While getting ready for Max Nikolai (not knowing how old he would be when the adoption was finalized), I was determined to try to nurse him.  Once adopting Max, we found very quickly, nursing him was not an option.  This is not only because of his age, but he had teeth and was very hungry (due to malnourishment).  How do I say this gently…”OUCH!”.

     I did prepare to nurse Max with vitamins, eating right, and expressing, but did not end up nursing my son.   However,  I have successfully nursed all three of my biological children and know of the wonderful bond of breastfeeding.  There is nothing like it! Adoptive breastfeeding is different, with a lot more trial and error, but we encourage you to consider granting your adopted child the blessing of Breast Feeding.

     There is such a beauty in breastfeeding.  May God bless you as you consider this amazing gift to your newest little one!

    We recommend that you go to the following websites where you will find a wealth of information on adoptive breastfeeding.  Yahoo Groups also has an adoptive breastfeeding support group called "1ABSupportGroup".

Adoptive Breastfeeding:

http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBadoptive.html

http://breast-feeding.adoption.com/nursing/nursing-supplementers.html

Nursing a older adopted child:

http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVOctNov04p99.html

http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBSepOct93p135.html

 is an article by Darrillyn Starr called “Nursing Julia”.  It is an article on how she nursed her  adopted 10 month old daughter.

Sadly, you may face others discouraging you to make this decision.  Doctors may even say "This is rarely successful".  This is not true.  If you join the Yahoo Adoptive Breastfeeding Group you will find MANY moms that have successfully done it!  Please don't give up!