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Adopting and want to BF

Brandi - posted on 10/18/2010 ( 5 moms have responded )

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Ok, I know the title sounds a bit deceiving however, I just recently (within the last month) stopped breastfeeding my biological son. He is now 15 months old. I am still producing milk, tho not much - not even an ounce a day. A close family member of mine just found out she was pregnant and is considering adoption. I told her that if she wanted, I wouldn't mind adopting the child. Now, would it be possible to get my milk production back so that IF I do end up adopting the child, I could breastfeed that child also?

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Jessica - posted on 10/20/2010

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furthermore I applaud you trying to do the best thing by bf'ing the new baby if in fact you do decide to adopt! You have got to be special!

Jessica - posted on 10/20/2010

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from my understanding, your body is going to produce in a supply and demand basis, so if you are only pumping once more than likely your body is going to produce enough milk for you to maintain just enough for that. My son is down to 3-4 nursing sessions a day so thats what my body is making enough milk for. Maybe start pumping more often, and drink the mothers milk tea along with water and juice. PUMP PUMP PUMP lol

Brandi - posted on 10/18/2010

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Thanks! You have def. given me hope! I am still pumping once a night and I keep seeing it decrease. I do have a ton of mother's milk tea, so I will try drinking that too. I want to keep this option open just encase!

Jodi - posted on 10/18/2010

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In the 70's it was very common for women who had never been pregnant to go through a whole process including prolactin hormone therapy treatment, pumping and what not so that they could breastfeed a child they were adopting. It is pretty common for women to relactate after they have beend one breastfeeding for some time and not uncommon for grandmothers to find themselves relactating when a grandchild is born. Even men can come to lactation! I tell you all this to assure you that you CAN indeed keep lactating with a bit (or a lot) of effort or, if you lose your milk entirely before the baby is born, it is not impossible to relactate with some effort. I've heard of fenugreek to increase supply, mother's milk tea, pumping every 2 hours and I'm sure there's more. I would contact my local La Leche League or find a certified LC to give you some professional tips, advice and support!

Jessica - posted on 10/18/2010

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I'm no expert, but I would think you could go about boosting your milk production by doing the things that are normally suggested. When I was in a lot of pain and was considering pumping and giving my son a bottle my LC told me to pump every 1-2 hours. Of course that isn't as good as the real thing but if in fact you do adopt then the baby can take over!

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