I've just got my computer back after having something on it fixed and was
hoping that I would find some interesting posts in response to the post on
cross nursing/foster breastfeeding I sent  a few days ago. I was not a
little disappointed to see not one. I am wondering whether this is because
it is not of interest or does no one have an opinion they are prepared to
share publicly (if this is the case I would be interested in private posts
or could anonymously pass posts onto Lactnet).
I've tacked on my original post below.
Karleen Gribble
Australia

>  Thankyou Nancy! It was remiss of me not to mention your article.
>  I would like to discuss some of what you raise in this article if that's
>  alright.
>  In my opinion the concern with the most substance is that of the risk of
>  spread of disease (foster mother-child and child-foster mother) but I
think
>  that measures can to taken to reduce this risk to an insignificant level.
>  However, the crux of the issue in my mind is the social aspects and
whether
>  breastfeeding is an added extra for babies or a fundamental part of child
>  care. If it is the former then it is understandable that children in
foster
>  care might not get this bonus but if it is a basic part of child care,
>  normal rather than special then not providing this opportunity to
> vulnerable
>  children is in a way like telling foster mothers that they should not
> cuddle
>  their foster children because it might induce them or the child to
>  "over-attach." Of course since it is easier for a child to transfer
>  attachment than build it from scratch if missed in the usual time frame
>  because of abuse/neglect/multiple placement this does not necessarily
hold
>  much water.
>  I'd would be interested in the opinion of others on this. Is
breastfeeding
>  "special" or "normal" and why is there are reluctance to consider that
>  babies could benefit from breastfeeding by other than their mother.
>  By the way, for those who heard my talk at ILCA, 2 of the cases described
>  were foster children not adopted children (so obviously my own
> understanding
>  of the sensitivities of those listening resulted in me altering the
stories
>  a little) and I know of many cases of foster breastfeeding, sometimes
with
>  official sanction, somtimes without and children have been removed from
the
>  care of their foster mothers because of breastfeeding or told stop or
> else.
>

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