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Is It Possible For An Adopted Mother To Breastfeed?
Question: Are there any lactation / breastfeeding experts here? I was told by someone that an adoptive mother can also breastfeed. Is it possible?
Brief Answer:
Need more details please.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
Yes, it is very much possible for an adoptive mother to breastfeed.
There are various options available.
The method depends on how much time you have to prepare.
There are traditional methods such as massage and manual stimulation of breasts, and then there are prescription hormonal medications that simulate the lactation hormones.
If you wish to have indepth information, please provide a few more details -
1. How much time does the adoptive mother have ?
2. How old would the baby be ?
3. Any medical complications that would affect intake of hormone therapy
4. How willing is the adoptive mother to take medications to induce breastfeeding ?
looking forward to hearing from you.
Take care.
Need more details please.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
Yes, it is very much possible for an adoptive mother to breastfeed.
There are various options available.
The method depends on how much time you have to prepare.
There are traditional methods such as massage and manual stimulation of breasts, and then there are prescription hormonal medications that simulate the lactation hormones.
If you wish to have indepth information, please provide a few more details -
1. How much time does the adoptive mother have ?
2. How old would the baby be ?
3. Any medical complications that would affect intake of hormone therapy
4. How willing is the adoptive mother to take medications to induce breastfeeding ?
looking forward to hearing from you.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your reply. Basically we are done with the documentation part. The baby will come based on the availability at the adoption agency. We have requested for a baby between 0-6 months. But realistically speaking the baby can be between 5-8 months. Secondly I am a chronic PCOS patient with continuous medication. Currently am on Ayurvedic medication. Additionally recently I have a haemorrhagic cyst on my right ovary which local gynaecologist is trying to work on through progesterone tablets etc. So even with all this can breast milk be formed? Will my current medication affect the quality of the milk? Will the baby latch on to it given that the baby will be used to bottle feed since birth? And most importantly will it serve the purpose - I mean the mother's milk typically fulfills the needs of her baby. In this case...?
Brief Answer:
As below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the details.
And kudos to you for a wonderful decision of adoption and enriching a child's life.
Now, there are various factors at play here.
First - you do not know the EXACT moment when the baby will arrive.
Generally, birth control pills are first given to simulate the environment of pregnancy, and then, lactation inducing agents are given to stimulate lactation.
The preparation requires a few days, and if you do not know the exact date when the baby will arrive, you might have to continue taking these external hormones indefinitely.
Secondly, the baby will already be above 6 months of age.
Till 6 months, the baby has to be exclusively breastfed, so beyond that age, breastmilk is not a very significant source of nutrition for the child.
Third factor, you are a chronic PCOS patient, and hormones are very likely to aggravate your PCOS condition.
For the haemorrhagic cyst, you are taking progesterone tablets, so it is virtually impossible to take other hormonal treatment concurrently.
Fourth, the impact of Ayurvedic medication on breastmilk is not studied.
Fifth, once the baby is used to bottle feed since birth, it is very difficult to teach it the correct method to latch on.
After 6 months, breastmilk is supplemented with formula milk and with other food, so it does not play a very major role in supplying nutrition to the baby.
Considering all factors, I really do not think that the decision to breastfeed will be a practical one for you.
What you can do is this.
Right from now onwards, practise manual breast massage daily.
That might prime your breasts for milk secretion to a certain extent.
And when the baby arrives, you can choose to suckle it , if you can manage to get it to latch.
Even if there is no breastmilk, the baby will indulge in NNS ( Non Nutritive Suckling ).
This will foster mother - child bonding and emotional connect.
The nutritional needs anyway will be met by non - breastmilk sources.
And if you fail to breastfeed, that does not make you less of a mother !
Many natural biological mothers also do not / cannot breastfeed due to a variety of reasons, and what matters is your intention / dedication, which is supreme.
Please go through this link -
https://breastfeedingusa.org/content/article/breastfeeding-your-adopted-baby
It might help you.
Please feel free to contact me anytime, using the following direct link -
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-aarti-abraham/64623
Take care.
As below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the details.
And kudos to you for a wonderful decision of adoption and enriching a child's life.
Now, there are various factors at play here.
First - you do not know the EXACT moment when the baby will arrive.
Generally, birth control pills are first given to simulate the environment of pregnancy, and then, lactation inducing agents are given to stimulate lactation.
The preparation requires a few days, and if you do not know the exact date when the baby will arrive, you might have to continue taking these external hormones indefinitely.
Secondly, the baby will already be above 6 months of age.
Till 6 months, the baby has to be exclusively breastfed, so beyond that age, breastmilk is not a very significant source of nutrition for the child.
Third factor, you are a chronic PCOS patient, and hormones are very likely to aggravate your PCOS condition.
For the haemorrhagic cyst, you are taking progesterone tablets, so it is virtually impossible to take other hormonal treatment concurrently.
Fourth, the impact of Ayurvedic medication on breastmilk is not studied.
Fifth, once the baby is used to bottle feed since birth, it is very difficult to teach it the correct method to latch on.
After 6 months, breastmilk is supplemented with formula milk and with other food, so it does not play a very major role in supplying nutrition to the baby.
Considering all factors, I really do not think that the decision to breastfeed will be a practical one for you.
What you can do is this.
Right from now onwards, practise manual breast massage daily.
That might prime your breasts for milk secretion to a certain extent.
And when the baby arrives, you can choose to suckle it , if you can manage to get it to latch.
Even if there is no breastmilk, the baby will indulge in NNS ( Non Nutritive Suckling ).
This will foster mother - child bonding and emotional connect.
The nutritional needs anyway will be met by non - breastmilk sources.
And if you fail to breastfeed, that does not make you less of a mother !
Many natural biological mothers also do not / cannot breastfeed due to a variety of reasons, and what matters is your intention / dedication, which is supreme.
Please go through this link -
https://breastfeedingusa.org/content/article/breastfeeding-your-adopted-baby
It might help you.
Please feel free to contact me anytime, using the following direct link -
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-aarti-abraham/64623
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks a lot for your very detailed reply. Answered all my queries very well. We adopted our first one too and was perfectly fine fulfilling her nutritive needs. She is two now and has grown up well. Just discovered this option yesterday and was wondering if it could be an option for my second one. But all my doubts are gone now. I guess we will be equally fine without it. Thank you again!
Brief Answer:
Take care.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the appreciation.
AM glad if I could help you out.
Will be happy to assist you in future , too.
Take care.
Take care.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the appreciation.
AM glad if I could help you out.
Will be happy to assist you in future , too.
Take care.
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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