Hello-
	My name is Rachel Zent and I am a junior nursing student at the University
of North Dakota. I am very interested in the topic of breastfeeding, but
newly interested concerning adoptive babies and their new mothers’
breastfeeding.  I have an interest of how this method works both
nutritionally and emotionally, and the effects it has on the mother and the
baby.  
Gribbles (2006), presented case studies studying the effects through
physiological and behavioral research how breastfeeding can play a role in
developing the attachment relationship between an adopted child and mother.
 Many of the children in this study had histories of abuse or neglect.  She
concluded that the impact of breastfeeding occurs because of the physical
aspects of breastfeeding rather than the nutritional and immune properties
of breastmilk.  
Bose (2001), performed a study on relactation using one adoptive mother and
six mothers 10-150 days postpartum, who for a variety of reasons didn’t
initiate or maintain lactation after delivery.  He concluded that shorter
postpartum intervals and less postpartum breast involution correlated with
the success of relactation and the rapid onset of the lactation.
Another study by Bryant (2006), wanted to find out how adoptive nursing
fulfilled the adoptive mother’s strong desire to breastfeed.  His results
found the use of physiologic and pharmacologic methods can bring a milk
supply to an adoptive mother.  

My questions remain as follows:  What percent of adoptive mothers have you
seen or read about that successfully breastfeed their infants without using
any other means of milk? Also, how old is too old for an infant to start
breastfeeding after being adopted where they won’t take and latch anymore?
Thank you for your time and consideration. 

Rachel Zent, S.N.
University of North Dakota 
 
Bose, C. (2001). Relactation by mothers of sick and premature infants.
     Pediatrics, 67(4).

Bryant, C. (2006). Nursing the adopted infant. Journal of the
     American Board of Family Medicine, 19(4).

Gribble, K. (2006). Mental health, attachment and breastfeeding:
     implications for adopted children and their mothers.
     International Breastfeeding Journal, 1(5).

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