Many mothers who adopt want to breastfeed their babies and can do it successfully with some help. Many will need to supplement their breast milk with donated breast milk or infant formula, but some adoptive mothers can breastfeed exclusively, especially if they have been pregnant before. Lactation is a hormonal response to a physical action, and so the stimulation of the baby nursing causes the body to see a need for and produce milk. The more the baby nurses, the more a woman's body will produce milk.
One thing you can do to prepare is to pump every three hours around the clock for two to three weeks before your baby arrives, or you can wait until the baby arrives and starts to nurse. A supplemental nursing system (SNS) or a lactation aid can help ensure that your baby gets enough nutrition and that your breasts are stimulated to produce milk at the same time.
Some mothers have found that also taking prescription or herbal medicines can help increase milk supply. Domperidone, a drug that is frequently used in Canada and other parts of the world to treat certain gastric disorders, but also used for increasing milk supply, is not available through most pharmacies in the U.S., but can be ordered from other countries with a prescription. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the health risks linked to this drug. There have been several published reports and case studies of abnormal heart rhythms, cardiac arrest, and sudden death in patients receiving an intravenous form of domperidone. In countries where the oral form of domperidone continues to be sold, labels for the product contain warnings against use of it by breastfeeding women and note that the drug is excreted in breast milk that could expose a breastfeeding infant to unknown risks. Because of the chance of serious adverse effects, FDA recommends that breastfeeding women not use domperidone to increase milk production.
Fenugreek and blessed thistle are two herbs that have been reported by many mothers to help increase milk supply. But, no controlled studies are yet available to prove they are effective. Before you use any prescription or herbal medicines, it is important to talk with your doctor about their side effects. If you are an adoptive mother who wants to breastfeed, you should see both a lactation consultant and your doctor for help in establishing an initial milk supply.