Adopted Baby...Help!

[Raene]

I'm on a local vegan listserv and someone just adopted a baby. They're currently giving him a formula that's dairy/soy based. They want to switch him to complete soy formula. That really freaks me out! They asked for help from the group b/c they don't know what to do. I recommended that they switch to goat's milk instead of cow's if that's the route they want to take. I also recommended making hemp milk, but I doubt that will fly. Does anyone have any articles about babies and hemp milk? I thought about putting the link for Alex's blog but I just think they'll think I'm a crazy person b/c I've heard some people in the group (at potlucks) talking about crazy raw foodists and how unhealthy we are. They didn't know I was one...

[elfinbaby]

Well, this might be really out there then. First, how old is the baby? That's going to make a difference in whether or not my advice is feasible. Some mothers who have adopted newborns attempt to breastfeed their babes. There's actually a device that the mother wears that contains formula and it connects to the breast/nipple. So the baby is sucking the little "straw" from the device and the mother's nipple. Enough nipple stimulation can get the mother to produce milk. I imagine it takes lots of ns so that's why the younger the baby the better I think. I am not sure that the mother would produce enough milk to be the sole provider of nutrition but how great would that be to breastfeed your adopted baby?! I think I read about this in LLL.

Other than that I'm no help. Sorry. I know there are some homemade "formulas" that use fresh coconut as a base but that's all I got.

[elfinbaby]

http://breast-feeding.adoption.com/

This might be a start.

[elfinbaby]

Sorry - you're probably all excited to get 3 replies and they're all from me! The site won't let me edit for some reason.


What about a milk bank? I don't know how you qualify or if you have to buy it or what but it'd be something to check in to.

[Care4raw]

I gave my adoptive son soy milk. It actually saved his life. He was hospitilized with a severe lactose reaction, for weeks, really bad. I wish I could have breast fed my adopted babies, very painful to not be able to do that for them.

I opted not to use the devise that pumps breast milk that some adoptive mothers use. I personally did not know if the many hormones you have to take months before on a regular basis would be even more harmful. Besides that, it just did not produce much milk at all.

The milk bank idea sounds the best..not sure about Goats or hemp.Good luck!

You are such a good friend to help. I want to encourage you in the meantime to let her know what hse is doing is good for the baby, while you still attempt to find altenatives. The bonding is best with out fear and too much negativity, as you know being a mom yourself.Its a such loss not to breast feed , so please let her know that what she is doing now is the best for the baby.

My healthy boy is 13 now. For the soy formula I have to say thank you, as we really almost lost him.It was the best we could do at the time.

By the way I tried to encourage the 'birth mother' to breast feed, even for a short period but she did not wish too. There could be some movement in this country to find the best solution for all of this..perhaps you will find it!!

[Raene]

I did mention to them about adoptive breastfeeding. I really want to if I adopt and I know all the local resources. They aren't interested though.
The baby is a few wks old now. They've had him since he was a day.

[juliebove]

First, I can't see why something that someone else does would freak you out!

Second, the baby is only a few weeks old and should not be given hemp milk or even goat's milk at this early age.

I do not think soy forumula is the best thing but I gave it to my daughter for a while. I was not producing enough breast milk and she was very much underweight. She could not really tolerate any formula. We kept switching and switching and she threw them all up. She is 9 now and healthy. Now we know about her food allergies including dairy and soy.

[Care4raw]

Hmmm..the site breast feeding adoptive baby from the above link does not mention the hormones once considered necc to breastfeed, maybe the pumping is only necc. not sure.. Even states men are able to breastfeed with this 'pumping action'.Good in cases of famine etc..

I am sure its too late for your friend as the pumping is done months before any milk appears and usually supplemented anyway.

Again, Milk bank also sounds like a good option.

Let us know if you adopt what you decide to do.

[Clare]

I will say that I had no problems using raw goat formula for my adopted sons from day one...I posted the recipe before, but it's:

2 cups goat milk
1 cup pure water
1.5 T lactose (or other sugar would work, but lactose is best for newborns)
liquid multi with some folic acid and C
1/4 tsp per day of cod liver oil

This is an excellent formula and even better if you can get raw goat milk from a farm. Goats are so adorable and have such a better life on the family farm than factory cows :-( Goats milk has been saving babies' lives for thousands of years and in South America they even train "pet" pygmy goats to go to the crying baby and nurse the baby directly. Weird but it works...they love their goats...

[Raene]

Thanks, I like this goat's milk idea.
I am surprised how many people (not on this board, but people in general) think formula is the way to go just b/c it's marketed so well. It's not natural or right to have babies on formula. If breastmilk isn't obtainable, I'd much more likely put a baby on raw animal milk and I'd steer clear of formula. It's nothing but chemicals powdered together and marketed well, imo.

[Care4raw]

Thanks, I like this goat's milk idea.
I am surprised how many people (not on this board, but people in general) think formula is the way to go just b/c it's marketed so well. It's not natural or right to have babies on formula. If breastmilk isn't obtainable, I'd much more likely put a baby on raw animal milk and I'd steer clear of formula. It's nothing but chemicals powdered together and marketed well, imo.

I never liked putting my babies on formula. I had no idea about the goats milk recipe.I will pass the info on when ever i can. I don't know if that would have worked for my babies but yes, i would have def tried it.

I take it the poster meant her baby was 1 day old when she started it, not more mature.

Much better alternative.

Still, i have sons that are so rarely sick (knock wood!) and really super healthy . They are around kids who were breast fed who on average get more sick days . So getting the word out with no shame for those that have taken / take the formula route, is better.The inner state in which we alone eat and how we feel feeding our children has a big effect on health alone.My two cents..

[Clare]

Even straight goat's milk is OK, and that's what many do around the world when necessary. At around 9 months, I switched to full milk for simplicity. The recipe above just mimics human milk a little better, since human milk is has a bit more carbs and a bit less protein and fat than goat.

There are more complicated recipes for formula from raw cows milk out there as well but they require way more ingredients like whey because cows are so very different from us with those four stomachs and more rapid growth needs.

Good luck to your friend. Adoption is so beautiful and I am so grateful to my children's birthmoms for giving them life :-) We hope to be able to adopt another one at the end of the year...

[Infinitus]

I admit to not knowing very much about infant nutrition, but feeding babies milk from another species sets alarm bells ringing, as far as I am concerned. Also, so many bad things have been said about soy; it just is not worth the risk.

I was thinking about this issue a few days ago. A mother's breast milk is best (unless there is something wrong with the mother, or her dietary habits, lifestyle, etc.), but what could take its place where it is not available? Well, why not plant milks?

Hemp milk sounds like an excellent idea. Hemp contains all the essential amino acids, making it a prime, rich, protein source, and the perfect ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids. These things, the protein and fatty acids, are essential for growing babies, and hemp is just about the best source for them.

I have not Googled hemp milk for infants, but I have never heard of any negative info concerning feeding it to them. I will have to ask a nutritionist I know about this, although I only see him every few months or so.

Hemp milk is so easy to make. Ground seeds mixed with water and strained, basically!

I say push the hemp milk idea; sing its praises and make clear the health benefits. Also, tell them about home milk makers. If they are caring and intelligent enough, then they should go with the hemp milk.

[Vivid Lily]

Thank you Thank You Thank You!!! This is such a wonderful site with lots of caring people. I will pass this information along. I'm sure it's going to help. Thanks Suzy

[coco]

i wish you were closer, i would pump for you. you might be able to contact your local la leche league and see if there are any mom's with an emerg supply of frozen breast milk that they would donate. it is pretty hush hush that sort of thing, not so kosher with the local health authorities, but our mama group here does it often for eachother and i am sure other communities of natural mama's are doing it too.
if not that i would consider goat's milk above soy or cow any day. raw or pasturized, an animal milk would be best at this stage for a small baby (we are animals after all), better than hemp or any other nut or seed. i think those should not be given until after one year of age.
good luck to you.

[b_light]

i wish you were closer, i would pump for you. you might be able to contact your local la leche league and see if there are any mom's with an emerg supply of frozen breast milk that they would donate. it is pretty hush hush that sort of thing, not so kosher with the local health authorities, but our mama group here does it often for eachother and i am sure other communities of natural mama's are doing it too.
if not that i would consider goat's milk above soy or cow any day. raw or pasturized, an animal milk would be best at this stage for a small baby (we are animals after all), better than hemp or any other nut or seed. i think those should not be given until after one year of age.
good luck to you.

Yes! Another mother's milk!! I would suggest finding one or more breastfeeding mom's willing to donate. She could check LLL or look for other breastfeeding groups through meetup or yahoo. If possible, a mother with a similar age baby would be best because a mother's milk changes as baby's nutrional needs change. Milk banks are a good idea, but usually require a prescription (although adoption may be all thats required, I'm not sure), and are VERY expensive and not usually covered by insurance. Hooking up with a mom or moms willing to donate could be free!

Whatever you decide to pass on and whatever she decides to do, I hope works well and brings baby abundant health :)

[Infinitus]

an animal milk would be best at this stage for a small baby (we are animals after all), better than hemp or any other nut or seed.

We are all animals, yes, but species is critical:

"Dr. Spock, who died at the age of 94 just before the new version of his book was published, advised no cows milk or any other dairy products for children. Mothers milk, not cows milk, is natures perfect food for babies under one year, according to Dr. Spock..."

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0815/is_n8_v23/ai_21155458

[Raene]

I agree, and I have been vegan for several years, but at the same time...
I feel like if a baby can't have human milk, that an animal milk substitute is more natural for an infant that a nut/seed milk. I don't know why I feel that way, b/c I would never give my 4 yr old animal milk, but for a baby who can't receive breastmilk, it just seems more correct. NOT cow milk, but goat milk, b/c from what I've read and what Dr Sears says, it's very very similar to human milk, whereas cow milk is not.

[Clare]

I agree with Raene of course - I think that cholesterol and saturated fat were put there for newborns (humans and other animals) for a reason. Even the formula makers use coconut oil (rich in saturated fat) and I have read about the value of lactose (the carbs in all milk) in forming the nervous system, specifically myelin. Cholesterol is valuable to the growing nervous system as well.

I know this is a vegan site and I would not promote animal milk for anyone other than newborn animals :-) Yes, Dr. Spock was right on in seeing all of the damage that cow's milk (especially homogenized and pasteurized) does to children in promoting allergies, infections, asthma, diabetes, etc...and he wasn't afraid to go totally against the grain several years back...

[coco]

just so you know, a milk bank pasturizes all the milk they receive so finding it fresh from another mama if possible is way better.

this has to be a personal choice but i would opt for goat milk myself and would not give grain, nut or seed milk to an infant. certainly we are species specific but the choice is not either mother's own breast milk or that from another creature as the optimum choice, mother's own, is simply not available. when it comes down to options like this you have to think outside the box, or the boob as the case may be! i personally believe goat's milk to be the best choice in this case. another mama might choose differently. many babies thrive on formula though so... it all works to one degree or another.