Induced Lactation for Intended Parents

Considering inducing lactation as an intended parent? Surrogacy is the most common circumstance among my clients inducing lactation. And that's not surprising -- the original protocols for inducing lactation were developed for intended mother Lenore Goldfarb by pediatrician Jack Newman.¹ 
The long lead time for preparing and the stability of the surrogacy arrangement make it very conducive to inducing lactation.

Human milk provides the nutrition and immunities every baby needs. And breastfeeding is such a natural and beautiful way to bond with your little one, which may be especially important for parents who did not carry their baby in utero. For those who have struggled with infertility, the ability to produce milk without pregnancy can also be a healing experience -- a superpower, if you will.

Since the development of the Newman-Goldfarb Protocols for Induced Lactation®, we have learned a lot. Start by learning some basics of inducing lactation and schedule your first consultation with an IBCLC experienced with inducing lactation. Inducing lactation is a complex lactation scenario that deserves expert guidance.

Beyond bringing in the most milk you can for your baby, plan for supplementation. While most parents who induce lactation bring in some milk, most do not bring in all the milk their baby needs. Hence, supplementation with donor milk or formula is a necessity. Some gestational carriers are willing to provide milk for a period of time, and this can relieve some of the burden on the intended parent. If helpful, an IBCLC help you and your gestational carrier explore options for them to provide milk as well as other sources of donor milk.

I would love to help you navigate this journey! If you have any questions or need guidance on inducing lactation, feel free to schedule a free mini consultation with me HERE. Or, if you are ready to jump right in check out my consultation packages HERE. I work with parents in person or via telehealth from wherever you are. I'm here to support you and provide personalized suggestions based on your unique situation.

References

¹Newman, J. & Goldfarb, L. (2002-2016). Breastfeeding: Induced lactation and the Newman-Goldfarb protocols for induced lactation®. Ask Lenore. https://www.asklenore.info/breastfeeding/induced_lactation/gn_protocols.shtml