Many women have fully breastfed adopted babies.
Once your breasts have been prepared for lactation by a pregnancy, they always retain their ability to produce milk. If they've produced milk for any length of time, they'll be even more able to do so years later. This is why grandmothers in many parts of the world can breastfeed their grandchildren.
All women can stimulate their milk production and build up their milk supply over time by putting their baby to the breast frequently, or by expressing or pumping their breasts. They can do this even if they've never had a baby - in which case it's called 'induced lactation' - though they'll have to persevere, and supplement their milk with other food. And they'll need a co-operative baby.Express FrequentlyA woman who breastfeeds her own baby has had months of pregnancy for her breasts to prepare for breastfeeding. So you must expect to take a long time to prepare your breasts too. Start building up your milk supply at least six weeks before your baby arrives, by expressing or pumping at frequent intervals.
When the baby arrives, you'll probably need to give formula as well. However, some mothers have fed their adopted babies with breast milk from the baby's mother, from a breast milk bank, or from a breastfeeding friend until their own milk became plentiful enough.
A supplementer is a useful piece of equipment for re-lactating mothers. The original one was developed by a man for his wife who successfully built up her milk supply to feed their adopted baby.
How long will it take to build up your milk supply? It has been done within two weeks by mothers who weaned their own baby as long as six years before. It usually takes much longer. The pleasure it gives can far outweigh the difficulty involved, though be prepared for it to take some time.
Dr. Penny Stanway
June 2009
Buy Dr. Penny Stanway's Book 'Breast Is Best' Here | 
Breastfeeding Twins
