In the new Penelope Cruz movie Born Twice, Cruz plays a woman who tries to breastfeed her surrogate-born baby. It's a dramatic scene, and Cruz's character fails because you can't breastfeed if you haven't actually given birth -- or can you?
I was wondering about this. I mean, I get the drama of the scene and for the movie it's kind of a moot point. But I'm a mom with lots of questions, so I wanted to find out: Can you breastfeed if you haven't given birth?
It's not easy. But it's possible!
You can induce lactation without giving birth -- usually by using a hospital-grade breast pump for about two months before you want to start breastfeeding. That jump-starts the breastfeeding hormones. Sometimes doctors prescribe additional hormone therapy as well, up to just before you start breastfeeding.
So that's pumping both breasts every three hours around the clock for two months. With a hospital-grade pump -- ever tried one of those? I have. SHUDDER. Anyway, it's a LOT of trouble to go through. I can see why there aren't more women out there committing to breastfeeding their adopted or surrogate babies!
Still, I think it's amazing that it's possible. I mean, sometimes it seems like there's just no end to the surprising things our bodies can do. Supposedly, if you're lucky, you can induce lactation just through hand-pumping instead of that horrid hospital pump. But you know, every woman is different, so what works for one woman won't work for another. There are women who DO give birth and still have trouble lactating. So there are no guarantees here! But it might be worth a try for those who have the energy and resources to do it.
Would you ever try to induce lactation to breastfeed a surrogate or adopted baby?
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Comments 13
I would certainly try. Since I haven't stopped nursing in about 7 years (NO, I am not nursing a 7 year old for those reacting in horror!) I think it would be easy for me.
I do have a friend who was able to nurse her adopted daughter, although she also supplemented with donated breastmilk.
The hospital grade pumps are not that bad, and try feeding a baby, then pumping every hour and a half. It's just what we do for our children.
I would try to relactate for an adopted or surrogate baby, but only because I've already been successful with breastfeeding. I think if I hadn't had any experience with it, or it had been particularly difficult that I wouldn't have considered it.
I thought that when you adopted a child that became YOUR child? I didn't know that DNA would decide if you give your baby breastmilk or formula. I am someone that has to use formula but if you can give YOUR BABY the best, why would you not?
And 7rin the story was speaking about a baby, not a toddler. Just saying. Also I want to add that my Husband is adopted and had his MOTHER would have known that she was getting him ahead of time, she did she would have tried to lactate.