Adoptive nursing in the news.

The Chicago Tribune just published a sweet article on adoptive nursing which profiles two mothers. 

One mother, Jennifer Leverett Dunn, was nursing her 3 year old biological son when she adopted 12 day old Corey.  She pumped to increase her milk supply before the baby was placed in her custody.

After the legal hearing that placed Corey in her custody, "I started nursing right away, next to the judge's chambers. He latched right on. And we were off and running."

The first night, she supplemented with frozen breast milk. "After that, I didn't need it." She exclusively breast-fed until Corey was 6 months. Corey will turn 3 next month, and Dunn is still nursing him when he's upset or at night.

Dunn is convinced of the benefits: "[Corey] has been in day care since he was 15 months and is never sick. He is just so healthy."

Still, she added, "It took quite a while to feel comfortable nursing in public because we are a different race. And I was worried what other people would think. But you get over it. It was more important that I be able to meet his needs."

The last paragraph really caught my eye.  Somehow it never occurred to me how different the dynamic of nursing in public would be when the race of the mother and baby are different.  I'll admit that it would make me look twice.  And then smile.

Want to get email updates from the Motherwear Blog?  Subscribe here.  Want an RSS feed?  Click here.

Comments

[Maria]

Before I had my son, it was one of my concerns. My husband is very dark, while I am glow in the dark white, so who knew that the baby would be much closer to my skintone? I didn't, so I prepared myself for even more dirty/shocked/etc looks.

It is great to see mothers able to breastfeed their adopted children. I hope that many women read their stories and at least try to nurse! It can't/isn't easy, but the benefits are endless!