Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: adoption, babies, breastfeeding, formula

This topic has 16 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 10 months ago by sara p..

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June 20, 2013 at 7:34 pm
sara p.
Participant
We will be adopting an infant in August and I am contemplating what kind of formula to give her. I priced some at the grocery today and was blown away at the price. I just got done looking at homemade formulas and it looks very complicated along with some saying its not a wise choice. Do any of you make your own formula? If so how do you make it and do you think it is giving your infant all the nurtients they need?
June 20, 2013 at 8:20 pm
suzukimom
Participant
I agree – it is expensive, but if you can’t find a person willing to donate breastmilk (maybe you could get lucky??) then I’d go with a formula.
You can get free samples at some of the formula makers websites. GoodStart even gives you a free diaper bag, newsletters, and other info. (Their diaper bag is REALLY nice – I almost cried when ours got lost….)
That said – none of my babies could handle GoodStart, and none of my step-grandkids either. So they aren’t all the same. My preference was Infamil – but at times we had to use the Parent’s Choice (the Wal-mart Brand) – my kids were all fine with those…
June 20, 2013 at 8:33 pm
HaRae
Participant
Congratulations on your baby on the way!
I know about 5 healthy babies raised on homemade goat’s-milk-based formulas when the mother was unable to breastfeed. The moms followed very specific recipes that included things like flax seed oil. I think it can be a legitimate and healthy choice…no formula is going to perfectly replicate breastmilk and you have to find one that your baby tolerates and you are comfortable with. I think the Weston A. Price Foundation offers formula recipes that have been used by many and aim to have the same caloric content etc. as breastmilk. Having not used them myself I’m not going to endorse any particular recipe.
I don’t know that homemade formula is going to be cheaper, most people I know do it because it doesn’t have the corn syrup, GMOs, soy, etc. that commercial formula does.
I know that feeding your baby is an important and personal choice and that you asked about formula. I’m just going to throw these two options out there as well since many people aren’t aware of them, I hope they do not offend:
Donated breastmilk: I’ve donated to several adopted babies and one whose mother couldn’t nurse due to cancer…I gave them a copy of my prenatal blood labs to confirm that I was free of diseases…you can find donors through organizations like Human Milk for Human Babies. You can also sometimes purchase breastmilk from a milk bank, but it is very expensive and mostly goes to premature or sick babies.
Adoptive nursing: It’s also possible to lactate for an adopted baby (I’ve heard it’s easier if you have lactated before but it’s not necessary). You would want to work with a lactation consultant and/or get support from La Leche League leaders or something to that effect. Many adoptive nursing moms supplement with formula (either on bottles or at the breast with a supplemental nursing system) but are able to give their babies some breastmilk. Every drop helps!
Blessings to you and I hope you can find something that works well for your baby, whatever that is. Sometimes babies’ digestive systems have their own opinions about things!
June 20, 2013 at 8:47 pm
pangit
Participant
The only thing I know is that goat’s milk is supposed to be the closest/next best thing to breast milk. A friend of mine told me this who has studied natural healing and works at a health store. I know that is not one of the formula’s sold in the store, but I would research that. Adoption has always been close to my heart. It has not become a reality for us yet, but if it ever does I will look into how I can nurse the baby and if that doesn’t work or isn’t enough I will look into the goat’s milk.
June 20, 2013 at 9:34 pm
Misty
Participant
Dont have a lot of time. But I am 100% for goat milk formula. If you can’t do the many options here and you need to really use store bought formula I would highly suggest doing a lot of research. Do not do anything with soy in it. IMHO. Which doesn’t leave a lot of options. I had a hard time nursing my last 2 (for reasons we don’t understand) and I just pumped, pumped and pumped, added goats milk for added milk and we did great. Good luck, so hard, so many decisions and so much advice. I will be praying for you.
June 20, 2013 at 9:52 pm
MelissaB
Participant
As HaRae said, you can try to start lactating again. I have a friend who adopted a little girl and was able to get her milk going again. I’m not sure how long she breastfed her and if I recall she did have to supplement with formula, but she now has a healthy 10-year old daughter. Congrats on the adoption! 🙂
June 20, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Rebekahy
Participant
I’ve nursed all mine, so I’m no help as to having used a homemade formula, but I definitely would look into it if I were unable to nurse – THOUGH, I don’t think that homemade formula will save you money. If cost is your biggest concern it may not be worth the effort. Do continue to seek out support from someone who has done it – contact a state Westin A Price Foundation and see if they can put you in contact with someone local – it’d be nice to get a tutorial live! Raw milk is definitely available in a good number of states, there’s just a very quiet network of people that have access to it, because while not illegal – many states do not allow the farmers to advertise it’s sale. I also would NOT mention to your pediatrician that you’re planning on making your own formula or using raw milk as it’s VERY frowned upon in most medical circles – of course you want to share this information if your baby is sick, but provided your baby is healthy and thriving, I wouldn’t offer the information and would likely try to find some type of medical professional – chiropractor or naturopathic doctor if I were going that route – again the Westin A Price foundation should be able to point you in the right direction.
June 21, 2013 at 2:21 am
sara p.
Participant
Ok- I might be sounding stupid here, but I can actually start lactating again? I nursed my three biological children each until they were a year old. But I haven’t nursed in 4 years! I think the well is dry. If I can do this again I would love to do so. How do I get the milk flowing again?
June 21, 2013 at 2:57 am
sara p.
Participant
This is very encouraging! I would love to be able to nurse our new little girl. I have been googling it and am amazed that it can be done. Why have I not heard of this before! I am going to call our local hospital tomorrow to see if I can meet with a lactation consultant. I would prefer to take herbs as I don’t like the idea of being on hormones. Thanks for informing me!
June 27, 2013 at 3:22 am
Wings2fly
Participant
Medela makes a supplemental nursing system with the purpose of stimulating the mother to lactate. Contact the La Lache League.
June 27, 2013 at 3:42 am
missceegee
Participant
I have a friend who successfully relactated to nurse her adopted daughter – if it helps to know another success story.
June 27, 2013 at 4:14 am
lnosborn
Participant
Bulkherbstore.com sells an herb mixture called mama’s milk tea. I don’t know about relactation but if you were to go that route and got some support with that, I’m sure the tea could help too as it has helped mothers who have had a hard time producing enough milk.
June 27, 2013 at 4:34 pm
junkybird
Participant
(I have not read all the replies here . . .)
You could totally relactate. It is possible 🙂 Domperidone is useful for that.
On another note, if you decide to go with formula, the Weston A. Price Foundation has their own recipe and I’ve heard great things about it.
I, too, love nursing. I have nursed all four of mine and currently still nurse my twins at 18 months 🙂
June 27, 2013 at 4:38 pm
LindseyD
Participant
sara p., I would whole-heartedly recommend the homemade formula recipe from the Weston A. Price Foundation. If I had another child and could not nurse, this would be my second choice. Donor milk is expensive (unless you have a friend willing to give it to you!), and you cannot always be sure of the health and diet of the donor. And, we all know that what the mother eats either helps or hurts her milk. If you have a source for raw cow’s or goat’s milk, take it!
Here is an article with a video about homemade baby formula using the WAPF recipe. http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/video-homemade-milk-based-baby-formula/
I’m so happy about your upcoming adoption! I pray all the blessings in the world on you and your family!
Lindsey
June 27, 2013 at 6:40 pm
blue j
Participant
secondinging Lindsey D.’s comment above as I used one of the formulas in the book to feed my nephew when my dsis went back to work when he was a babe as she was not able to relax enough to provide enough milk when pumping. However, if I were in your shoes, I would try relactating and supplementing with the homemade formula as necessary. 🙂
Pax,
~jacqleene