I work with 10-12 adoptive mothers a year.  Two consults just last week on
this subject which seems to be a more and more popular idea -- at least
around Austin. I've seen 3 people this Spring who are going to China for
babies.

I have a fat folder of information collected over the years of research and
commentary about induced lactation, and  photos of adopted moms nursing with
feeding tube devices.  There is an article (1982) on the chemical
composition of milk made by non-prenant mothers. (It skips the colostral
phase, but is not abnormal.  It is chemically milk.)

 Jimmie Lynne Avery and K. Auerbach have a lot of good stuff in print on the
subject, including a greatly useful 4 pages of vignettes "with the flavor of
a story"  which are shared experiences (both positive and negative) of
families who have attempted induced lactations.  It helps mothers  to read
these, and I loan out my copy of this monograph like a library book to
clients. Truth is, many seek information on adoptive nursing, but fewer
really find they want to follow-through once they get the baby and get
involved in the day to day work of maintaining the process. Bottles start
looking pretty attractive as other family members get involved.  Its a plus
even to desire adoptive nursing, I think, but realistic counseling should be
provided.

Over the years I have seen tremendous and totally unpredictable variations
in success.  I once thought that younger, previously pregnant,
never-had-fertility-problems women were best candidates. Beth, one of my
most successful moms was close to 40, never preg.  She knew the baby's due
date and began pumping about 4 weeks prior.  My recommendation is to limit
pumping to the 4-6 wks just prior (which is iffy given the unpredictability
of these situations -- I do counseling about the risk of disappointment).
Then I urge pump be returned and just use baby and feeding tube.  In the
case of Beth, she got the baby as a 3-day old and nursed q3hr with feeding
supplementer for sev. months.  Every month she would plateau around her
period and then begin to increase production again.  By 7-8 months, she was
making an average of 16 oz a day of her own milk.  She seldom used the
feeding tube after solids were introduced -- just cup and solids and breast.
She weaned at 12 mo.  Shortly afterwards she was dx with cancer  and passed
away before her son turned 2. The lady was a community activist -- an
environmentalist mourned by all who knew her -- and it was truly tragic. It
gave me a lot of peace to think of the pleasure she had in nursing her baby.

I think the age of the baby is a critical issue.  I also am interested in
use of reglan and drug assists, although Beth, and others I have seen
successfully induce significant amounts of milk have not used them.  It is
true the relationship should be the main focus. I really try to help the
adopting parents focus on the multiple losses the baby has suffered by the
time he or she comes to them.  Breastfeeding is clothing the baby in
garments of love and comfort.  If breastfeeding is perceived as a gift of
mercy to the child, the  pressure is somewhat lifted from the mother (who
quite naturally wants to "succeed" and MAKE lots.)  We just want her to GIVE
lots.

I like to put moms in touch with each other for support.  I think its a
great idea for someone to do up a home page for this.

BTW, I love the Mexican movie:  Like Water for Chocolate (on video) which
shows the most moving representation of induced lactation I've ever seen.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSE, IBCLC
priv. pract Austin, Tx
Owner LACTNEWS On-Line:  http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html