Lyla,

You wrote about working out breastfeeding with a lesbian couple.  It seems
that the following idea you suggested would work well.

>Another thought I had was that the adoptive mom could induce lactation, and
>once the birth mom's supply was FIRMLY established, the birth mom could
>express milk for 1-2 feedings per day, and the adoptive mom could use the
>expressed milk in a nursing supplementer to give her feedings, thereby
>continuing to stimulate her milk supply and the birth mom would be
>contiuing to send her body the message that that milk was still needed .. . .

I've actually had two experiences with this situation.  With one couple
their little boy (30lbs at 9 mo) has weaned from breast to bottle.  My
impression is that due to his size (buddha babies are so cute) they felt as
if they were unable to keep up with his need for breastmilk.  The birth mom
worked at a group home and would be there for 40 hours or so straight and
that is when the co-mom would step in.

The other couple have a older child also, her birth mom is the co-mom of
the baby.  I expect this breastfeeding relationship will continue since the
co-mom breastfed her child till over 3 yo.  I think this couple are doing
what you suggested above.

Sounds like you have a good handle on what's going on.  Let them have the
information, choices available, and your support.  They are luck to have
you available.


Alicia, LLLL in the Bluegrass (Lexington, KY)
aka Post Poster and AS for Kentucky
and academic nomad
mailto:[log in to unmask]