It turns out that it is possible to induce lactation so that adoptive mothers can breastfeed.  It’s just as healthy for baby as birth mother’s milk minus the colostrum.  It just takes a couple of hormone pills daily for 6 months or more followed by 6 weeks of using a rental-grade hospital breast pump every two hours before baby arrives.  Then more pumping combined with nursing after baby is here to build up milk supply.  As I’ve researched inducing lactation and how to make breastfeeding a success, I found out some really neat things about breasts.  Frankly, breasts are simply amazing!  Most of you likely know the following since you are already moms, but I’m just gobsmacked!

Most moms know this, but as a mom-to-be I was amazed to learn that breasts know exactly what composition of milk babies need.  Boobs make one formula for preemies.  They make another for full term babies.  They start with a thin thirst quenching mixture and follow it up with a tummy satisfying thick formula.  This may be old news for many, but to me, this is awe-inspiring!

Kangaroo care can almost immediately fix breastfeeding issues.  Kangaroo care is skin-to-skin contact wherein baby’s chest is laid vertically on mom’s chest between the breasts with the head to one side so baby can breathe.  Amazingly, within minutes of this type of contact, breasts detect baby’s temperature immediately and will either cool off or warm up depending on what baby needs.  How magnificent!  Even more stunning, the two boobs can operate independently of one another!  If a mom has twins, one breast can warm up while the other cools off to meet each individual baby’s needs.  Wow!

I also totally love that at nighttime, breasts make milk laced with extra tryptophan which is the substance in turkey that makes us need Thanksgiving Day naps.  That will likely be my favorite feature.

So it turns out that breasts do a lot more than simply make our stomachs look smaller and hold up our dresses!  I’m in awe!  Inducing lactation doesn’t work for every adoptive mom, but this adoptive mom will be attempting it now that I know just what these amazing organs are capable of doing!

I LOVE this video:

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