Breastfeeding my adopted toddler??

[cheerma]

Our dd came to us at 5 months thru foster care. Because I was afraid of Children's Service I didn't breastfeed. We finally adopted her at age 3. Various reasons, including my intuition, her own interest, two therapists, etc have led me to want to breastfeed dd for 6 to 12 months. She's got attachment issues, autism, born tox positive, and came a meth lab where she was addicted, abused and neglected. Emotionally she's about 3. Intellectually she's about 6.

So I'm looking for advice ok how to get domperadone (sp?) because I'm getting push back from my doc. I will try my dd's doc. But is there a legal way to get the med thru other channels?

My daughter is interested in nursing and I wish I started sooner. If she didn't show interest, I would not pursue this because it is too physically intimate to press upon a child of her age.

Advice on how to prepare her is appreciated. Books for children, online materials, bringing her around my breastfeeding friends more often? I know the protocol to start lactation, so no help needed there.

I apologize if I've posted in the wrong forum.

[zombie]

http://www.inhousepharmacy.biz/c-26-general.aspx               for the motilium/domperidone.

I think having her watch other kids nurse is the best way to help her.  Le Leche League has some info about starting to nurse around that age.   

[SundayCrepes]

I read about someone who got an older infant to nurse by putting maple syrup on their nipples. Don't know if that's appropriate in your case.

I was going to recommend the book Breastmilk Makes my Tummy Yummy http://www.amazon.com/Breastmilk-Makes-My-Tummy-Yummy/dp/9163153920/ref=tmm_other_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1313298880&sr=1-1, but a used board book copy costs over $600. I should take ours off the shelf and consider selling it, though I'll likely hang onto it for grandkids (our youngest just turned 3.) Though here's someone reading it on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0a-U59Ypmc pm me if you'd like a pdf version emailed to you.

I agree about inhousepharmacy if you can't get a script from your doctor. I preferred the meds from Canada, but you've got to get what you can get. Also agree about letting your daughter watch other kids nurse.

[Mom2M]

Wow!
I was curious about the book and how much it costs and did a search and this is the cheapest price I could find!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/9163082535/ref=dp_bb_a?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&condition=used

It looks like such a cute book too, I'd love to get it for DD.

Anyway, in response to the OP, I don't know how I would get domperidone without a dr. but what about nursing minus the actual milk if you can't?
you could have a special chair or something and ask her if she wants to nurse and maybe hold her like she's nursing or like when someone "bottle nurses", even skin to skin or whatever you both feel good about.
Or even using the SNS with milk in it.

Good luck, I hope you can find a way to have that special connection. I love her picture, you can just see that spirit!

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by Mom2M 

Wow!
I was curious about the book and how much it costs and did a search and this is the cheapest price I could find!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/9163082535/ref=dp_bb_a?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&condition=used

It looks like such a cute book too, I'd love to get it for DD.

Anyway, in response to the OP, I don't know how I would get domperidone without a dr. but what about nursing minus the actual milk if you can't?
you could have a special chair or something and ask her if she wants to nurse and maybe hold her like she's nursing or like when someone "bottle nurses", even skin to skin or whatever you both feel good about.
Or even using the SNS with milk in it.

Good luck, I hope you can find a way to have that special connection. I love her picture, you can just see that spirit!
 

I agree about trying the nursing without milk. I took the domperidone for 2.5 years. It helped a lot. The only side effect I had was when I was at the highest possible dose (160 mg a day.) I would fall asleep if my life went quiet...like at a red light or when reading books to the kids. I wasn't tired, I just fell asleep. Once I lowered it to 120 mg, that went away.

I am currently nursing my 3 year old (she turned 3 last week.) I stopped taking the dom in March. I don't know if I'm making any milk at this time. We nurse throughout the day. At sleep time I use the supplementer with coconut milk (she can't drink dairy.) However, she has nursed since 6 hours of age.

[tiffani]

I comfort nurse my adopted 2 and 4 year old kiddos (home with us at 16 mos and 3.5 yrs) and have no milk, but they enjoy the experience.  they only nurse for a few moments at a time, but I try to offer and agree whenever it comes up.   we are around a lot of nursing mamas, but they started expressing interest before we were around these nursing pairs...

I re-lactated twice, but the timing didn't work out in the end, but they still seem to enjoy and get a lot out of comfort nursing.

best wishes!

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by tiffani 

I comfort nurse my adopted 2 and 4 year old kiddos (home with us at 16 mos and 3.5 yrs) and have no milk, but they enjoy the experience.  they only nurse for a few moments at a time, but I try to offer and agree whenever it comes up.   we are around a lot of nursing mamas, but they started expressing interest before we were around these nursing pairs...

I re-lactated twice, but the timing didn't work out in the end, but they still seem to enjoy and get a lot out of comfort nursing.

best wishes!

That's great. My 3 year old still nurses with a supplementer. She's dairy free (along with gluten, cane sugar, and tomato free) so I use coconut milk in the supplementer. (Since she's hardly a newborn, no problems doing that.) 

Tiffani, thanks for sharing your surplus supplies with us. I used them until my little one was just past 2.5. Got us through the winter flu season. There's just a bit left that I'm sharing with another mom with an infant.

[carol7906]

I'm so glad to see adoptive moms who are nursing their children.  Nursing is such a great experience for them and often one they didn't get!