With patience and determination, mothers who adopt infants can still breastfeed through a process called "induced lactation," says an expert with the Mayo Clinic.
Induced lactation requires consistent and repeated stimulation of the nipple, and Dr. Roger W. Harms, obstetrician and editor-in-chief with MayoClinic.com, recommends that an electric hospital-grade breast pump be used on both breasts every three hours, beginning about two months before breastfeeding will commence.
Breast stimulation causes the body to produce hormones that will trigger lactation. Doctors may also prescribe hormone therapy with estrogen and progesterone to simulate pregnancy, but no medications are approved to specifically cause lactation. Because of potential side effects, the hormone therapy is discontinued prior to breastfeeding.
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding as an "unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants."
Especially during the first few weeks of feeding, the produced breastmilk may need to be supplemented with formula or milk from a human milk bank. Talk to your health care professional for more information.