Relactation, or possible tandem feeding, by non-bio parent

[thepixie]

I can't see why you couldn't Leash - wet-nursing has been around for centuries where non-bio parents would BF

[Indadhanu]

Yeah thats what I'm thinking... but how? Isn't that why milk banks don't take milk from mothers feeding older babies/toddlers? Because the milk changes? So how would my milk be ok for a newborn?

[sloane]

i dunno leasha but could be worth talking to the ABA - i'm sure when i rang them in the early days that the counsellor told me that even adoptive parents can BF...i can't remember details (hormonal new mumma crying down the phone moment ) but seems like it could work.

[Kitt3n]

Where there is a will there is a way hun, you have such amazing will so there will be a way

TBH I really don't know the answer to your q - hopefully someone can come along with some good resources for you, but somehow I think your body will naturally adjust the milk, possibly according to the way the baby suckles?

Plenty of people tandem BF - I hoped to do so but not sure if I will still be BF'ing Laa by the time we have another....

[Fleur]

I'm sure there would have to be a way. I remember reading somewhere (here, maybe ) that mothers milk contains more antibodies when bub is sick. Kind of like your body knows intuitively what it has to do - I know I'm not saying that as well as I should be - not enough sleep! - but do you get what I mean?
I'm sure the ABA would know though.

[Pretty Butterfly]

Yeah, your milk is different to that of a new mum, but it is in no way bad.

I dont think toddler breastmilk would be worse than formula. I think the main change would be the colostrum, and if shell can feed for a few weeks before you take over, than bub will still get the best of both worlds!!

Weaning then relacting could be tricky, not everyone relactates, it can be very difficult, so you could run the risk of not having breatsmilk at all. You could also be stuck on the meds for quiet a while too.

Tough call, but personally I would just coninue with current bub, and take over the new bub when partner has finished. I cant find a reason why any breastmilk wouldn't be better than formula, if you can.

[Phteven]

One of our BB members BF an adopted child. Hopefully she'll pop in and give you some pointers.
I think that they often give you motulim (sp) to get you started but nature should kick in pretty soon and then it's just a supply and demand thing.
I think that wet-nurses often had babies of the same age.

The ABA has a book called "Relactation and Adoptive breastfeeding".

[squidipa]

I can't see why you couldn't Leash - wet-nursing has been around for centuries where non-bio parents would BF

thats right and i would say what ever breast milk your making is so much better than formula sweet. Personally i think its a fair trade shel has bub and you feed hehe lucky you.

[Lulu]

HAHAHAHAHA, yet another benefit of having 2 mummies! Leasha that's awesome, I really hope you can BF bub #2.

[onthefly]

That's a pretty awesome idea.
my guess - the milk is different; milk for newborn would be better, but toddler breastmilk would probably still be better than formula.

[LimeSlice]

You certainly can! It is much easier if you don;t need to 'relactate' - ie if you have a newborn whilst still BF Jazz, but it can certainly be done and does as a matter of regularity.

There are so many resources on how to go about it, support forums and success stories.
I will get some link together for you, I have a whole bunch here somewhere. Will bbs.

Good on you for wanting to give it a go Leash!

[Snacks]

I wonder how the milk changes? I know that breastmilk is a complex product, however I would've thought the changes over time would be very subtle - is a toddler's nutritional needs from their milk really that different to a baby's? Yes, they are on solids and moving about a lot more, but they are having less milk feeds too, so I would've thought it'd balance out?
I (obviously) haven't done any reading on the subject, but I think if you can relactate then your milk will still be perfect for baby #2, whether you birthed him/her or not.

ETA: I also wanted to mention how cool it is to be thinking about this stuff... the whole two-mummy thing and the new range of choices/issues you need to be considering.

[Trillian]

Leasha, when Thomas Beatie gave birth, his wife was able to lactate so she breastfed their babies because he had his breast tissue removed remember? So it is definitely possible but I imagine that it might need a bit more work at getting it all working well kwim? But I have no doubt that you'd be able to do it - you know you can lactate. I would say if you can get Shel to do it for those first few weeks while you were working on your own supply if you didn't happen to be feeding Jaz by then then you wouldn't even need to comp with formula. Or if Shel really didn't want to BF herself, do you think she would at least express for a while and you could breasfeed bubs using a supply line? That would also help your own milk to come in too.