It comes down to definition of full milk supply. In practical terms the biggest issue for most mums is the need to supplement. If they no longer need to supplement then in their eyes they're fully breastfeeding. I'd never tell any adoptive (or any mother for that matter) that they had not tried enough but nor would I tell any woman that she will likely not be able to make a full milk supply because I honestly don't know what will happen.  When I get calls from women wanting to breastfeed their adopted child or child born via surrogacy many of them have already been quite battered by the comments of other who have wanted them to be "realistic" about their prospects. I don't see any good from this. I think, why not be hopeful and know exclusive breastfeeding is possible and it might be for her (why not?) but if it's not then that doesn't mean that it's not worthwhile and that she can be pretty confident of eventually getting rid of supplements. Getting rid of supplements makes them just like other breastfeeding mums and that goal is possible for the majority.

 That said. I know lot of adoptive mums who have been able to exclusively breastfeed (ie sole source of nutrition). Ordinary cases of adoptive breastfeeding are no longer worthy of publication as case histories but if you add in something different (such as the transgender mum linked to earlier) then you've got something a journal will publish. It's a really good thing that it has become more normal and indeed relactation is becoming quite common. It's very different to 10 years ago. In the research it is evident that the context is really important. Good support for adoptive breastfeeding, a culture that supports breastfeeding results in really high rates of exclusive breastfeeding but even when the environment is not supportive the majority of women are able to stop milk supplementation. 
Karleen Gribble 
Australia


On 11/05/2013, at 4:47 PM, Barb Glare wrote:

> I don't agree Karleen with you.  
> 
> I think many mums adoptive mums do not make enough milk to supply all their baby's nutrition,  even if they keep feeding for long enough, and I doubt many would make enough for a newborn.  If it takes them 6 mnths then they are not really making a full milk supply (but they don't need to by then either)  I don't think that it is very helpful to tell adoptive mothers that they could have made a full milk supply but they didn't try hard enough or long enough when there are underlying problems to begin with, any more than it helps to tell any mother that they would make enough milk if they just tried harder.    I don't think that means they can't breastfeed successfully.  Yes, maximise breastfeeding and milk supply will be maximised.  but for some mothers they still won't produce much milk and will need to supplement - no drama there, just that it's a different experience.  I have worked with many adoptive mums who are highly motivated to breastfeed.  But I haven't yet seen many who have made a full supply, and not for lack of trying.  Often they feel that what they do produce, or the experience itself is not worthy of being called breastfeeding.  The cases where women do make a good milk supply are celebrated in case studies, because we really WANT it to be so for all women, but I don't think it's the reality for most
> 
> Warm Regards
> Barb
> 
>> 
> 
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