Breast feeding adopted baby?

7 replies

bec144 · 11/01/2009 20:42

I am a mother of 2 adopted children and am planning to adopt my 3rd.

I was wanting tips/advice/info on whether anyone has breast fed their adopted child/ren before and how that worked out?

OP posts:

KewcumbersRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 11/01/2009 21:23

I donlt knowanyone in the UK who has done it but if you google it you willfind American websites with practical advice. Depending on what age child you adopt you may find that your child has lost the suck reflex and will not breast feed

mawbroon · 11/01/2009 21:28

If you contact one of the breastfeeding support organisations, I am sure they would be able to give you some info.

Yonks ago, I read LLLs book of breastfeeding answers, and I remember that there was a section in there about lactating for adopted babies.

{http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/adoptivebf.html\There's a bit about it here on Kellymom}

mawbroon · 11/01/2009 21:29

Ach, try again!

Lotster · 11/01/2009 21:42

I watched a programme last year about a woman who travelled to china to collect her adoptive daughter who was a few months old. She had been breastfeeding her toddler and was really looking forward to giving her milk to the girl, but was very disappointed to find she just didn't want to do it, probably because she had been bottle fed in the orphanage and it was alien to her by this point.

She would take some from a cup though, so depending on the age and previous feeding method of the child you could try that if nothing else?

gybegirl · 11/01/2009 21:50

I know a lady who breastfed her adopted son. He was over a year old at the time of the adoption and said it really helped with bonding with him. I'd try LLL for info or look at dr jack newman's site. Hope it all goes well.

Original poster

bec144 · 12/01/2009 23:22

Thanks for that I will keep looking on the net at some of the sites etc.

OP posts:

KristinaM · 13/01/2009 00:14

hi bec and welcome to mumsnet

in brief there are two main issues

getting your body to produce milk

-getting your baby to breast feed

its easier to get your body to make milk if you have been pg and bf a bio child. you dont mention if this is the case?

how old is the child you are expecting to adopt and will they have been Bf before they come to you?

I'm guessing that you don't live in the Uk, is that correct? What support is available to adoptive parents in your country?

Flip