~Breast Feeding Adopted Babies

 

Not only is breast feeding an adopted baby easy,

the chances are that you will produce a large

amount of milk.  It isn't complicated to do, 

although it is different than breast feeding a

baby you have been pregnant with for 9 months.

Breast feeding and milk

There are two objectives that are involved in

breast feeding an adopted baby.  The first is

getting your baby to breast feed, and the other

is producing enough breast milk.  

There is more to breast feeding than just milk,

which is why many mothers are happy to feed 

without expecting to produce milk in the way

the baby needs.  It's the closeness and the

bond breast feeding provides that many mothers 

look for.

Taking the breast

Even though many feel the early introduction of

bottles may interfere with breast feeding, the

early introduction of artificial nipples can

interfere a great deal.  The sooner you can get

the baby to the breast after birth, the better 

things will be.

Babies will however, require the flow from the

breast in order to stay attached and continue

to suck, especially if they are used to getting

flow from a bottle or other method of feeding.

Producing breast milk

As soon as you have an adopted baby in sight,

contact a lactation clinic and start getting

your milk supply ready.  Keep in mind, you

may never produce a full milk supply for your

baby, although it may happen.  You should

never feel discouraged by what you may be

pumping before the baby, as a pump is never

quite as good at extracting milk as a baby

who is well latched and sucking.