Adoptive Mother Seeking Info on Induced Lactation

[adoptomom345]

I am an adoptive mother expecting in seven months.  I feel VERY blessed to have so much time to prepare, as many adoptive mothers have only a few weeks.  I would love to meet other adoptive mothers whom have breastfed their babies.  There is a local LLL chapter in my area, but they don't meet again for almost a month.  Also, my husband was not raised in a breastfeeding home, whereas I was and he is SO much less comfortable with the whole idea.  Anyone have deas, tips or info for me?

[gemasita]

The book The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk has some info on induced lactation.  Good luck and congrats!

[cadybh]

CONGRATULATIONS!  What an amazing endeavor, and a beautiful choice you're making.

There's also a detailed section on this topic in The Nursing Mother's Companion.  It's like a how-to book.  I did skim it out of interest while reading it myself in preparation for my son's birth, and I recall options like taking hormones beforehand and then stopping (effectively tricking your body into believing you're pregnant and then all of a sudden not, similar to what would happen with delivery), using milk-delivery supplementation devices that allow the baby to nurse through a straw-type opening that you hold on your nipple, etc.  There are definitely lots of things to try.  It's great you have so much time, as you said, to prepare!  Whatever you decide to try, I'd say you'll probably do well with the assistance of a lactation consultant who has some experience.  Have you called anyone in your area?

LLLI is an incredible wealth of knowledge!  My LLL leader was always perfectly fine with having her members contact her at home via phone or email.  The LLLI website does list contact information on the local meeting pages.  Could you try there?

I'd also check to see if you have any hospital-sponsored help or meetings.  My local hospital has a weekly breastfeeding group where the LCs would lead a discussion, we'd weigh the babies, etc.

GOOD LUCK, Mama!

[PatioGardener]

nak

have you seen asklenore ?

[adoptomom345]

Thank you all.  Very helpful!!!!