2007-09-06 06:37:12 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Yes, it is possible...although you might not have enough milk to meet all of the baby's needs.
Many moms who adopt newborns are able to breastfeed. See websites by Dr. Jack Newman and the Le Leche League for more information.
The woman needs to use a breast pump for a number of weeks before the baby "arrives" to stimulate the milk-production hormones and reflexes in her body. I believe some doctors will give hormone shots to help, but I'm not sure if that's done anymore.
2007-09-06 06:52:49 · answer #1 · answered by Angie 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes women can breastfeed even if they have never been pregnant (or had sex for that matter). Hormones are hormones, many adoptive mothers lactate so that they can breastfeed their adopted infants. Sometimes they can stimulate a supply just from pumping, having the baby suckle, and hearing a baby cry. Sometimes they need drugs.
Also some infants (male and female) are born lactating due to exposure to mom's hormones in utero. This is commonly called "witch's milk", technically it is colostrum or "premilk". There have also been cases of men inducing lactation either on purpose or just from stress.
Certain prescription drugs can cause lactation as a side effect.
Male and infant lactation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_lactation
Adoptive Breastfeeding & Relactation
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/adopt/index.html
2007-09-06 06:48:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Basicly it is like this. Breast milk starts with a hormone that is released when birth happens. ANY time after this you can stimulate breastfeeds just by supply demand theory. Use a pump 4x a day at same time you will start making milk again.
She could try the Electrical Breast pump say 5x aday for 10 min each side and see. Anything is possible, it can happen with animals if they "adopt" an orphan. We are basicly animals.
Doesn't hurt to give it a try.
2007-09-06 06:46:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Umm.. well, the physical act of sex has little to nothing to do with pregnancy hormones. The hormones that are produced when pregnant are produced by your brain, and released by the pituitary gland in the brain. This is what triggers enlarging breasts, and milk production, along with other symptoms of pregnancy, including missed periods. It has been known to happen throughout history that women who are not mothers can breast feed a baby, but I don't think it has a direct link to virginity or not.
Strange question, I have to say.
2007-09-06 06:45:02 · answer #4 · answered by Impavidsoul 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Actully it is possible. Every body carrys hormes even if you have not had kids. It is rare but depends onthe body. But there is people that adopt new borns and choose to breast feed. I dont know where you are able to find this im sure its on the intenet but I learned it from my friend who wants to adopt. And I believe my lact. doctor said it.
2007-09-06 06:44:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Sometimes mothers who adopt infants spend months taking meds and stimulating their breasts to produce milk....can't be used as sole source of nutrients for baby but it can be done.
2007-09-06 07:08:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was watching the discovery health channel and a lady couldn't have children cause of some horrific problem, so her sister carried her egg and her husbands sperm... so it was the ladies baby, but her sister was the carrier of the child. The lady (who was the mom, but not carrying the baby) wanted to breastfeed her baby, actually babies, there were twins. So it talked about how they had injected her for a couple of months to prepare her for breastfeeding.. and she did... so I guess it IS possible....
2007-09-06 06:51:56 · answer #7 · answered by They call me 'Mom' 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many animals, including some human, can produce milk without ever being pregnant. That is what the Victorians called a wet nurse.
2007-09-06 06:45:06 · answer #8 · answered by banananose_89117 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Yep, you can breastfeed if you haven't had children. Adoptive mothers do it all the time, they stimulate milk glands by using a breast pump.. Click the link below..
2007-09-06 06:45:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
actually, there are drugs that can bring milk in for a woman who has never given birth, they are testing it out for possible use in adoptive moms who want to breastfeed..as far as i know right now though they are still in testing and i imagine that they have tons of weird side effects because it's forcing something that should be natural. I guess theoritically, it's possible
2007-09-06 06:43:35 · answer #10 · answered by Tresa R 4 · 8⤊ 1⤋