Many experts agree that breast milk is the best food a baby can have, with countless health benefits for the newborn. Unfortunately, due to different circumstances, not all mothers are able to breastfeed their babies.
Historically, babies have not only been breastfed by their mothers, for example, there is the wet nurse technique, where a woman breastfeeds a baby that is not her child. However, for many mothers who were not pregnant, breastfeeding was not on the agenda.
Mothers who have not had their babies in their wombs should know that just because they have not physically delivered their baby does not mean that they also have to give up breastfeeding, says Danielle Gauss, an international board-certified lactation consultant.
Many women can successfully breastfeed their children even if they have never been pregnant before, Gauss says. “There are some steps to follow… all we have to do is stimulate and trick your body into producing.”
The first steps
In 2000, two scientists laid the groundwork with the Newman-Goldfarb Protocols, which began to offer hope to non-gestational parents who wanted to give it a try. From this protocol, many lactation professionals adopted methods to offer surrogate parents, those who adopted, trans women, among others, the option to breastfeed their children.
“Lactation induction is the process of creating milk for the first time,” Erin Harris, M.S., M.A., a certified lactation educator. For that reason, it is a more complex process than re-lactation — where parents who have breastfed their child before want to try again after a while.
“Induced lactation, otherwise known as adoptive nursing, is the process of stimulating a woman’s body to produce milk, even if she has never given birth or ever been pregnant,” Gauss explains.
How is breastfeeding induced?
Many patients are trying to induce lactation to have a special connection with their baby. The mother-child bond can be achieved in other ways, but for those who want to share this special moment with their babies, it is important to know that there are options.
Some techniques that can be used are breast pumps, hormone stimulants with pumping and prolactin stimulation with medication and pumping. Medications that may be prescribed are contraceptive pills (which will make the body believe it is pregnant) and domperidone (which will help to increase the levels of prolactin). Without medication, it is possible to produce milk, although it can be more laborious. Many women choose this option, depending on what they feel is best for them.
“It may be recommended to include herbal therapies as well, such as goats rue, moringa, or fennel,” Gauss says. Herbal therapy is used to stimulate the breast tissue and ducts to produce more milk. “Before using any prescription or herbal medication it is always recommended that you consult your healthcare provider first.”
Difficult, not impossible
Induced breastfeeding involves a commitment to attend consultations, access medication, schedule pumping times and more. Therefore, it is important to be accompanied by a professional in order to see results.
“The act of inducing lactation if you are not pregnant takes time and commitment, because one of the key factors to continue milk production is supply and demand. This means the more a baby nurses (or you pump) your body gets the signal to produce more milk,” Harris says.
“So, if you are not consistent with pumping before baby comes, you will probably see less milk overall,” Harris explains. It is essential to work with a lactation professional to develop an individualized plan.
Likewise, it is important to keep expectations realistic, as there is a huge range of milk production for those who induce lactation, Harris clarifies. “Any amount of breast milk will be beneficial to your baby, even if it comes with supplementation. Life is busy, so look at your schedule and set specific times to pump. Consistency is key.”
A skin-to-skin process
Breastfeeding the baby as soon as possible after birth is important. “The baby will use the breast for comfort initially, but will eventually associate the breast with nutrition, too,” Gauss explains. “The more the baby is skin to skin and at the ‘Breasteraunt’ the better chances your breasts will produce more milk.”
“The baby has to suck to stimulate flow, so it is recommended to avoid pacifiers initially,” Gauss recommends. “Allow the baby to use you as a stimulation for comfort. Nurse before, after, and between other feedings for as long as you and the baby are willing.”
Who can induce lactation?
Specialists can tell you if you will be able to start induced lactation. They must evaluate whether the mammary glands are intact or if there is an underlying health problem.
“Most women can make some breast milk, and some will have an adequate full milk supply,” Gauss indicates. “It is a lot easier to accomplish lactation when the pregnancy hormones have been in place already, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t try and stimulate the production.”
Recommendations for induced lactation
Mothers who are unable to start pumping before the baby is born can pump from birth, Gauss says. “Supplementing at the breast with a feeding tube would be initiated until the adopted mother began to see some milk flow from the breast.”
It is essential the mother uses a good double electric stimulation pump, because these have the ability to mimic the baby’s sucking rhythm. “It is recommended to pump both breasts simultaneously for 15 minutes every 3 hours,” Gauss indicates.
“I highly recommend the book Breastfeeding Without Birthing by Alyssa Schnell. Whether adopting, going through surrogacy or in an LGBTQ+ relationship and looking to assist the birthing partner with breastfeeding, this book is for you,” Harris suggests.
Image: Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz