Adoptive mothers can breastfeed too?

 

 From The Hangover

"It would be so cool if I could breastfeed." I watched that movie The Hangover this weekend for what, the third or fourth time now. Still funny! And how Zach Galifianakis' character Alan, takes care of the baby they find in their hotel room. And when they're riding in the cop car they stole (but the baby's not in a car seat eeeeek!), he says, as part of all his random dialogue which I loved, "It would be so cool if I could breastfeed." Ha ha! Yes, yes it would, but you can't boo hoo! 'Cause you're a man—insert Nelson from The Simposon's "ha ha!". What's my point? Men may not be able to breastfeed, only women. But not only that, it turns out that women who've never even had a baby can breastfeed too! Who knew. In the end, we are all born with milk ducts. Whether we have a baby or not, our breasts were made to produce milk and breastfeed. And according to this story I read on La Leche League, adoptive mothers can breastfeed too. Hurray! I always wondered about that and I wish there was more information about this out there to mothers who adopt. I would think it does take a lot of commitment and hard work on your body to make it happen. But according to this article, it can be done. You just have to pump every 2-3 hours like any other breastfeeding mom. But instead of the milk already being there from being pregnant, you would just have to train your body to start producing the milk. Supply and demand, if you will. And you will be demanding milk for your new adopted baby, so that you don't have to be forced to only give your baby formula, just because you decided to adopt. You can give that new baby your healthy healthy breastmilk.

The article says to begin the pumping before the baby even comes, if the mother has already started the adoption process (which can take up to a year), or after the little one arrives. The key is to stimulate the breasts to produce the milk. They also suggest using the Medela Supplemental Nursing System or the Lact-Aid Nurser Training System. I wonder if this is what wet nurses do, hmmm. Note to self: research wet nurse. The amount of milk a mom who adopts would produce this way may not be enough, so they might need to supplement with formula. But they will be able to produce some milk for their baby which is still great. Better than nothing right?

Fascinating. I just continue to be so amazed at our bodies as women and the miracle that is breastfeeding. You go girls with your Chichi Power—adoptive mamas and all!