We're Adopting

[OneBlessedMommy]

My husband and I are foster parents. We currently have an 8 month old baby that we're going to be able to adopt. I really want to try to lactate so I can breastfeed. Has anyone started this late in the game? I want to prepare myself for after the adoption (about a month away). What can I do to encourage milk production? Also when the time comes what can I do to encourage her to latch?


ETA: I apologize because I didn't make that clear in my original post. We have a surrender court date that is about three weeks away. The adoption would probably take place three weeks after that (six weeks from now). I wanted to attempt to nurse POST adoption.

[StillSingingMom]

Congratulations! I'm an adoptive mommy, too., and I was adopted myself.

Have you discussed nursing with your social worker? I don't think I've ever heard of anyone starting with an older baby. I know my social worker would have lost her mind.

[OneBlessedMommy]

No I didn't discuss it with the worker because there's no way I could legally breastfeed her until AFTER the adoption.

[OneBlessedMommy]

see ETA in original post.

[StillSingingMom]

Yes, I read your original post. However, many social workers feel comfortable asking about your parenting plans for the future after the adoption. Mine certainly did. Also, it is common here for adoptions to not finalize until six months AFTER surrender. If all goes well.

If there are any bumps on your way to finalization, you would be starting lactation with a baby who is nearly a year old. Moreover, a baby who has already learned, I presume, how to suck from a bottle, which is quite different from nursing.

You face an uphill battle. I don't know what advice to give you about this; persuading an older baby, with teeth, to latch and learn to nurse is a big challenge. Also an issue to consider is that milk content changes with the age of the baby. A toddler needs, and gets, significantly different milk than a newborn.

The milk a woman makes around the year mark is very high in fat (sometimes as high as 17 to 20%.) This is one of the issues I would worry about with adoptive breastfeeding with an older baby. I'm not sure that you would get the right nutritional match for your child.

I'll look around and see what I can find for you.

[OneBlessedMommy]

I understand where you're coming from now. I just wanted to make sure I made myself clear. After rereading my original post I wasn't sure I had. In the state of Tennessee, the birth parents have 10 days after surrender to change their minds. With the boys' adoption it was three weeks between the surrender and the finalization of the adoption. Our case workers have never discussed post adoption plans with us.

I realize I am facing a major mountain that I may not be able to climb up but I would like to try. If it doesn't work out then it just wasn't meant to be.

Thank you for your help advice! I really appreciate it.