einstein (São Paulo). 04/ago/2026;24((spe1)):eRW2297.

Lactation induction, shared breastfeeding, and the right to opacity: a reflection on the use of health protocols and practices for women who have relationships with women

Fernanda Evangelista Bandeira de

Melo

, Fernanda Baeza

Scagliusi

DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2026RW2297

ABSTRACT

Lactation induction is the process of stimulating milk production when pregnancy has not occurred, but there is still a desire to breastfeed. Initially designed for adoptive mothers and mothers through surrogacy, the protocol does not explore other uses, such as in cases of LGBTQIA+ families, in which breastfeeding may also be a significant symbol in the transition to parenthood. Thus, we seek to explore the complexities of the use of lactation protocols by cisgender women couples who have chosen co-lactate. This article is based on qualitative research conducted through semi-structured interviews with women in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between June and October 2024. Seven women participated: three couples and one non-gestational mother. From this analysis, two analytical categories emerged: the first addresses the sources of information used by the participants, highlighting the key role of information networks built through the internet and the notable absence of healthcare professionals as references in this process. The second category discusses the participants’ experiences with the induction protocol, highlighting the challenges of balancing their routines with the protocol’s demands and the importance of healthcare professionals who act as positive deviants from the hegemonic model of care. We propose a reflection within the field of healthcare on its onto-epistemological assumptions, suggesting the right to opacity as a guiding principle in the construction of healthcare practices, acknowledging that it is not necessary to understand the other – or their life logics – in order to form a care alliance that goes beyond rigid, standardized protocols.