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Post by sallyg on Jul 28, 2008 9:22:32 GMT 10
Has anyone thought about this? Known anyone who has done it?
There's a bit of info out on the web that I found quite interesting.
Sal x
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Post by kate on Jul 28, 2008 12:28:38 GMT 10
I love the idea for a little baby. The ABA (Aust Breastfeeding Assoc) has some info if you are interested. I think the brochure is called relactation or similar. Lots of skin to skin contact, which is good for bonding anyway, even if full breastfeeding doesnt happen.
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Post by flossyinoz on Jul 29, 2008 13:40:26 GMT 10
I have been reading that it exists but somehow can't imagine how it works, will have a look at the ABA info.
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mel
Newbie
Posts: 16
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Post by mel on Jul 29, 2008 20:32:22 GMT 10
I know this is really different but I re-established breastfeeding after weaning my biological child (she had allergies to formula so I decided to start breastfeeding again). Anyway the ABA gave me lots of fantastic info on relactation for adoptive mums and I used the same process. They had this fantastic system available for hire called a supply line and basically it was a long tube that gets placed right near the nipple and when the baby attaches to feed the supply line delivers some formula, which encourages the baby to keep sucking. The sucking helps the body to produce breastmilk. Medication available from a GP can also help. From memory the booklet said that most adoptive mums are never able to exclusively breastfeed but usually some breastmilk is able to be established along with the formula given through the supply line. With the worst case scenario and no breastmilk being produced it is still possible to have all the emotional and attachment benefits of breastfeeding while using the supply line to provide all the nutrition. Anyway this was many years ago but hopefully the ABA will have lots of great information
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Post by flossyinoz on Jul 30, 2008 11:47:21 GMT 10
Sounds like an interesting system.
The thing I ws concerned about is that I doubt that my body would produce enough if any milk as you need to have lots of milk ducts for that and years ago I was told in a breast exam that I do not have many ducts left, normally the older the less ducts. So if I was never able to produce milk or maybe only a drop or two I am not sure if I would do it. You can still keep the baby close to your bare breasts and body like you would breastfeeding but bottle feed and get most of the benefits that way I think.
Yes I have read the benefits in the ABA info regarding hormones, attachment etc, but I think in a way it would give me another sense of failure after a long series of fertility treatments if I tried and could not express milk.
But of course everybody has to decide for themselves. I was not breastfed, I was allergic to breast milk - yes that can happen as well and I needed milk free formula to survive.
Flossyinoz
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Post by sallyg on Jul 31, 2008 12:08:14 GMT 10
Great to hear your inspiring story Mel! Well done you!
Flossy, I read that often women try to pump before 'baby comes home' and get disappointed when they just get a few drops... but apparently once the baby is fed as Mel described often the hormones kick in and a decent amount of milk produced. As Mel said, rarely ever enough to satisfy baby fully, but the benefits for bonding are obviously enormous. I think the bonding issue is greater than the nutritional value. And if that's the goal you probably wouldn't 'fail'!!!
It's unlikely we'll get a bub young enough to try this, but if we did I would quite interested as b'feeding is one thing I really feel like I missed out on through IF. And would really value that intimate experience with our new child. I wouldn't be keen to pop pills though - feel my body has had too many hormone altering drugs thus far as it is.
Sal x
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Post by gabbyforever on Aug 1, 2008 14:34:19 GMT 10
Hi, I was interested to read this post. When we were placed with our 12 week old baby through local adoption i broached this idea with my social worker. She was quiet against it and shut the idea down straight away. In saying that a girlfriend of mine did breasfeed her adopted children not exclusively though. Molly
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Post by flossyinoz on Aug 1, 2008 15:37:52 GMT 10
I wonder if this is a general view that social workers have or if just your particular social worker was against it and I wonder why, the idea itself sounds great for bonding, just that in my case I doubt it would work satisfactorily which would stress me and the child more than what it's worth.
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Post by michelle76 on Aug 1, 2008 16:36:37 GMT 10
This was talked about at our information session and the social workers seemed quite open to the idea, they said it really depends on individual parents and children. I had a friend and colleague suggest it to me a couple of months ago and initially I was like 'I don't think I could do that.' Then after thinking about it some more I realised it was something I really want to learn more about and try. Breastfeeding was a thing I felt I was going to miss out on by not having a biological child. I would love to use the feeding tube thing even if I didn't produce milk just for that closeness to baby. But it will really depend on how old our baby is etc. No expectations! It's the only way I will survive this process!
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Post by sallyg on Aug 1, 2008 17:59:18 GMT 10
That's interesting Molly,
I would imagine it would be a very personal decisions with parents as well as SWs. I couldn't imagine them having a general negative attitude towards it. I can't see the harm unless, as Flossy said, it causes more stress than it's worth! It could be quite hard to get the child to latch if it's use to a bottle for so long...
lol Michelle re: the 'no expectations!' - ...
I'm pretty sure we're not going to get a child young enough for this, but thought it's worth discussing as hopefully some people on this board will!!! And in the not too distant future!
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Post by chinababe on Aug 2, 2008 7:25:35 GMT 10
Personally I think it's highly over-rated, but then I think it's highly over-rated with birth children as well. Maybe this has something to do with the background I come from and the fact that I did a maternity prac when I did my mothercraft Nursing and saw a lot of women in pain with breast issues that where being PUSHED to BF from nursing staff.
I have known of a couple ICA girls that have selected to do this and one did actually manage to establish a normal full supply - however this took months of work before even being allocated - there are so many variables with allocation that it would be difficult to know when to start.
My feeling is there a range of other ways to follow 'attachment parenting' techiques if this is how to plan to raise your child.
One thing my SW said was it was important to be fairly sure what we wanted to do in those first few months and that we should create the environment that we plan to parent in, instead of 'trying' lots of different things. For me it would be cruel to start this for our child and then take it away particularly as I am our working parent. I have to consider the time and how I use it and what is of most benefit to the child.
I can dig up an old article from the Ni Hao maganize as there was an article about ICA parents doing this if you like.
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Post by mummum on Aug 12, 2008 19:15:19 GMT 10
Hi, I am new to the forum and have just found this thread. I am blessed to have one child already however, am unable to have another. This thread is close to my heart as I would love to breastfeed an adopted child. I am currently breastfeeding my 1 year old and it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. Yes, the beginning was not easy as we have a very difficult start but as I gaze into his eyes and he looks up at me, my heart falls a million miles. It's love. As he gets older it just keeps getting better. He plays games and giggles and slowly falls off to sleep with not a worry in the world. I know I am so fortunate to have already experienced this and my heart goes out to you beautiful women who have not. However, I have spoken to lots of friends who are lactation consultants or in ABA and it does sound very positive. Yes, It would be easier for me as I have already had a milk supply. Although, even with a older baby it is still possible. I was speaking to someone recently who has a friend who adopted an older infant from overseas who has successfully breastfeed. The problem was getting the child to learn to suck. Persistance paid off. You have to really want it. I do.
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