It is likely that your baby has been bottle-fed up to now. Consult the page on nipple confusion for information on how to get a bottle-fed baby interested in the breast. Nurse on demand, so you can increase your milk supply.

Continue pumping. You need all the extra milk you can get, and your breasts can use the extra stimulation, which tells them to produce more milk.

Don't forget to supplement if you need to (you probably will, unless you were still nursing another child when you got your new baby). See the page on supplementation to get some ideas on how to supplement breastfeeding without jeopardizing your milk supply too much.

Consider the Supplemental Nursing System or a similar device. These let you enjoy the closeness of breastfeeding and allow your breasts to get extra stimulation while you feed your baby with supplements (which may include breastmilk that you have pumped). Use this device for a while even if you have not been able to induce lactation before your baby arrives. Sometimes, just holding, smelling, and kissing a baby will do wonders with your hormone levels, and you may find that you start lactating soon after the baby comes.

If you are unable to nurse your adopted baby, don't blame yourself. Your body was designed to lactate after pregnancy to feed your biological child. You can bottle-feed and still be a good mother (or father!). See the page on how to make the best of bottle-feeding.

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