Breastfeeding after surrogacy is a meaningful way to nurture your baby and create lasting memories from their very first days.

With the right support and resources, inducing lactation allows you to provide many of the health benefits associated with breastfeeding, even if you didn’t carry your child.

Fill out our online contact form to learn more about your breastfeeding options after surrogacy.

Read about what to expect at the hospital.

Below, we’ll break down the additional steps and methods when it comes to breastfeeding after surrogacy as well as the importance of professionals like lactation specialists.

Can You Breastfeed If You Use a Surrogate?

Yes, you can breastfeed if you use a surrogate. This can be done by inducing lactation. To do this, you’ll need to consult with your medical provider, as it requires medications and a structured plan.

If you’re still looking for a surrogate to help grow your family, we can help you find the perfect match in as little as 1-6 months. View our highly qualified surrogates now.

Breastfeeding After Surrogacy: Inducing Lactation

Your process may different but here are four general steps as to what the process could look like:

• Step 1: Begin Taking Hormones: Your doctor may prescribe hormones, like birth control pills, several months before your baby’s birth. These hormones prepare your body for milk production by mimicking the hormonal changes of pregnancy.
• Step 2: Replace Hormones with Supplements and Medication: Before the baby arrives, your doctor will stop the hormones and recommend lactation-promoting medications and herbal supplements to stimulate milk production.
• Step 3: Start Pumping: Pumping frequently, gradually increasing the duration and frequency,  helps stimulate milk production. Your milk supply will grow over time with consistent effort and guidance from your doctor.
• Step 4: Nursing and Supplement Your Milk: Most women will not produce enough milk to fully feed their baby. You can use a supplemental nursing system (SNS) with donated breastmilk, your pumped milk, formula or even the surrogate’s milk if she is consenting.

A Timeline for Breastfeeding and Surrogacy

When it comes to inducing lactation for surrogacy, you have to be mindful of the timeframe it requires and the challenges that could arise.

• Preparation: This needs to take place anywhere from 3-6 months before your baby is born as hormone therapy mimics the natural hormonal changes that occur during a pregnancy. Dietary and lifestyle adjustments take time too.
• Milk Stimulation: 6-8 weeks before the birth, you are weaned off of hormones and medications and herbal supplements are introduced, allowing them the proper time to work. You’ll also begin pumping at this time, every couple hours to prepare stimulate milk production and copy what a newborns sleep and feeding schedule could look like
• After Birth: Nursing should occur as soon possible to encourage milk flow and establish a bond.

Working with a Lactation Specialist for Surrogacy

A lactation specialist familiar with surrogacy can help you navigate the complexities of breastfeeding after surrogacy. They can offer personalized guidance and support tailored to your unique situation by:

• Inducing Lactation: They can guide you through the process of hormone therapy, supplements and pumping to prepare for breastfeeding.
• Pumping Techniques: Learn how to maximize milk production and store milk safely.
• Supplemental Nursing Systems (SNS): Specialists can demonstrate how to use an SNS effectively to combine breastfeeding with supplemental feeding.
• Emotional Support: They can provide encouragement and strategies to manage any emotional challenges associated with breastfeeding after surrogacy.

By working with a lactation specialist, you can build confidence in your ability to breastfeed and create a feeding plan that works for your family.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding After Surrogacy

Breastfeeding is one of the most intimate parts of caring for your baby. Even if you don’t produce a full milk supply, the act of nursing can still be a powerful and fulfilling experience.

• Nutrition: Breast milk contains antibodies and nutrients to help strengthen your baby’s immune system and is naturally designed to meet your baby’s nutritional needs, promoting healthy growth and development.
• Skin-to-Skin Contact: The skin-to-skin contact contributes to your baby’s development by providing emotional security and attachment.
• Bonding: Nursing triggers the release of oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone,” which strengthens the bond between you and your baby and promotes feelings of calm and relaxation.

While breastfeeding your baby after surrogacy is possible and a wonderful way to connect with your baby, inducing lactation may not be suitable for everyone.

If do not want to induce lactation or are unable to, you can still provide your baby with breast milk either from your surrogate or a donor.

Do Surrogates Breastfeed?

Some surrogates are open to breastfeeding the baby after delivery, while others may prefer not to.

Whether a surrogate breastfeeds depends on your and the surrogate’s preferences and the legal agreements established during the surrogacy process.

Ways your surrogate can provide breastmilk:

• Breastfeeding Post-Delivery: In some cases, surrogates may nurse the baby immediately after birth to provide colostrum, the nutrient-rich first milk that offers essential health benefits for newborns.
• Pumping and Providing Milk: Surrogates can also pump and provide breastmilk to the intended parents for a set period after delivery. This arrangement can be negotiated in advance and may involve additional costs.

It’s essential to discuss breastfeeding preferences and expectations with your surrogate early in the process.

Using Donor Breast Milk After Surrogacy

If you’re unable to produce enough milk or choose not to breastfeed, donor breast milk is an excellent alternative to ensure your baby receives the nutrients and immune benefits of breast milk.

The Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) provides regulation guidelines for a network of nonprofit milk banks adhering to the highest safety and quality standards.

View their map of HMBANA member milk banks.

Next Steps

Breastfeeding after surrogacy is a powerful way to nourish your baby and foster an emotional connection. Whether you’re just starting to explore this option or are ready to begin the process, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Contact us today to learn more about your breastfeeding options after surrogacy.