GOLD Lactation Conference News
Breastfeeding Without Birthing
Category: Articles
Author: Alyssa Schnell, MS, IBCLC
Breastfeeding Without Birthing is a personal and a professional story for me. Nine years ago, as my husband and I began our adoption plans, I couldn’t imagine parenting a baby without breastfeeding. Breastfeeding was how I fed, comforted, calmed, and healed my other babies. Breastfeeding was how I would do the same for my next baby, no matter what path she took to arrive in my arms. I began fervently researching information available on adoptive breastfeeding. My resources as a La Leche League Leader were especially helpful. By the time baby Rosa arrived, I had a relationship with a local lactation consultant, was pumping 15 ounces of milk each day, was taking various herbs and medications, had purchased several devices to help with breastfeeding, and had a freezer stocked with my own milk. Despite some additional obstacles (childbirth interventions, not being allowed to breastfeed during her hospital stay, and a tongue-tie/lip-tie), Rosa began feeding exclusively at my breast when she was 2 days old. And we continued that beautiful relationship for several years.
During that time, I began counseling other prospective adoptive and intended (through surrogacy) mothers, first as a La Leche League Leader and later as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). My research continued, as my experience working with mothers grew. My personal experience, the experiences of the mothers I worked with, and all the research I did eventually blossomed into a book: Breastfeeding Without Birthing: A Breastfeeding Guide for Mothers Through Adoption, Surrogacy and Other Special Circumstances (2013).
What does it mean to breastfeed without giving birth? I’ve found that it means different things to different mothers. For some mothers, it means putting in a lot of time and effort (and most likely taking medications) to make the most milk possible for their babies. For other mothers, it means making no milk at all, while offering comforting and nurturing at the breast. And for yet many others, it is something in between. As lactation consultants, it is our role to help each mother-to-be to create a breastfeeding plan that suites her values and circumstances, and then to provide the tools for her success.
Some of the essential tools for breastfeeding without birthing include finding community, inducing lactation, latching an older or compromised baby at the breast, and supplementation. Many adoptive, intended, and foster mothers are told breastfeeding is not an option for them; others are told that breastfeeding is possible, but they are not able to find information on how to do it successfully. This needs to change. Every mother who desires to breastfeed should have the information and support to do so, and that includes mothers who did not give birth to their babies.
Alyssa will be presenting her topic at this year's Lactation Conference titled "Breastfeeding Without Birthing: Breastfeeding for Mothers Through Adoption, Surrogacy, or Foster Care". Learn more about Alyssa's presentation by clicking here.
