Induced lactation - experiences?

[NatsC84]

Hi, I am looking into surrogacy as my long term friend has amazingly offered to carry my baby for me. It will be mine and my partners biological child. I would therefore like to breastfeed if possible. I have heard about induced lactation being possible by taking hormones and pumping for a while before the baby comes.

Has anyone done this or had any experience of it?

Thanks in advance.

It is brilliant that you are thinking about this at this stage. What a very exciting (and also very complicated) time you are facing. Inducing lactation is a really specialist area and I would strongly suggest that you find a lactation consultant to discuss this with in detail. Good luck!

www.canadianbreastfeedingfoundation.org/induced/protocols_intro.shtml

Lots of intended mothers on my surrogacy support group have successfully breastfed by inducing lactation. Good luck! X

I thought you were in UK MXT1987 ?
Why are you posting what looks like a very poor article from Canada 2002 ?

Hasn't there been anything more up to date?

Many mothers may prefer to go the route of putting the baby to the breast and waiting to see what happens, not using any preparation at all or any medication. This is a legitimate option but one that will much less likely produce significant amounts of breastmilk.

The problem with putting the baby to the breast when there is no milk is that it won't be tempted to latch on. If hungry it will likely get quite frustrated and upset. Doesn't seem like a viable option to me.

There is more to breastfeeding than breastmilk but if it is possible to breastfeed AND bring in the breastmilk ... why not do it?

Errm the POINT of breastFEEDING is to FEED the baby. Which requires milk.

Bold fail.

Hasn't there been anything more up to date?

Many mothers may prefer to go the route of putting the baby to the breast and waiting to see what happens, not using any preparation at all or any medication. This is a legitimate option but one that will much less likely produce significant amounts of breastmilk.

The problem with putting the baby to the breast when there is no milk is that it won't be tempted to latch on. If hungry it will likely get quite frustrated and upset. Doesn't seem like a viable option to me.

There is more to breastfeeding than breastmilk but if it is possible to breastfeed AND bring in the breastmilk ... why not do it?

Errm the POINT of breastFEEDING is to FEED the baby. Which requires milk.

I am in the UK. But that's the beauty of the Internet - it's called the WORLD wide Web and sources can be obtained from pretty much any country. This website came highly recommended and so I've passed it on.

Agreed nothing much will happen if the baby is just out on to latch, you do need to do the pumping and hormones/supplements before hand if possible. There's a wealth of websites with advice with slight variations in methods.

Also agreed breastfeeding is also about the bonding, suckling and reassurance etc. If breast milk also comes along then fantastic

www.laleche.org.uk/relactation-induced-lactation/#adopted

[quote Sussexmidwife]www.laleche.org.uk/relactation-induced-lactation/#adopted[/quote]
This is amazing thank you @Sussexmidwife