How can children born through surrogacy receive breast milk?

Just because the baby is born through Surrogacy, it does not mean he or she cannot receive breast milk and the many health benefits it provides. Breast fed babies have been found to have higher IQs, are better protected from leukemia and are less likely to have problems regarding obesity. Breast milk protects babies from getting diarrhea, ear infections and respiratory disorders such as asthma. Premature babies who receive breast milk are more protected from infections and high blood pressure later in life. Breast milk contains the protein CD14 which works to develop B cells, which are immunity cells that are essential for the production of antibodies in an infant, to build the babies immunity system.

The babies may drink breast milk acquired through a milk bank, breast milk donor may be located or the intended mother may induce lactation before the birth of the baby. Induced lactation has been embraced by the nursing community as a welcome method to enhance the bonding relationship between a new mother and baby born through Surrogacy. Prolactin and oxytocin are the two pituitary hormones that cause lactation to occur. They may be stimulated despite the woman's inability to carry a child. Lactation may be induced in a number of ways, and the amount of milk a non lactating woman can produce through inducement varies from woman to woman.

The most common way women induce lactation is through manual or mechanical stimulation. With this method lactation is induced by massage, nipple manipulation and sucking either by the baby or breast pump. The second common method used is hormone therapy whereby a woman uses herbal remedies such as Fenugreek or is prescribed medications such as Domperidone and Metoclopromide (Reglan*) to induce and increase her milk supply. Induced lactation milk, skips the colostrum phase. and resembles mature breast milk.

Manual stimulation of lactation usually takes between two and seven weeks and hormone therapy usually takes between one to four months. For this reason intended mothers usually begin during the final trimester of their surrogate mother's PREGNANCY.