Annette, with the adoptive moms I have worked with, one of the most
important aspects of the plan was Skin-to-Skin. One of the moms who really
took this to heart by sleeping with baby and carrying her in a sling with
her chest bare and napping with baby on her chest--had her baby at the
breast in 3 days.  The baby was 14-days-old when she came to her new home
and when mom wasn't holding her Dad was. Some good bonding went on with Papa
too.

This mom had not given birth and had not pumped before baby came, but used
the SNS and pumped after the baby began to feed at the breast.

Another had a 6 wk old, and though she wasn't as diligent with the skin
contact as the first mother, she did sleep with the baby and carried her in
a sling.  She had older children and was unable to focus as much. But after
a weekend of concentrated skin contact( baby had been with them for about 2
weeks) baby latched with the SNS and off they went with the breastfeeding.
This mom had pumped and had some milk before baby came.

Some of you may remember my telling of a woman who adopted a 1 year old whom
she had no intention of feeding but wanted to "connect" with him.  She had
breastfed 3 older children. He was quite insecure, and attached himself to
her body night and day for several months, after which he slowly decided
that Dad was ok sometimes. Mom slept and napped with him against her breast
and basically "wore" him till he felt safe to venture forth. One day when he
was about 18 months old she awoke from a nap and he was suckling at her
breast, something that he continued to do for quite a while afterwards. I
don't think that there was ever any milk production.

So, I believe that this skin connection is a most valuable part of the
adoption picture and a milk supply is to be accepted for whatever amount
comes. The steps a mom takes to feed her baby at her breast is a most
important invitation to this baby to be *her* baby.

Our skin is vital to our communicating with those whom we love and, of
course, it is a two-way communication. I like to tell the adoptive moms whom
I have been fortunate to work with of this valuable gift that they can offer
to their baby and to themselves.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee


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