and then the adoption process for almost 5 years, They already have a boy who is 8 and he was breastfed until aged 2.
They are over the moon that everything is in place and next week they will be getting their baby girl.
She will be almost 1 month old and my friend is keen to breastfeed her. She is well aware of the massive challenge, and not so keen on going online to ask about it,yet can't get much advice elsewhere, so I'm hoping to do it for her.
Has anyone done this succesfully?
I hope that she will get all the support and advice she needs, but it looks doubtful and she is placing so much hope on managing it.

If anyone has personal experience or any links or numbers for groups and charities, then that would be most helpful.

[TheBlonde]

No personal experience of this but it is covered in Sears & Sears Baby Book
Gist of it is - you have to induce lacation
They suggest La Leche League as a good org to help
Need to use a pump preferably a double electric breastpump and feed the baby formula via a breastfeeding supplementer

Hope this helps

[flack]

You can buy books about it on Amazon, look there. I think your friend ideally "should" have started building her supply months ago, but if her body has done it before it may just click in, know what to do.

[TheBlonde]

here is the author's website www.askdrsears.com/

[jollyfolly]

gosh... did not know that was possible! Good luck to her though.

[JackieNo]

Some info here (although I guess she'll already have looked online).

[alkeee]

Find a helpful Dr - there are reasonable regimes to induce lactation (metoclopramide, chlorpromazine etc) but you need someone who is happy with this and experienced (eg with dosages). In conjunction with lots of pumping, this can induce lactation. AND it should be easier since she's already breastfed before...

[AvaLou]

Thanks for suggesting la leche league, they seem able to offer fantastic advice.
There is an account on there from a woman who had success and only made the decision a month before the baby was born.
I will certainly pass this information on, and encourage her to join mumsnet as I am sure it will be invaluable for her in many other ways!

The main obstacle has been the reaction from her and her DH's family. They are dead against the idea and her mother even suggested she should see a therapist. I'm sure that will make it even harder for her so I am trying to be as supportive as I can.