If you are about to adopt a baby or have already adopted a baby and you want to breastfeed her, wonderful! It is not only possible; it can be a reality. Getting started can be a tad overwhelming, but do not let that keep you from doing it. Once started on this incredible journey you will see it is fairly easy and chances are you will produce a good supply of milk. This is not too complicated, but it is different from breastfeeding a baby that you have birthed from your body. We are birthing from our hearts and souls; we understand that but our bodies do not.

There are two things that need to happen:
1. One is getting your baby to breastfeed.
2. The other is producing breast milk.

Sounds easy enough, right? However, it is imperative to set your expectations at a reasonable level. Do not set yourself up for a pitfall by thinking you are going to be producing gallons of milk each time you go to nurse. I happen to think there is more to breastfeeding than producing breast milk; I for one am just happy to be able to look down at my little girl nursing at my breast. The noises she makes and the bonds that we share are amazing. She finds comfort and security at my breast. This time spent at the breast is a special relationship, between you and your baby. There is a special closeness, a connection, that takes place between you and your little darling. In a sense, a biological attachment occurs when you begin breastfeeding, and a lot of the time that is what many mothers look for. Your objective here must be something like this, "I want to breastfeed, and if the baby also gets breast milk then that is just awesome!"

Make sure you are in a dimly lit, quiet room with no other distractions. If you are nervous, your baby will know.

Make sure you are comfortable and try different holds for your baby. See which one works better for you.

If baby gets upset, stop, comfort her, and then try again.

Try for no more than 15 minutes at a time, unless she is latched on and doing well.

Sore nipples are a price to pay! Make sure you get some good nipple cream for cracked and dry nipples.

With my experience, my daughter was a preemie and she did not come to us until she was almost 5 months old. So there were some challenges. Latching on was a bit hard and we did use a lactation device to supply the milk as she nursed. She did not do well and I almost gave up. I decided to borrow a Pump In Style Double Breast Pump from an on-line friend. Within days, I could see a change. I also started taking the herb Fenugreek and drinking Mother’s Tea to help bring in the milk supply. I pumped 15 times a day for 15 minutes each time. Soon Gracie started to just nurse for comfort, she would take my breast, and I would let her soothe herself. I then started to take Reglan, an antacid medication that has a way to increase milk to nursing moms.

After doing this regimen for a few weeks, my sweet little one was at my breast being comforted and, one day, started to make "Mmm, mmm" noises. She began to suck harder and her legs began to move more. I pulled her away and to my surprise, I had some clear sticky stuff called colostrum coming from my breast! I have now had this for over a month. I may never get “milk,” but the fact that I know the joy of this awesome thing called breast-feeding is amazing to me! I am holding this little angel, which my heart and soul birthed from many heartfelt prayers, at my breast. She is mine. She is nursing and getting nourishment from me, a woman who has never given birth to a child. Yet, somehow, my body has responded as if I have.

Even if I never got anything visible to the naked eye, I know Gracie has received comfort, peace and love at my breast. I have had the most amazing bonding time with my sweet girl.

My final words of advice--never give up, never let someone say what is best, never second guess yourself. This is your baby, this is your time, and this is her time. I send many thoughts of success to you women who have labored in a different way to come to this place in life. You are a mother in every sense of the word!

For more information, please contact Chelle@womens-place.com.


~Chelle is the proud, adoptive breast-feeding mother of Gracie. She has three more beautiful, adopted children and is also the owner of Womens-Place.