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Expert Q&A

	By Ann Calandro BSN, RNC, IBCLC Lactation Consultant

I am hoping to adopt a newborn baby. Can I still breastfeed? How?

Of course you can still breastfeed! After your baby is born, you can feed the baby from your breast with the use of a supplemental nursing system. Milk is placed in a container with a small tube which is taped to your breast and extended beyond the tip of the nipple. As the baby suckles, it drinks milk. You will be able to experience the closeness and joy of nursing.

If you are interested in inducing lactation, I would suggest that you have a meeting with a La Leche League Leader or with a board certified Lactation Consultant several months before the baby is born. There are many ways to help stimulate some milk production from your breasts, and women have had varying degrees of success with milk production. Some women can produce quite a bit of milk, others produce only a small amount of milk.

You can find out the options which would work best for you, and begin preparing for this before your baby arrives. You might want to check out this Web site- http://www.fourfriends.com/abrw/. This is a site for parents who are adopting babies and want to enjoy the closeness of breastfeeding. Perhaps this Web site may have some tips which you may find helpful as well.

Congratulations on your expected baby! Let us know when he or she arrives and how your breastfeeding progresses!

Ann Calandro, RNC, IBCLC"

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