Does anyone know of anyone who has breastfed an adopted baby?

[Malaleche]

Just curious, as a friend just told me they're hoping to adopt and I wondered (idly, to myself) if it's possible for someone who hasn't given birth to lactate and bfeed an adopted baby...Up to what age would it be worth trying do you think? I mean if the child was, say, 8 mo when it came to you would it be worth trying to lactate? - it would help with bonding wouldnt it...?

I believe that lactating is triggered by hormones only given off when a person is pregnant.They cannot be triggered unnaturally I don't think.
I believe the only way to breastfeed an adopted child would be to adopt while already lactating from a natural child

there was a programme about a year ago about breastfeeding,

where a woman kept her breast milk going by continueing to feed her own child, untill the adopted baby was with them and then continued to breastfeed the adopted baby i am not sure that breastfeeding can be started artifically tho,

I've read that it is possible but would a baby that old who'd never bf want to feed that way?

But what about all that stuff about grandmothers re-lactating and feeding their orphaned grandchildren? Isn't it a hormone that you can take in a pill? Would pumping provoke your breasts to start producing?

As always, if you can think it it's on the Internet...

Yes, i also wondered if the child would be interested especially if it hadnt been bfed before - all just idle conjecture, but if anyone says it can be done i'd like to know how! My friend doesnt have any children of her own, so couldnt continue to bfeed one while waiting for adopted baby to arrive...

Some good info here

Sorry, singingmum, while you are right that it would be easier to bf an adopted child while already lactating, you are wrong in saying these hormones cannot be triggered any other way.

There are numerous cases on the web of adoptive lactation in women who have not bf before, or even been pg before. I have spoken to women who have done this.

Individual experiences vary, and it is unlikely that someone who has not lactated before would build up a full supply, but it is always worth doing if the adoptive mum wants to.

With a baby of 8 mths, it would need some tactics to get the baby to know what to do, but then again, it has been done.

Google on 'adoptive lactation' - there's a ton of stuff out there

And while this is not what the OP asked, if you google on 'induced lactation' you'll find some (ahem) other stuff - which still shows that producing a milk supply from nowhere really can happen. I am saying no more.

thanks shona!

thanks tiktok - i can imagine what you (ahem) are referring to...

and thanks jodie too

tiktok it's just that I had never ever heard of this and neither has anyone I know.
In all the books and education I had this is not in there.Did not believe this was possible.

singingmum - its great that it is possible but looks even harder than 'normal' bfeeding - you'd have to be very determined but i would try if the baby was young enough - maybe under 6 mo... frtunately i have 2 ofmy own so won't have to!

God I wish some one had been ther to help me with the whole BF thing.My 2 are natural Dc's but BF was a nightmare.I found docs,Hv's etc useless ended up FFeeding as wasn't able to cont BF.I think that the women who do this are amazing

By co-incidence, I just read this in a baby book yesterday. (I am reading A LOT to pass the time while I bf DD, 15 weeks!) It said exactly what Tiktok said, that it is possible, lots of suckling and pumping, some sort of feeding device was mentioned (not sure what it was), and it also said that it would be hard to produce enough for exclusive bf, but it was possible to get some milk. Amazing!