According to statistics, about 15% of married couples in our country are infertile. After unsuccessful attempts to give birth to their own child, some of them decide to take such a responsible step as adoption, or resort to the help of a surrogate mother. Most often, a baby is taken into a family in infancy, when breastfeeding is very important for him. And it turns out that the adoptive mother is able to provide the baby with this opportunity by artificially inducing lactation in her body.
What is induced lactation
Induced lactation is the process of formation of breast milk in a woman, not associated with pregnancy and childbirth. The key factor here will be the great desire of the mother herself. A woman who has never become pregnant, if she really wants to, can, using certain methods, induce lactation in her body in order to become closer to her adopted baby. After all, there are cases when, during the Great Patriotic War, an older sister, who was 17 years old, breastfed her newborn brother, while their mother died. Also, often these children were raised by their grandmothers.
Breast milk is produced by the mammary glands under the influence of pituitary hormones. This gland is located in the brain and is controlled by higher nervous activity. That is why a woman’s feelings and emotions can influence the lactation process (both positively and negatively). If a woman has tender maternal feelings for her adopted child and is firmly convinced of the need for breastfeeding, then she will be able to achieve lactation in herself.
Almost all women are physically capable of breastfeeding a child. The exception is only 0.5–1% - those who suffer from oncology or have rare congenital defects that disrupt the mechanism of milk production. You just need to organize this process correctly. For induction of lactation, an important role is played by the interaction of the mother with experienced medical workers, as well as the correct behavior of other family members, who should support her in everything.
Induced lactation should be under the supervision of a competent physician.
Breastfeeding is very important not only physiologically, but also psychologically. This intimate process firmly connects the woman with the child and helps awaken her maternal feelings.
Breastfeeding will help a woman become as close as possible to her adopted baby.
What will help induce lactation without pregnancy
In order for a nulliparous woman to produce breast milk, special conditions are necessary. The main factor is the baby's constant mechanical stimulation of the mother's breast. If these measures are not enough, doctors prescribe hormonal therapy: the woman takes certain doses of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, etc.
Video: how lactation works
Mechanical breast stimulation
To provoke a flow of milk, the mother should put the baby to the breast as often as possible, even if it is still empty. After some time, the first precious drops will appear, after which the woman needs to express herself regularly, even if it is only a couple of milliliters of liquid. These measures will help “boost” lactation.
Putting your baby to the breast as often as possible will help boost lactation
The process will go easier and faster if the following factors are present.
- The baby is not yet three months old. In this case, it will be easier for him to remember the reflex ability to grasp the chest correctly.
- The baby already has experience sucking at the breast.
- Before adoption, the child was regularly picked up - there is experience of physical contact (“skin to skin”).
- The baby is not bottle-trained. After all, if a child has been drinking from it for a certain time (even expressed breast milk), then, of course, he will prefer a pacifier to the breast.
- A pacifier was not used to calm the child. After all, when sucking, the baby does not open his mouth wide; his facial muscles quickly get tired when sucking on the breast. It is difficult to wean a baby who is accustomed to a pacifier from it, and he will not take the female nipple as actively.
The baby should be offered the breast at least once every 2-3 hours. In this case, the baby must be fed at night. This is important because the hormone prolactin, which is directly responsible for milk production, reaches its peak activity at this time of day.
It is very important to arouse in the child the very desire to attach to the mother’s breast. Therefore, he must receive a reward in the form of food for his efforts. To do this, at the very beginning of the process, you should feed the baby with an artificial formula in accordance with the weight of the baby and his daily needs. Moreover, this food is given to the child in the process of sucking on the mother’s breast, while it is still empty. Pediatricians suggest using a special device for this purpose - a reservoir with liquid and a tube (thin and flexible) that is connected to the mother's nipple (the use of bottles is unacceptable).
Through a thin tube, artificial mixture from the reservoir is supplied to the mother's nipple
During feeding, the baby grasps the tip of the tube, while actively stimulating the breast. In this case, parts of the woman’s brain responsible for the production of hormones are included in the process, and lactation awakens. The resulting milk will gradually displace the artificial formula from the diet.
Of course, the feeding system should be kept clean by sterilizing it before each use. Do not store unused mixture in the reservoir. It is also important to regulate the flow of fluid - it should not be too strong, otherwise the baby will quickly get full and will not stimulate the breast. The rate of food intake should be close to natural, such as during breastfeeding. To do this, you can change the height of the container (lowering or raising it), and also pinch the probe with your finger. Sometimes the role of a reservoir is played by a large-volume syringe with a tube attached to it instead of a needle. The mixture is squeezed out drop by drop. The syringes are changed until the baby is satisfied.
During one feeding, which lasts about half an hour, the mother offers both breasts to the baby. The pediatrician should explain all these points to the woman in detail. At first, the mother may need an assistant who will insert the probe into the child and regulate the flow of fluid.
The following measures will help speed up the development of lactation.
- Frequent and prolonged contact with the child. This prepares the woman for breastfeeding, and also helps relieve her psychological stress. The mother will begin to clearly grasp the moments when the baby is ready to latch on to the breast. During the day, you can carry the baby in your arms or in a sling. Eye to eye contact is very important.
- Relatives should help the woman physically and psychologically. If possible, all household chores (cleaning, cooking, ironing) are removed from the mother so that she has more time for rest and proper sleep. Criticism and reproaches are unacceptable; on the contrary, the husband and other relatives should admire the woman and encourage her in every possible way.
- Attachment to the breast must be correct. Then the stimulation will be effective and will not cause pain or injury to the nipples.
- A woman should pay attention to auxiliary products designed to increase lactation. This includes appropriate nutrition, drinking regimen, drinking lactogenic teas, and breast massage.
- You should use a breast pump between feedings. Even if there is still very little milk, after each baby’s latching you need to express both breasts (give about 10 minutes to each). By the way, at first pumping can be done manually.
Pumping is a mandatory measure to stimulate lactation
Taking medications to stimulate lactation
To stimulate lactation, a doctor may prescribe hormone therapy to a woman. The success of this method depends to some extent on how much time the mother has before adopting the baby. First, you should take hormones to simulate pregnancy (this is estrogen and progesterone in certain combinations), and then lactogenic agents.
While taking hormones, a woman experiences characteristic symptoms of pregnancy: nausea, weight gain, etc. In turn, the breasts become more sensitive, enlarge, and prepare for feeding the child. The duration of such therapy is at least six weeks. Then the intake of estrogen and progesterone abruptly stops - the body is deceived, as if childbirth had occurred.
After this, the woman begins to use drugs based on domperidone, the most popular of which is Motilium (analogues - Damelium, Domet, Domstal, Motilak, Motonium, Passaginax). The main purpose of these medications is to eliminate nausea. As a side effect of domperidone, the activity of dopamine receptors decreases, which leads to an increase in prolactin levels. As a result, the woman produces breast milk.
Motilium is a drug based on domperidone, which causes an increase in prolactin in the female body
As for the dose of the drug, it is usually taken no more than 4 times a day (20 mg each time), most often - 3 times a day, 30 mg (90 mg in total). It is important that in each specific case the dosage is determined by the attending physician.
Absorption of domperidone occurs best on an empty stomach, so it is optimal to take it half an hour before meals.
A woman’s milk begins to be released approximately 2–4 weeks after the start of treatment. The duration of use of domperidone also varies from person to person, on average it does not exceed eight weeks, but some mothers need to take it throughout the entire period of breastfeeding (to maintain milk production).
Discontinuation of the drug should be gradual. A woman reduces her daily dose by one tablet and monitors her lactation for a week. If there is no decrease in milk production, then you can continue to reduce the dose. If at a certain stage lactation decreases, then you can return to the previous dosage regimen for a while (for example, two weeks).
Consequences of inducing lactation with drugs in nulliparous women
Hormone therapy should always be taken very seriously, because these drugs often cause serious side effects. Thus, women suffering from varicose veins, liver and kidney diseases, problems with blood clotting, etc., are contraindicated in taking estrogen. Other side effects of this therapy that negatively affect the quality of life: fatigue, causeless anxiety, mood swings (from anger to depression), insomnia, dizziness, headaches, decreased sexual desire. In addition, hormonal drugs often cause weight gain: the body believes that pregnancy is occurring, so it strives to get food for two.
Mood swings are an unpleasant side effect of using hormone therapy.
Taking hormones is simply unacceptable without proper medical supervision.
As for domperidone, a decrease in dopamine (the pleasure hormone) also negatively affects the mother’s mood. Some women experience sleep problems and anxiety when taking it. Other possible (although rare) side effects are headache, dry mouth, and abdominal cramps.
It is quite possible to induce lactation without pregnancy - if desired, the adoptive mother can achieve the appearance of breast milk and feed the child. Of course, this process is not very fast, but a woman must be patient. The first drops of milk will help you believe in your own strength, and physical contact with your baby will bring a lot of positive emotions. Gradually, lactation will improve, and the baby will be able to receive the most valuable food for its age.
A big problem for many families is the inability to get pregnant and give birth to a child. In some cases, the only option is to adopt the baby. Today, a woman who cannot bear and give birth to a baby has the opportunity to induce lactation artificially and feed the child with her milk.
What is induced lactation
Despite the development of modern medicine, when various adapted formulas have been developed for newborns, breast milk is the optimal nutrition. Psychologists insist that in the process of breastfeeding, the bond formed during pregnancy between mother and baby is strengthened. But women who were unable to get pregnant should not despair. Research has proven that with a strong desire and the right approach, it is possible to artificially induce milk production even in a woman who cannot have children.
It is not for nothing that breastfeeding consultants insist that successful lactation primarily depends on the woman’s great desire. The adoptive mother can also start the process of formation of valuable fluid in the mammary glands and feed the baby on her own.
Induced lactation is the artificially induced process of producing breast milk in a woman who has not given birth.
Today there are ways to artificially induce milk production in the breast.
In what cases is artificial lactation needed?
Many families want to become parents, but not everyone comes naturally. The problem often lies in the health of one of the partners, and more and more married couples are being diagnosed with infertility.
Despite the enormous achievements in the field of reproductive medicine, doctors are not always able to help a woman become a mother. In some cases, neither IVF nor the use of donor material is a way out of the situation.
Experts identify several cases when it becomes necessary to induce lactation artificially:
- The woman adopted the child and became a foster mother. Of course, most couples want to take a newborn or an infant into the family during the first months of life. Sometimes a woman wants to become a real mother to this baby so much that she decides to feed him with breast milk herself.
- The couple resorted to the services of a surrogate mother. Due to health problems, some women are unable to become pregnant or carry a child to term. Then the doctor takes genetic material from the wife and husband, fertilizes it in the laboratory, and implants the embryos into the uterus of another woman. The surrogate mother signs a contract under which she has no rights to the child. And if after the birth of the baby you do a DNA test, then the biological father and mother will be a married couple. A mother may want to breastfeed her baby even though she did not carry the baby.
How to induce lactation without pregnancy
Before stimulating lactation, a woman needs to undergo a comprehensive examination and find out if she has any health problems. Often the inability to get pregnant is associated with diseases of the thyroid gland, on the basis of which a diagnosis of “endocrine infertility” is made, or with polycystic ovary syndrome and other malfunctions in the body.
It is very important to identify and, if possible, treat the disease before inducing lactation. Indeed, in many cases, to start milk production, the doctor prescribes hormones. But in some pathologies this cannot be done.
Stimulation of the mammary glands
Doctors explain that milk production in most cases depends on the frequency of the baby's attachment to the breast. The child grabs the nipple, irritating it, and impulses are transmitted through the nerve endings to the brain. The pituitary gland gives a signal about a surge of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the formation of nutrient fluid. The second hormone - oxytocin - is produced in a woman’s body from just looking at the baby, his laughter or crying, or simply being near the mother.
At first there will be no milk at all, but do not stop trying, continuing to stimulate the nipples to achieve results.
Frequent latching of the baby to the breast is the key to successful lactation
Experts advise following these recommendations:
- put the baby to the breast at least 10–12 times a day; if the baby is ready to suckle on an empty breast more often, you should not deprive him of this opportunity;
- stop using pacifiers; when the baby cries, offer your breast;
- do not forget to pump regularly;
- do not give up if there is no positive result for a long time;
- share household responsibilities with your husband or other relatives; To achieve the goal, the woman needs to spend as much time as possible with the child in order to be able to constantly offer him the breast.
It is necessary to stimulate the nipples, so manual expression or using a breast pump is a mandatory step in the process of developing lactation. After some time, the young mother will notice the release of a few drops of nutrient fluid - this is an excellent result, you need to continue in the same spirit. With induced lactation, colostrum is not released, it will immediately be mature milk.
Many women expect to completely switch their baby to breast milk in a couple of weeks. But most often this cannot be achieved. Experts say that it will take 6-10 weeks for lactation to develop. Therefore, you need to be patient and continue working.
Application of a supplementary feeding system
Often women who want to feed their baby on their own are concerned with the question: what to offer the baby when there is not enough milk yet. After all, for normal physical and mental development, a child needs to eat well. In this case, an adapted infant formula will help.
Do not feed your baby formula from a bottle. This way, the baby will quickly understand that it is much easier to get food from the nipple than from the breast, and may refuse to latch on to the nipple.
There are several ways of supplementary feeding for the case when the mother is trying to produce lactation artificially:
- Use a special soft spoon. It is a container for the mixture with a silicone tip, somewhat reminiscent of a spoon. The child grabs the tip with his mouth and sucks, the liquid flows into the spoon.
- Feed your baby from a silicone bottle with a spoon instead of a nipple. During feeding, the mother presses on the body of the product, the mixture fills the spoon, from which the child receives it.
- Feed the baby using a special supplementary feeding system. This is a special container for the mixture, which the woman hangs around her neck with a string. A soft silicone tube extends from the container: through it, nutritional fluid will flow to the baby. The mother fixes the tube on her chest, and the baby grabs its end along with the nipple. In this way, the baby not only receives nutrition, but also stimulates the woman’s breasts so that her own milk begins to be produced.
Photo gallery: products that a woman can use in the process of producing lactation
The baby supplementary feeding system is a great way to both feed the baby and stimulate milk production. With the help of this product, the baby will receive food from a spoon, so he will not refuse the breast. The soft spoon is very convenient to feed the baby
Use of medications
In some cases, doctors recommend taking medications. First of all, we are talking about combinations of hormones. The doctor prescribes a series of tests for the woman to find out the levels of various hormones in the blood. Next, the specialist develops a regimen for taking medications that stimulate milk production. The dosage, maximum course and other nuances are determined only by the doctor and depend on the individual characteristics of the young mother’s body.
Some women are prohibited from taking hormonal medications. If there are direct contraindications, you must inform your doctor about this.
It is not recommended to use medications without consulting a doctor
The body produces the neurotransmitter dopamine. It performs various functions, one of which is to reduce the production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for the formation of milk in the breast. The more dopamine in a woman’s blood, the less prolactin. But the processes of all organs and systems are arranged in such a way that some substances block production, while others, on the contrary, stimulate it. This can be said about the main component of the drug Motilium - domperidone. Once in the body, it blocks dopamine receptors, which increases the production of prolactin. Therefore, some women successfully use Motilium tablets.
The decision to use Motilium can only be made by a doctor. The drug is available in the form of tablets and suspension. Adults are usually prescribed to take the tablet form of the drug.
The dosage is determined by a specialist. The tablet must be placed under the tongue and wait until it is completely dissolved. There is no need to take the medication with water. One tablet contains 10 mg of active ingredient. Women are usually recommended to take 30–60 mg of the drug per day, divided into three doses 15–20 minutes before meals. The maximum dose per day is 80 mg.
The active substance of the drug Motilium has the property of stimulating the production of prolactin
Consequences of inducing lactation in nulliparous women
Breastfeeding is a natural process that is inherent in the genes of any woman. However, the body begins to prepare for breastfeeding from the beginning of pregnancy and takes nine months to do so. With induced lactation, everything happens differently, so some negative consequences are possible:
- Depression. Psychologists note that many women begin to suffer from melancholy, and then fall into a state of depression due to the inability to feed the baby on their own. Not everyone has the patience to try to induce lactation for months. Therefore, before starting this complex process, a conversation with a psychologist would be an excellent solution; the support of your husband and devoting more time to the baby are also necessary.
- Hormonal disbalance. This happens not only due to sudden milk production, but also during hormone therapy, which is aimed at stimulating lactation.
- Side effects during the use of medications: weight gain, skin problems, mood swings.
That is why a woman must take into account all the positive and negative aspects before deciding on induced lactation. With great desire and perseverance, you can achieve excellent results.
Today, it is not surprising that nulliparous women who have adopted a baby or used the services of a surrogate mother decide to breastfeed their baby on their own. Doctors say that it is quite possible to achieve milk production. The main thing is not to act on your own. The best option would be to consult a gynecologist and psychologist. By following all the recommendations and noting the changes occurring in the body, many women achieve success.
If you decide to adopt a child or the birth of a child occurred through surrogacy, or if you have problems with breast milk after a natural birth, the problem of how to induce lactation becomes very relevant. There are, however, a few exercises and rules you can follow to help your breasts start producing milk. By the way, on our medical forum you can read the advice of many women who know how to induce lactation without pregnancy, provided that your body receives the right stimulation on a daily basis.
Remember: you can stimulate lactation using natural methods, without the use of drugs!
What you need to induce lactation
- Vitamins
- Brewer's yeast
- Hospital grade breast pump
Instructions on how to induce lactation in nulliparous women
Change your diet. According to Dr. Auerbach's study, which was published in the American Journal of Children's Diseases, you need to consume lactation-inducing foods that contain B vitamins, such as meat, eggs and dairy products. Drink plenty of water and other liquids throughout the day and take 1000 mg. brewer's yeast once a day. This lactation inducing product is available at your local pharmacy.
Practice a method such as the Marmet pumping technique. This method of inducing lactation was developed by the Chele Marmet and the Lactation Institute and is now recommended by most hospitals in the United States to induce lactation. The Marmet technique (watch video) is a series of gentle compression, massage and stimulation of the nipples to induce lactation.
A simple method that does not require lactation-inducing drugs. To induce lactation, teach your baby to nurse on each breast for 10 minutes every day. Manipulation during sucking will stimulate the pituitary gland to produce milk.
Buy a hospital-grade breast pump. Use this professional breast pump daily for 10 minutes on each breast to stimulate the pituitary gland.
To induce lactation, doctors may prescribe hormone therapy. Breastfeeding is stimulated by the pituitary gland, not the mammary glands. Talk to your gynecologist or family doctor if you want to use lactation-inducing medications. Typically, during hormonal therapy, a reducer estrogen is prescribed, after which medications such as Metaclopramide are taken to increase the level of the hormone prolactin (lactotropic hormone, one of the hormones of the acidophilic cells of the anterior pituitary gland).
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Tips and Warnings on how to stimulate lactation
For mothers who had milk in a previous pregnancy, lactation problems are treated more quickly. Lactation-inducing drugs associated with hormone therapy may have side effects:
- diarrhea
- decrease in energy
- dizziness
- nausea
- vomit
- drowsiness
- headache
- fatigue
- anxiety
- sleep problems