Breastfeeding an Adopted Child

By Natasha Baird

Fall 2007

Breastfeeding my adopted daughter for ten months gave me the satisfaction of knowing that although I did not give birth to her, I was able to breastfeed her, which created a very strong and special bond between us. This is what prompted me to submit this article; I want other women who are contemplating adoption to know that this option is available to them also.

 

For several years I struggled with the uncertainties of fertility but my mother always reminded me that if I adopted, I would still be able to breastfeed, so this naturally came to mind when my husband and I decided to adopt.

 

Once our home study was complete I asked our social worker about breastfeeding, and she was delighted that I had made this inquiry. She gladly referred me to the mother of two adopted children, both of whom she had breastfed. She provided me with a wealth of information and, most importantly, informed me about lactation consultants and Dr. Jack Newman, a Toronto family physician and world-renowned breastfeeding advocate.

 

I searched the web, found and purchased the book Breastfeeding the Adopted Baby by Debra Stewart Peterson. I then contacted my doctor and good friend, Dr. Norman Barwin, to obtain a prescription for domperidone so that I could proceed according to plan. I also purchased a double hands-free electric pump through E-bay at US$250. Another very helpful book was the Guide to Breastfeeding by Dr. Jack Newman & Teresa Pitman.

 

I received my breast pump; by then I had been taking 40 mg of domperidone per day for two weeks. I started the pumping regime every three hours during the long Victoria Day weekend. Four days later, I started producing drops of water. Back at work as a full-time municipal engineer, and the only female employee on a construction site, I was not too anxious to explain my wondrous activities. Fortunately, I worked five minutes from home so I was able to leave the job site three times a day to adhere to the recommended pumping routine.

 

At first, there was not enough milk produced to warrant keeping it, but in time the production was more abundant. By June 10^th, I was able to start storing the breast milk which I knew could keep for six months in the freezer. It took an entire week to fill my little container, but it only took four days to fill the next one. I was on my third container when we received the long awaited call announcing that we had become parents to a baby girl. By this time, I was only producing 2 ounces of milk per day and my daughter would need far more than that. I nevertheless remained hopeful, figuring that the supply would increase.

 

I arrived at the foster home and immediately started nursing my daughter. At first it was very painful. Then I realized that the bottle nipples to which my daughter had become accustomed were the fast-flow type, so we decided to purchase some Playtex nursers to slow her milk intake. It took her four hours to finish the first bottle but she was soon very comfortable with drinking from these bottles, and I just kept pumping until I returned home.                                                                                                        

 

Back at home I just put her on my breast and it was wonderful. The pain was gone and that’s when breastfeeding became most enjoyable. I loved the daily bonding and the mere fact that I could feed her. My husband was also delighted, to the point that he proudly shared this accomplishment with his colleagues at work. Obviously I could not breastfeed exclusively, but I did continue to pump to increase the production until she was eleven months old. The most I pumped was eight ounces per day, and as I was also breastfeeding, I could not really determine the total amount I produced. By the fourth month however, I no longer had to heat Lara’s milk during the night as there was enough from my breast to feed her.

 

Breastfeeding my little girl was a wonderful experience. It also allowed me to protect her from viruses and other health problems. She did not have her first cold until she was six months old. She had her first stomach flu at 10 months and the only thing she could keep down was my milk.

 

1. Breastfeeding is more than simply feeding; do not worry about how much or how little you are producing. The bond is far more important than the milk.

2. Get the support you need by contacting your local La Leche League, seeing a lactation consultant or getting some help from a supportive family member or friend. You may also want to contact your community health support centre. Mothers who give birth at the hospital are provided with information; however, if you adopt, healthcare workers my not know about your adoption. If you make a request, they will send you the pertinent information, and a nurse will visit you if you wish.

3. Do not worry about the housework, the dishes, etc. Most mothers who breastfeed do not have the opportunity to do much at first. You will have to be prepared to sit for a while and wait until you finish your nursing session, only to start again ten minutes later. Your baby is learning to breastfeed. Just make sure that you are comfortable and have something to drink. It is also important that your husband understands that this is part of having a new baby.

4. Drink as much water as possible.

5. It is important that you take plenty of iron and other healthy foods. Your baby will be fine but you won’t be unless you supplement your diet.

 

It is highly recommended that a family physician, an accredited health care or alternative care professional be consulted before taking any supplements, herbal medications, galactagogues or anti-galactagogues.

 

• Domperidone – Please consult The Guide to Breastfeeding or go online at http://www.drjacknewman.com/ for further information      

• Fenugreek

• Blessed Thistle

• Goat’s Rue

• Brewer’s Yeast

• Alfalfa

• Marshmallow (the plant – not the candy)

• Nettle

• Vervain

• Dill Seed

• Vitex (Chaste Berry)

• Fennel

• Anise Seed

 

• Antihistamines

• Decongestants

• High-estrogen contraceptives (basically estrogen will decrease milk supply)

• Parsley

• Herb Robert

• Lemon Balm

• Oregano

• Peppermint

• Periwinkle Herb

• Sage

• Sorrell

• Spearmint

 

To find a La Leche League Canada support group in your community, visit their website at: http://www.lalecheleaguecanada.ca/groups.php or contact the groups below:

 

Ontario residents may also wish to consult the New Parent Resource Guide at http://www.parentguide.ca/index.php where you will find complete provincial directories of associations and groups on breastfeeding education/support, breast pump sales and rentals, breastfeeding clothing, books, resources, and a spectrum of pertinent information.

Natasha is a former leader of the IAAC support group in Ottawa. She presently lives with her two year old daughter, Lara, and husband Richard. They are planning to adopt another child in the near future.

Debra Stewart Peterson, Breastfeeding the Adopted Baby (Publisher: Corona Publishing Co.; Revised Edition {November 1, 1999}) ISBN 0931722365 (Paperback)

 

Dr. Jack Newman and Teresa Pitman, Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding (Publisher: Harper Collins Canada, Limited; Revised Edition {February 6, 2003} ISBN 0006394450 (Paperback)