If this weirds you out, feel free to ignore the rest of this post (no offense taken...)
I learned about the possibility of adoptive breastfeeding last summer at the zenith of my "research-everything-about-adoption" phase. As I learned, women have been nursing babies not born to them (as wet nurses, in times of emergency, when a mother dies etc.) for milenia and its not actually so difficult.
What this has meant for me is taking some special medications and herbs which boost milk supply and pumping about 5 or 6 times per day. I am in email contact with a woman named Elizabeth Hormann, an International Board Certified Lactatioin Consultant, who happens to be a world-renowned expert on adoptive breastfeeding and relactation, and she referred me to a wonderful doctor here in Prague who is walking me through the process.
The coolest part of this all is that I can see it gradually working, and that helps me feel like I'm doing something very concrete to prepare for the baby coming. I'm finally making real milk and the milk supply just seems to grow each day. Yippee!!
So, why am I sharing this with you? During my recent trip to California, I realized that the whole topic of breastfeeding is a little bit taboo with many Americans. I guess this sadenned me because I think it is such an amazing gift from God to mothers and babies and I don't think it is anything we should feel weird talking about. I hope my sharing this will help get the word out to other adoptive moms that they can bless their babies in this special way. So, if you're reading this and you know any prospective moms out there: please, let them know!
Here are some great websites where people can find more information:
One of the things that I will need to carry me through this rather challenging journey is a lot of support and encouragement from friends who understand why I am doing this. So, if you feel like sharing a loving word of blessing for this process, don't be shy! :-)
2 comments:
Jenny-
I didn't even know this was possible...we've thought about adopting someday, and I am glad that you are sharing your wisdom--it is so helpful to me to be able to understand how the whole thing works, and to know all the options that are out there.
I really appreciate your openness about this whole process. I'm excited to meet your little one when we come over in January.
Beka
one more thing....
I was checking out the pics on your website from your sister's wedding--YOU LOOK GREAT!
I don't know if it's the excitement from the wedding or the new baby, but you are glowing. It suits you well.
Beka (again)
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