 Kay Green and Miss Haley Elizabeth-The Beginning!
A phone call Sunday, March 5, 2000 was the end of 7 years of waiting and the start of a new beginning in our lives. The call was telling us that our birth mother’s water broke and she was in the hospital and we should come to Nebraska. Let me start at the beginning. I am Kay. We live in rural Oregon. I am a 40 year old mother of 3 wonderful homegrown children, Melissa 17, Jordan 15, Allison 12. I have been married to my best friend Russell for 21 years. For the last 7 years I have known and prayed for the other child I knew was still to join our family. Last November I started talking with a young woman who emailed me after seeing our information on my web site. She was looking for a family for her unborn baby. Christmas week she asked us to take her baby. I then began 8 weeks of preparation to breastfeed our adopted child. I rented a hospital grade pump and started pumping every 4 hours. I started taking Fenugreek (herb) 9 tablets a day and 6 tablets of Blessed Thistle. I got milk drops after 10 days of pumping. I was pumping and freezing 2 ounces a day after 8 weeks. March 6, 2000 Miss Haley Elizabeth was born to a wonderful young high school couple who chose to give her life and give her to us. We arrived in Nebraska 24 hours after that Sunday evening phone call and phoned the hospital. We were told, "You have a baby girl!" We could not get there fast enough. We still had 3 hours of driving to go. We arrived when she was 5 hours old. That night we met "C" and "M" and their family for the first time. We met our daughter! What a joyful, emotional, and confusing time. After a couple of hours we had to leave them to go to the hotel for the night. It was so difficult to leave our daughter. The next morning we arrived at the hospital. C was alone with the baby so Russell left to run some errands so I could visit with C alone. After being assured by C that we were going forward with the adoption, I asked if I could nurse her. C knew of my plans and preparation and was supportive. She said yes! I put the baby to my breast and she latched on perfectly. She knew exactly what to do. What joy and bonding I felt at that instant. C later told the social worker how much it meant to her to see me nurse Haley and bond with her so quickly. The rest of the day we spent at the hospital. That afternoon C went home. That was an emotional time for all of us. C and M love her so much. It was very difficult for them. They knew they were making the best choice for Haley. I nursed her and held her most of the day. That evening we had to leave her in the hospital again as we went back to the hotel. The next morning we returned early to spend the day with our daughter. That evening the birth parents returned to the hospital to sign the paper releasing Haley to us. We then walked out of the hospital with a new daughter. That night we met C and M and C’s family at their church where we had a wonderful ceremony dedicating ourselves to loving Haley and raising her to the Lord. We had asked C and M to be Haley’s God-parents. Afterwards we put Haley in her car seat. Russell and I walked to the car as we left Haley with C and M so they could say their good-byes. After several minutes they brought her to us in the car and we said goodbye. That is the last time we saw them. We returned to the hotel to hold and watch the miracle daughter God had brought to us. As we lay in bed and I nursed her to sleep such a great sense of peace flooded me. I had a new daughter! |
 March 20, 2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Monday 3-13-2000 Haley and I arrived home to Oregon to meet our other children Melissa 17, Jordan 15, and Allison 12. Russell had flown home 3 days earlier, while I stayed in Nebraska to wait for the Interstate Compact approval to take the baby home. I stayed in the home of a wonderful woman I met online. Her family had also adopted. In her home Haley and I got to know each other and got used to our nursing relationship. She is a great nurser, super latch. She likes to nurse a long time and switch sides often. I typical feeding involves 4 ten minute sessions. Then she will take a couple ounces of formula in a bottle or the Lact-aid supplementer. She nurses often. She is a good baby. I am absolutely in love. I used the sling a lot in their home so I could nurse more discretely around her husband and 11 year old son. Haley seems to really like the sling. She sleeps very well in it. Melissa, Jordan and Allison could not wait to each hold her. They will be wonderful big brothers and sisters. Melissa has no college that week and has taken the week off work to be home and help me. I home school Jordan and Allison so they are home too. It is a sweet time with our new family member. The nursing continues to go well. I am using a Munchkin Slow Flow nipple on a Playtex bottle to do her supplement feeds. I found the Avent and the Heathflow nipples too fast for her. My milk supply is not as fast a flow or as much as she needs since I did not give birth too her. They figure I am giving her 30-40% breastmilk. I am using the bottles more and the supplementer less for supplementing. She nurses so well and so long that I am getting plenty of breast stimulation. She has had no nipple confusion with the slow flow nipples. The supplementer is more difficult for me to do discretely. She uses nursing to comfort herself and to put herself to sleep. She is sleeping 5-6 hours at night. She usually starts out nursing in bed with me and then I scoot her into her bassinet on the floor after she is asleep. During the day she is in the sling quite a bit. It seems to comfort her and makes nursing easy. By two weeks old she is back to her birth weight. The pediatrician is very pleased with how the nursing is going. She figures Haley is getting 50% breastmilk now. |
 April 11, 2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Haley and I returned from our 2nd breastfeeding support group class at the hospital today. My husband laughs when I tell him I am attending this class. I have breastfed 3 biological children for a combine time of 43 months. He thinks I should teach it. I attended because our lactation consultant asked me to come and share our story. She has never had an adoptive mom successfully produce milk so she is very pleased with our results. I attend the first class because she asked. I continue to go because I enjoy having other moms to interact with that have babies the same age. There are 5 babies there born between March 4th-6th including Haley. I thought I would be the oldest mom there at age 40, but I am not. I have found myself second guessing myself quite a bit. If my bio kids seemed fussy or hungry I simply nursed them more. If Haley is fussy I am always wondering if I am giving her enough formula to supplement or too much. How long should I let her nurse before I give her the bottle? She will nurse up to an hour regularly. The class lets me see the others moms concerns are similar to mine. Haley’s weight gain is just right. She is gaining about an ounce a day. She is to 8 lbs. 14 oz this week. The pediatrician is very pleased with her progress. |
 5-22-2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I took Haley to a woman’s retreat this weekend. There were 120 women present. I was on the team putting the retreat on so I was a little worried about taking her. I did not want her to be a distraction. Being able to nurse her made it very easy. I set up a little area in the back for us near the registration table. I was in charge of the registrations, housing and finances. Every time I needed to do a job, there was someone there to care for her for me. She slept well both nights and during the sessions. We used the front pack quite a bit. I shared my story at the retreat about Haley’s adoption. I answered many questions about adoptive nursing this weekend. Most people ask if I took hormones. I tell them no. I am able to produce milk simply by pumping before and her nursing now. I do take Fenugreek because if helps increase my supply. I am producing about 60% of her needs now. If I nurse her she will then take about 3-4 ounces of formula. If I don’t nurse her she will take 8 ounces. She is taking the same amount of formula, as she was 6 weeks ago. I am feeling fuller at times. I actually leaked this morning. That is a first! It is funny how many people said this weekend that she looks like me. She really does. It must be a God thing. She looks a lot like her birth father too. Funny how God worked it out. My older two daughters, Melissa 17, and Allison 12, went to the retreat too. They were able to help with Haley as well. It was a fun weekend with many old friends. Many of them were meeting Haley for the first time. |
 6-12-2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Haley is 14 weeks old today! WOW! Last week I had a visit with the Lactation Consultant. We weighed to measure how much she got at the feeding. She was fighting a cold, had taken a decongestant and was sleepy so she only took 1 1/2 oz. I was a little frustrated. I realized I had pretty much stopped taking all the herbs and was not drinking enough water. It really made me reevaluate. I had gotten lazy because I figured nursing her was enough to get my supply in. I had nursed 3 "homegrown" kids and always had a lot of milk. Seems I need to work a little harder for this adoption nursing. I also realized I was not feeling let down much. OK I am ready to work. Started my herbs (Fenugreek 9 a day and Blessed Thistle 6 a day) again 5 days ago. I also started having 2 cups of Mother's Milk tea. It is working! I am feeling let down again and feel fuller. She only took 4 bottles today! Usually she takes 5 or 6. I also ordered Lactuca Virosa Tincture which should help even more. I know that the reason I am breastfeeding Haley as an adoptive child is less about nutrition and more about relationship. I love the feeling of nursing her as she gazes at me and smiles. I love how bonded she is to me. I love being able to console her. Even so I want to give her as much breast milk as I can. I want her to be healthy. I feel good about being on the path to getting a full milk supply for my precious daughter. She is a gift from God! |
 6-21-2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ My herb taking efforts are working. She seems more satisfied. Haley, my adopted daughter, is 3 1/2 months old. She gained 12 ounces this week and is up to 13 pounds 9 ounces. She is still taking only 3 1/2 to 4 bottles (5 ounces of formula) a day now. She was taking 5-6 bottles a day before. My breastmilk has increased. It is amazing to see how fast the effort pays off. I am taking a herbal tincture mixture with Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, Borage and Goats Rue. I am also taking a tincture of Latuca Virosa. I am nursing her more often too. On a more exciting note, I have been asked to be interviewed for a TV program on adoptive breastfeeding. They are coming to my home on Monday to tape the footage. They were looking for an adoptive mom who had induced lactation through herbs. It is pretty exciting! They will follow our routine for the day, tape her nursing, me taking herbs, interview me, tape my family and me working on my adoption web site http://www.preciouskids.org/ . It will air on Discovery Channel in the fall sometime. Thank you to all of you who have emailed or posted to my message board such encouragement for Haley and I. I am a blessed woman to have 4 wonderful healthy children, a wonderful supportive husband and to have such a wonderful adoptive nursing relationship with Haley. God has truly blessed me! |
 7-7-2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Haley was 4 months old yesterday. I can't believe she has been here that long. It seemed such a long road waiting for her birth mom to have her. Our trip to Nebraska to get her seems a fading memory already. She is changing daily it seems. She weighs 14 pounds now and had doubled her birth weight. She does not want to be held like a baby except to nurse. She wants to be up and see everything. She has started rolling over and found her feet. She is more and more verbal with her opinions. She gives the sweetest wet baby kisses. She watches everything we eat now and pushes her little tongue in and out as she watches us eat. It has been a busy couple of weeks. The filming for the TV program went great on Monday June 26th. They were here for 6 hours, filmed 3 hours of tape for a 5-6 minute spot. It was really fun. Haley came down with a low fever that morning but still cooperated well. The producer said it was the easiest interview she has ever done. I was surprised to not be nervous at all. It should air in the fall on Discovery Channel. She is sending me a tape. They wanted the interview with someone who had done Induced Lactation with herbs (no drugs). It was really fun to be involved. A lactation consultant gave me a great way to figure how much breastmilk Haley is getting from me. She said babies 0-6 months need approximately 2.5 ounces of formula or 2.67 ounces of breast milk per pound of body weight. So at 14 pounds she would need 35 ounces of formula or 37.5 ounces of breastmilk a day roughly. These days she is taking 15-18 ounces of formula so getting 17-22 ounces of breastmilk from me. I can tell she is more satisfied with my milk since I increased the herbs. Everyday I am thankful I made the choice to do the work necessary to breastfeed this wonderful adoption angel of mine. When I look at her face as she nurses to sleep I feel such overwhelming love for her and for her birth family who gave us this gift. I love that I can satisfy her at my breast like no one else can. She will often turn down a bottle if fussy, but never turns down nursing with her mommy. She really loves mama milk. I thankful I can give her this gift. |
 7-17-2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ I realized now how much my big kids help with Haley. Last week Jordan, 15 (her Bubba) was gone to church camp and Ally, 12 was gone to a friends for several days and Melissa, 17 was at work many days. So for the first time really, Haley and I had several days in a row home alone together. The big kids are so helpful. She is rarely put down it seems when they are here. With just her and I, she seemed to need me more. I think it did increase our nursing time. She was so excited to see them come home. She is such a social interactive child she seems to need the constant attention. On the negative note, I started my period. It is the first one since she was born. It really caused my milk supply to drop. I have worked hard the last couple of days to drink more water and increase my herbs. I was surprised when my periods stopped when I started nursing her, since I had not given birth to her. Since they had stopped I was equally surprised when it started again. I was hoping to delay them a while longer. On a positive note I started her on cereal and veggies the last few weeks. She loves them all. She acts like she wants to eat everything I eat these days. She just stares at my food and makes funny mouthing movements. She loves sitting in the high chair when we have dinner. The doctor says her first tooth should appear in a couple of weeks. |
 7-25-2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Haley is 4 months, 19 days, 15 pounds, 25 3/4 inches! Her adoption should be final in another couple months. I was thinking this week how I blessed I have been through this whole process with support. Haley's birth mom was and is in total support for me breastfeeding her. She did not realize it was possible at first. She was thrilled to find out Haley could benefit from the nutritional benefits of breast milk as well as the bonding benefits with me. She told the social worker at the hospital how much it helped her in the process to see me nurse Haley and to bond so quickly with her. It gave her great peace. Her birth mother is an incredible young woman to choose to give Haley to us. I will always be thankful to her. Haley's grandmother and I also talked about the breastfeeding and she too was pleased that we can do this.
At the hospital I also had support from the nursing staff and the hospital social worker. They were pleased and very helpful. The latest studies show that even 2 ounces of breast milk a day has nutritional benefits over just formula alone. I was probably providing about 2-3 ounces a day those first few days.
At home I have the complete support of my pediatrician. She is thrilled that I am producing 18-24 ounces of breast milk a day for Haley. She is getting about 15 ounces a day of formula as well. That makes my production about 60% of Haley's needs. Haley has had a mild cold in 4 1/2 months and that is all, no ear infections, no flu, no bronchitis. Her pediatrician believes that is because of the breast milk I am providing her.
I am a blessed woman to have so much support. Best of all I have Haley's support. She loves to nurse. She will take the bottle but if she misses nursing time she is fussy. It is her down time, her relaxation, her nourishment, her connection with me. I am thankful for this blessed opportunity to breastfeed my daughter, Haley. |
 8-3-2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Hard to believe Haley will be 5 months old 8-6-2000! Where have the weeks gone? It has been pure joy, but passed too quickly. Hard to remember life without her.
Today marks 25 years that Russell and I have been together as a couple. We have been married 21 years. He is my best friend in the world. I have had him in my life most of my life, since I was 15 when we met! Our oldest daughter will be 18 in October. Our son is 15 and other daughter 12. Life is moving forward. Haley and I have been on a nursing marathon. My milk supply dropped about 8 ounces a day with the start of my periods. I thought it would return on its own. Nope! So for 72 hours we nursed every 2 hours, took long nursing naps and nursed thru the night. I also went back to using the supplementer attached to my breast for all formula. It has worked. She is back to only taking 12-15 ounces of formula a day again. I did find that using the supplementer caused her to be frustrated with nursing from me only since my flow is slow. The supplementer along with my flow was much faster which she liked. We have now returned to the bottle for supplements with lots of nursing before and after and she is content again. I am back to providing probably 18-24 ounces of breast milk a day for her. She has been the queen of "nickel naps", 15-20 minute naps during the day. She sleeps well at night though, usually 6-8 hours the first stretch. Recently she has started rolling over onto her tummy to sleep. I have kept putting her on her back. Her pediatrician said since she is rolling over both directions so well it is ok to put her on her tummy during the day if she wants. By doing that she is now taking an hour plus nap a couple times a day. I can actually get something done. :) She also sat up alone this week! I am thankful for another wonderful week with my miracle daughter. God is so faithful to us. |
 8-14-2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Haley is 5 months, 1 week; 16 pounds; 25 3/4 inches. She is sitting up alone, rolling over both directions, eating solids and drinking from a cup. I have not found a food yet that she does not like. She wants everything that we have on our plates or in our cups. With the continued work at increasing my supply and her eating solids now, she is only taking an average of 8-9 ounces of formula a day. She is still nursing well. I also find that she is getting faster. Nursings with her have always averaged 45 minutes. I am seeing them now be only about 30 minutes. This week we are getting ready for vacation. We are taking the kids to Victoria, BC. We are all looking forward to it. Haley is a great traveler. She sleeps very well in the car. It will be a fun week. Nursing makes it easy too. We are also preparing for school to begin too. I home school two of my older children. Melissa (17) will begin her second year of college at the community college. Jordan (15) and Allison (12) will homeschool. Jordan is taking 3 classes at the local high school this year as well. It be different home schooling with a baby in the house. I have a homeschool resource web site http://www.preciouskids.org/hs and have written a homeschool book. We are preparing for the adoption finalization. Haley and I had a meeting with the social worker yesterday. She was on her best behavior. :) We have one more the first of September then should finalize within 30-60 days I think. |
 8-30-00 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Today is my 41st birthday. Hard to believe. And Miss Haley will be 6 months on Sept. 6th. Also very hard to believe. She is rolling all over the house, sitting up very well. Eating everything in sight. Weighs 16 pounds. Our vacation trip to Canada was a lot of fun. We rented a small cottage for the 6 of us. It was cozy but better than a hotel room. Haley traveled great. Usually about the time she needed to nurse she also needed a break form the car seat. We bought a bigger car seat in Canada. I had been thinking about it anyways. She is 26 inches and needed to move up. She really likes how well she can see out the window. It is not as comfortable for her to sleep in or to take a bottle in. She did come down with a cold while we were gone. Now it has turned into an ear infection too. Her first! The breastfeeding continues to go really well. She is only taking one or two 4 ounce bottles of formula a day now since she is getting solid foods too. Usually those bottles are if I am busy with something and one of the big kids feed her or if we are in the car. She is taking the pacifier so much better now that she is teething. That has helped her to be more content in the car and helps her to settle herself to sleep. We set up the big crib in her own room now. Up to now she has shared our room. It is fun to see her room taking shape. I need to go pick up a few things for it today. |
 9-29-2000 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hard to believe I have missed a month of posting. I apologize. Life has indeed been busy. I have 3 teens (12,15,17). The youngest I home school full time. The middle home schools for 3 classes and takes 3 classes at the public high school, so I am transporting him daily. The oldest is starting her 2nd year of college. On top of that I have 2 internet business, a homeschool resource center and book I have written http://www.preciouskids.org/hs and an adoption resource center and registry for families wanting to adopt. http://www.preciouskids.org/adopt. Add to that a busy very active 7 month old and you see why I get behind.
Now to the topic at hand: Our nursing relationship is going very well. I am providing nearly all of the nutrition she needs in breast milk now that she is taking solids too. She still gets one or two 3 oz bottles of formula a day, usually when in the car or when one of the big kids is watching her. Occasionally I will find nothing left in me during the late afternoon or early evening and we will do a bottle then. I am very pleased. When she was born and we got to Nebraska to adopt her I was only pumping 2-3 oz a day. Now I am providing probably 32 oz a day. That by pumping ahead, nursing and herbs only, no drugs!
She is almost 7 months old, 17 pounds 26.5 inches. She is rolling, scooting, sitting up, almost crawling, and does this funny back crawl. On her back she looks back over her head and arches her back and pushes with her feet. She does it very quickly across the house to anything she wants. Looks like an upside down inch worm. She loves all table food and thinks she should eat or
drink anything I have. She loves to drink out of a cup, but doesn't like the tippy cup. Here are her newest pictures at her web page http://www.preciouskids.org/haley.html |
 10-27-2000~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hard to believe another month has passed. Haley will be 8 months on the 6th. UGH! Where has the time gone. She was 18 pounds 13 oz 28 inches last week.
ADOPTION has indeed been an incredible gift to us. I can't imagine life without her. We will finalize her adoption in the next few weeks.
She is crawling now, but only a few steps at a time and then down on her tummy where she can move faster. She can get from sitting to knees and from knees to sitting. She learned to clap her hands. She is so funny and laughs a lot. She loves to play hide and seek. Daddy and big brother play tag with her around the house and she just squeals in delight when caught. She loves her sippy cup now.
She just discovered Sesame Street and loves big bird. It is so funny she gets all excited and squeals when he comes on the screen. I found a large big bird that has a pull string and talks yesterday for her. She loves it.
She has had 2 cold and 2 ear infections this last week. I have been grateful she is still nursing while up in the night with her. The nursing continues to go well. I have a full supply and often have milk left after she finishes. In the early weeks of counting every ounce it is great to be here now. Daddy usually gives her a 4 oz bottle of formula right before her early evening nap. He loves to feed her and hold her for that nap so I have not worried about getting rid of it.
I have stayed busy with homeschooling the kids, my online businesses, and birthdays for 2 of my daughters this month. I am preparing for Christmas. I have been adding lots of new FREE things for babies and families to my freebies page. Check it out for some great free stuff for Christmas gifts. http://www.preciouskids.org/adopt/free.html |
 11-30-00~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Haley will be 9 months old on December 6. That seems like such a milestone because she will have been with us as long as she was in her birth mom. Hopefully our adoption will be final about that same time. She is almost 20 pounds now. She crawls very fast, pulls herself up to standing and walks around holding onto furniture. She occasionally lets go. She will be walking all too soon. We put up the Christmas tree last weekend. She wants to play with all the great toys hanging from the branches. She is definitely keeping me busy chasing her and keeping her out of danger. Our nursing continues to go great. It is so nice to finally have a full supply after so many weeks of struggling. The nursing is really no work these days, other than her being so busy she doesn't want to miss anything, so she is off and on and off and on the breast. I love mornings and right before bed most because she will do a long leisurely nursing without trying to wander away. She is eating lots of regular foods these days, too. She really likes grilled cheese sandwiches. She also does great with her sippy cup. |
01-22-01 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I am always amazed with where the time has gone. I meant to write sooner but life got in the way. Christmas was wonderful and exciting with a baby and teenagers in the house. It was so fun to watch Haley experience so many firsts. Snow, Christmas tree, presents, lights, crawling, standing, cruising and WALKING! She took her first steps the day after Christmas at 9.75 months. Today she now walks more than she crawls. Her 1st birthday is approaching way to fast, March 6th. With it comes a flood of memories her the day we met her and her birth parents. Memories of joy and also bittersweet at their loving sacrifice. Her birth parents are getting married the week before her first birthday and we are so happy for them. They are coming to visit us in July and I can't wait to see them again. I look forward to their seeing this precious gift they have given us. The nursing continues to go very well. I am still amazed I have a full supply for her. Most days she is so busy she only nurses a few times a day. She had the flu last weekend and wanted nothing but nursing. I was so grateful to be able to comfort her in that way. As my baby grows I know it will become less and less. I will enjoy it while I can. |
2-6-2001 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 Haley and I just survived our first nursing strike. UGH! It started with her occasionally biting when nursing. I would take her off and say NO BITE! firmly. It continued to the point where she would not nurse at all one day. It made me very sad. She was 11 months old. I was not ready to be finished. I did not think she was ready either.
I called my Lactation Consultant and a couple of nursing friends for advice. I tried getting in a bath tub with her. In the past she always liked to nurse there. No success. I found if I offered she would bite. So I stopped offering the breast and gave her no bottles (only her sippy cup). I discovered that if I rocked her to sleep for a nap with a binky then I could offer and in her sleep she would latch on and nurse. AHH! That night I slept in bed with her and after she was asleep got her to nurse again. Every time she stirred in the night I would pull her close and let her nurse. In the morning she bit again. UGH! So for 4 days we nursed naps and night only. Finally on the 4th evening she came and wanted in my lap and asked to nurse. She latched on without biting and nursed! The next morning she did the same. Now we are back to a regular nursing pattern.
The hardest part was I kept second guessing myself. Had I eaten something wrong? Was my milk bad? (no tasted sweet still) She took 2 ounces of my breast milk in a sippy just fine too. Was she finished forever? Had I been too tough on her about the biting? So many questions. No real answers.
The best info I got was keep trying most nursing strikes do not last longer than a week. TRUE for us!
Weaning does not end nursing abruptly but gradually. Abrupt ending is a strike not a weaning. Give it time and be patient. She will start again.
If you have a child with a nursing strike, you too can be successful. |
 2-25-2001
Adoptive Breastfeeding/Induced Lactation~*~*~
I have so many who want the details of adoptive breastfeeding/induced lactation I thought I would give you all a mini course in it. It has been going on for many centuries. In bible days it was called wet nursing. In 3rd world countries women will induce lactate to care for orphans. Here we do it for adopted children. WHY? Why not? It is better for the babies. They receive antibodies, better nutrients and enzymes, bonding and much more. It is a wonderful way to bond with a newly adopted child. Many have successfully nursed an older adopted child too. I know of several who have gotten 6-9 month old's to nurse after being adopted.
Pregnancy is not necessary for breastfeeding. Prolactin (a hormone) is. Pregnancy does change the breast tissue so helps but is not necessary. Many adoptive moms who have never been pregnant have produced 30-100% of the breast milk their child needs. Pumping, sucking, herbs and drugs all help raise the prolactin level.
I started by pumping every 3-4 hours with a Hospital grade breast pump (Medela Lactina double pump). The light weight pumps available at most stores will not do the job of Induced Lactation. The Lactina is $700-900 to buy so I rented it for 3 months.
I also started taking herbs: 9 Fenugreek (an Indian spice that makes your sweat smell like maple syrup), 6 Blessed Thistle (NOT Milk Thistle), 6 Marshmallow Root (make the milk thicker and higher in calorie). I also drank Mothers Milk Tea and lots of water. Eating oatmeal. pineapple, and Henry Weinhart's Rootbeer will also help.
I got milk drops 10 days after starting the pumping/herbs routine. By 4 weeks I was getting enough to freeze an ounce a day. By the time she was born I was freezing 2-3 ounces a day.
When she was born I nursed first, 10 minutes each side, switching sides 4 times (YES 45 minutes of nursing) then I would give her 1-2 OZ of formula or donated breastmilk in a Lact-aid supplementer. http://www.lact-aid.com/ The Lactaid allows the formula to go thru a tiny tube at my breast so she got my milk and formula at the same time. This also stimulated me to produce more milk. I chose to nurse first without the supplementer because I wanted her to nurse both with and without the supplementer. She was always willing to nurse 45 minutes without the supplementer so I would often times offer the extra 1-2 OZ in a bottle.
There are two drugs available that many choose to help with milk supply. DOMPERIDONE is one. It is not available in the USA. It is available in Mexico $102 a month, Canada $50 a month and New Zealand $25 a month. It is used for stomach/digestion problems with a side effect of my milk production. You need to take it the whole time you nurse or your supply will probably drop. REGLAN is the other drug. It is available very inexpensively from your local doctor. It is also used for stomach issues. You take it for only 4 weeks. I chose not to take either drug since I had nursed 3 bio children before (even if 12 years earlier).
I have many more adoptive nursing links and information on my web page at http://www.preciouskids.org/adopt/adoptnursing.html
I hope this answers your questions and you can tell a friend about the wonders of adoptive breastfeeding! Spread the word! I would also be happy to talk with others interested in adoption and adoptive breastfeeding. |
 Happy 1st Birthday Haley!
Hard to believe a year has passed since the day Haley was placed in my arms for the first time. It was 48 hours of such great emotion. We fell in love with Haley and also with M & C and their families. We felt such anxiety waiting to be sure that Haley was to be forever our daughter. She smiled, laughed, cried, wondered, worried, prayed waiting for the signatures that would make her our daughter. We grieved with them at their loss of her. We gave her to God as they gave her to us. We dedicated ourselves to loving her, to teaching her to love God, to making sure she always knew of the great love her birth family had for her. Hard to believe 8 years have passed since I first felts God's direction that there was another child still to come in our lives and I began praying. This has been a year of loving her, rocking her to sleep, nursing her, changing her, bathing her, teaching her and watching her. A year of tremendous memories I will hold dear in my heart. A year of all her firsts: smile, rolling over, crawling, teeth, words, standing, walking, climbing and signing. This has been a year I will not forget. See her photo chronicle at http://www.preciouskids.org/haley.html When I began the journey to Haley I had no idea what it would really hold. I did not know about the whole world of adoption friends that I would find online. Open adoption was a scary unknown thing that became a delightful gift to us. We gained new family in Nebraska that will always be a treasured part of our lives. http://www.preciouskids.org/ was birthed in the journey to Haley. I get to help other families everyday to find their forever children. My life is incredibly richer by having Haley as my daughter but also my being part of the adoption world. Adoptive breastfeeding has also enriched my life and Haley's. She has gained her mama's precious breastmilk full of antibodies, enzymes, nutrition and much love. This year has seen us go from a 20% milk supply to a 100% milk supply with no drugs, only herbs, and prayer, and love. I have also been able to help several other adoptive moms to discover the wonder of nurturing their new adopt child at their breast. Haley and I also got to be part of a TV show on adoptive breastfeeding with Discovery Health Channel. http://www.preciouskids.org/adopt/adoptnursing.html I need to thank the many people who helped to make this dream a reality. First I thank God for placing in my heart 8 years ago the desire to mother another child and for making it possible. I am still amazed at how He brought us all together half way across our nation. Secondly thank you M & C for your selfless gift of life you entrusted with us. Thirdly I thank my husband for believing in me and the dream of my heart for this child he named Haley Elizabeth. Thank you Melissa, Jordan, & Allison, my teen children for embracing and helping with their new sister. Thank you Nebraska Children's Society for doing all the legal work, Interstate Compact paperwork and birth parent counseling all for free. Thank you to our social worker Lynn Schwab for the hours put into our homestudy and post placement visits. Thank you to our family and friends who help us love Haley even more. |
 4-20-01
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Haley continues to amaze me with her development. She is 13.5 months old, weighs 21 pounds, and is 30 inches tall. She is walking, running, climbing, talking and doing sign language. She continues to be a night owl and requires very little sleep. I have finally got her bedtime moved up to 10 PM as long as I can keep her from a
8 PM little nap. She is in the habit of waking about 4:30 am to nurse. I hope to get rid of this soon. She still prefers to nurse herself to sleep. She says Mama, Daddy, Bubba, Sissy, Ally, dog, arf, kitty, meow, growls for a lion, cookie, all done, banana, up, more, ball, eye, hello, baby, who for an owl, no, Elmo, down, and yeah. She does sign language signs for dog, kitty, Big Bird, Elmo, all done, cookie, more, horse, milk (for nursing), please, blows kisses, fish lips for fishes, and waves hi/bye. She is a good eater loving pasta in all forms. bananas, watermelon, strawberries, peas, corn, cheese sandwiches, chicken, and hot dogs. She is allergic to milk, eggs, and peanut butter. She loves to drink water and anything in a cup that you are drinking. She does not think that formula or breastmilk belongs in a cup though. She much prefers nursing or her bottle. We are still nursing strong 5-6 times a day. She still gets 2 four ounce bottles of formula a day, either at her request, or in the car or when she is not with me. She still comfort nurses too. She has 4 teeth on top, 2 on the bottom plus she has her top two molars just coming through and her bottom gums swollen that should see molars soon. She has been really grumpy and fussy with all these teeth coming at once. She continues to exert her will. She hates to be told no or to have something taken from her. She is very strong willed. Her new trick is to fall on the floor and cry when told no. It is not gaining her anything though. I will have to be very consistent with her. She is also very cuddly loving to snuggle, hug and kiss. I am enjoying every moment of everyday. Although a little more uninterrupted sleep would not hurt. :) |
Start / 3-20-00 / 4-11-00 / 5-22-00 / 6-12-00 / 6-21-00
7-7-00 / 7-17-00 / 7-25-00 / 8-03-00 / 8-14-00 / 8-30-00
9-29-00 / 10-27-00 / 11-30-00 / 01-22-01 / 02-06-01 / 02-25-01 03-06-01 / 04-20-01
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