Breastfeeding an adopted baby?

Question

Has anyone had any luck w/ this? My good friend just adopted a 3 week old baby from Texas. Long story but it was a spur of the moment thing since the baby's mom got sent to prison. The infant was breast fed for several weeks & my friend would like to continue it. She's had the baby for a couple of days & the baby does okay on formula. But do you know any herbal things to stimulate breast milk production right away? Or any real medications (I know my friend would have to see a Dr for real meds). I've heard of people doing this, but I've never met them so I don't know who to ask. She'd rather use herbs/natural things than prescriptions.
Thanks for any advice or links.

Answer 1

I know someone who went to the childs dr and was able to get a huge milk supply using some meds the dr gave her. It took awhile but she did great.

Answer 2

Have her let the baby suck for about 10 minutes 5-6 times a day. This will help her body produce milk. Also fenugreek is good for increasing milk supply. There is also a tea called mothers milk tea. Keep in mind these will only work if used after some milk production has started.
According to the la leche legague website, the best way to produce a milk suppily is by allowing the baby to nurse. She could also pump.
Many say just the act of nursing even if the mother doesn't produce any milk will help the adopted baby and mother form a close bond.
I have a good friend who adopted and did these very things. She went on to breastfeed the baby for over one year. She said while it was though in the begining because she had no milk production, it was an amazing bonding experience for the two of them!
There is also a device called a Supplemental Nurser. The idea is it feeds the baby while stimulating the breast so the mother will produce milk. While you are nursing the baby, you also insert a small tube which is connected to the milk supply. The idea is that while the baby is sucking and stimulating the nipple (which will produce a milk suppy) they are still getting fed at the same time. What a great idea!
Keep in mind, all of these will take time. It will not happen overnight so she will have to keep at it. But there are plenty of ways to make this happen without using prescription drugs!
Good luck and God bless.

Answer 3

I've never used one or known anyone who has but there is something out called a "Supplemental Nurser" its for babies who have problems feeding and it is also used to stimulate lactation in adoptive mothers. Its a bag that hangs from a ribbon around your neck that u fill with milk. Theres a thin flexible tube that is taped or held along the breast with the tip adjacent to the nipple & placed in the corner of the babys mouth as it sucks. So that way it nurses the breast, even with no milk comming out the baby is still being fed. After so long of doing this it can stimulate the mother to make milk. Although it says it can take weeks to months to build up a full milk supply. It says they are available from a lactation specialists or a medical supply store. I had never heard about these until I read some info on them in a book called "Caring for your young baby and child". My cousin adopted 2 newborn babys and nursed them without any problems. So therefore it is possible.

Answer 4

She can try pumping and putting the baby to the breast. Her chances for success are best if she has had a baby herself and ever breastfed in the past, because her body will remember what to do. But even a mom who has never given birth can lactate with enough stimulation. Have her rent a pump from the hospital and pump or try nursing every couple of hours. She can try taking the herb fenugreek and should talk to her doctor about drugs to induce lactation - domperidone or reglan. Check out the site below for more info on adoptive breastfeeding.

Answer 5

I work in a pharmacy and what I've heard is that none of the OTC remedies work. I know what DOES work is some types of hormone medication ( estrogen, northindrone, etc) another medication which is usually used for nausea or vomiting is called Reglan. That helps produce breast milk also. But Advise her to really have a long conversation with her doctor because with any medication, there are side effects (hair growth or loss, weight gain or loss, etc.. these are hormones).

Answer 6

I don't know about herbs but my sis-in-law adopted a baby and breast fed him. She had not nursed for almost 6 years by the time she got that baby.
She manipulated her breasts and used a breast pump for quite awhile before she actually got the baby. It can take some time. She should talk to a lactation specialist.

What a wonderful mom your friend is!! I'm impressed!

Answer 7

Wow, I have never heard of this before!! I think it would be interesting to learn about it. Sorry I don't have any advice or tips to share but I think the concept is very interesting. Good luck to your friend!! (you might try to google it and see what sites you come up with)

Answer 8

I wonder if these links will have anything
The La Leche League offer great help and advice with breastfeeding.
La Leche League (0845 120 2918) and NCT (0870 444 8708).U.K.
http://www.lalecheleague.com/membership.html Will help you find your local group worldwide.

Good luck
M

Answer 9

you does no longer even would desire to undertake the toddler. you're able to advance the youngster in a kinship association (interior the U.S. that's referred to as guardianship -- i'm uncertain what that's referred to as in Canada) so as that cousin does not replace into mom and mom cousin and that's no longer so complicated. then you definately could pick to no longer be so judgmental approximately your cousin's "way of existence" and help the relatives in being at the same time rather of tearing it aside.

Answer 10

I have heard of women who adopt breastfeeding but she will need to take hormnal meds...Talk to the doc