Breastfeeding Fost/Adopt Infants.

I have no real Legal answers for you because I just don't know...but I can tell you about my experience. I have two friends at church who were foster parents in two different states. They told me that they breastfed several of their foster children. They to never knew if it was legal or not...in some cases they did talk to the social worker about it...but in general it was a hush hush situation. They only breastfed at home or around friends...not in places where the family or DHS would see and possibly become upset. They did tell the childs doctor and just left it off the record. In most states there isn't a general rule about it. In some states it is only allowed ...after tesing from a doctor saying you are healthy and free of transmitable diseases. Then you have to get permission for that specific child through the case worker and possibly the court. When we got our foster adoptive daughter at 5 days old...we bottlefed her until she was 7 weeks old. We didn't know she would be ours at first...they said they had an adoptive home waiting for her. Once they told us she would be our adoptive daughter at 7 weeks I began breastfeeding her with the lact-aid/sns. She took to it immediately...although trying to coordinate the tube and her latching on properly took a while for us both to learn. I knew that I couldn't tell the adoption worker because of the kind of person she was. She didn't even like holding babies. So i knew she would think i was crazy for wanting to breastfeed. So i only breastfed my little girl at home and at church and in private places. I didn't know if it was legal in my state..or what DHS would do if they found out. I didn't want them to freak out and take her away...so i did keep it hush hush. I used bottles when we were out in public and I couldn't find a private spot. Once I knew she was going to be my baby there was no way they could have kept me from nursing her. I really wanted to have that bond and that experience with her. She is now 11 months and still breastfeeding a couple times a day. Sometimes she just uses me as a pacifier. She kinda started to wean herself at about 9 months which dried up my milk and then at 10 1/2 months she started wanting to nurse again....so now...I am just letting her use me as a pacifier at times...or using the lact-aid with her.i would have liked to nurse her longer....with my milk.....so now I am trying to decide wether to start trying to build my supply again. If you can find out what is legal in your area...before you start fosterin then you will feel more free to nurse your foster/adopt children in public. If I could have got up the courage to ask...and get permission it would have been nice. I don't think I would have had that feeling like.."am i doing something wrong?". I just didn't feel comfortable asking since I already had my child in the home..and didn't want to bring something up that might make them change their mind on letting me adopt her.

Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I'm so glad that you were able to nurse your daughter. It's something that I'm sure you will cherish forever. I guess, from what you're saying and others on another thread, that I need to be talking to people before we would be placed. I'm struggling, though, because I know I want this, and if a caseworker knows that I want to do this, they might not place a child with us. But it would feel better to know whether or not it is a possibility. In our classes, one of the ladies training us, talked about homeschooling. She said it would be a possibility if the caseworker went along with it. I know that Homeschooling is more known and acceptable than breastfeeding a foster/adopt child, but maybe similar also? Anyway, it gave me some hope. Thanks again. And if anyone else has knowledge or experience with this area, PLEASE write a reply!!

Never been there, but have you considered a Supplemental system...such as what the Lach league provides...then you wouldn't be using your milk, but when the time comes to adopt...then you could more easily transition into breastfeeding and your breasts will already have been stimulated. This way if there is a problem with you breastfeeding a child that isn't "legally yours"...then you would still be able to encourage the desired end. Hope it helps

I think for most people who do not agree with adoptive/foster breastfeeding. The concern is for the safety and quality of the milk(free from disease..etc) I think the biggest thing is the fact that people are uncomfortable with the act and intimacy of breastfeeding. They may feel it is unnatrual or creepy for someone to breastfeed an infant who they have not given birth to. The supplementer feeder may be an option if Breastmilk...is not allowed...but the methods of feeding at the breast is still there. So to be perfectly legal about it...you would have to get approval for even giving formula through a supplementer. But , like I've said most people just don't bother to ask...and do what they feel is right for their foster/adopt child without getting the ok through DHS. Like I said in my case once I knew we would be adopting our little girl...I felt she was my child to do what i felt was right. If I would have waited the whole 6 months to get started I would have lost our on all that bonding time ...and the process of building up a supply...and when she was finalized if I had never fed her at the breast she may not have taken to breastfeeding as readily...or at all. For someone inducing lactation you will most likely have to use a supplementer the whole time you are nursing or at least the begining...unless you are one of the lucky people who get a full milk supply before even getting the child in your home(I wish that were me..but it wasn't.)

I have seen this question many times so I asked the head of our foster agency here in Pasco county, FL and was told that it is illegal. I just wanted to put that once and for all. I understand the wanting to breastfeed a child and about the health benefits. I myself pumped breastmilk for my foster to adopt daughter with the social worker and WIC's blessing. In my situation though there was only the tiniest bit of chance that my daughter would ever be going away from us. I was able to pump because I gave birth to a baby eight months after my daughter was born. I also had the full blessing of biograndma in wanting to b/f her.

Hello, Just wanted to tell you that it depends on the state you live in. In some states it's legal and in others it is just fine! Good luck with whatever your decision is. I induced lactation to breastfeed our son from Russia. Once we got him home he had a lot of teeth and was very busy, (13 months) ;) , so he gets breastmilk through a bottle! Still great!!!! :cheer: PM ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE A LINK TO A WONDERFUL ADOPTIVE BREASTFEEDING SITE, IT HAS A FORUM SPECIFICALLY ON FOSTER BREASTFEEDING! Good luck! Nichole

Yes, it does depend on the state you are in. It is amazing that the state has a say in whether a child can be breastfed or not! A real shame. I live in Canada and our foster to adopt system can take some time to get through. But I think if you are really committed to breastfeed this child then YOU should. You just need to find a circle of supportive people. If the child has yet to be placed in your care then you will want to start preparations now (that is if the placement is close). Connect with a lactation consultant in your area and A good website is XXX or google in the name Dr. Jack Newman (he is a BF guru in Canada) both he and Lenora have developed a lacatation plan for you. They both recommend domperidone (I don't think it is available in the USA) it may not be neccessary if you do all the other things they suggest. I am breastfeeding my adoptive son who came into our lives at 3 weeks of age and bottlefeeding at that time, and although the adoption is not finalized and my social worker is aware. One suggestion is to use an good quality electric breastpump (you may be able to rent this from a pharmacy or hospital) to start probably a good couple of months then if/once then baby is latching well you probably won't need it as he/she will be doing the job the best. If you have had a biological child previously, breastfeeding will likely come easier for you. Please don't be discouraged by people saying that you likely won't produce enough milk to sustain the baby. Research has shown that women can be successful at exculsively BFing. Best of luck!! BFMUN