This is from Medscape's Pediatric email news letter.  The URL is
http://pediatrics.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2000/10/10.24/20001023clin003.ht
ml
But one has to sub to be able to access it (no charge).
Anna Swisher
LLL Leader
Austin, TX
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Breastfeeding of Adopted Babies Is Possible
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DELHI (Reuters Health) Oct 24 - It is possible to induce lactation in an
adoptive mother, according to a study from Manipal, India, and subsequent
breastfeeding can be successful.

Dr. Bhavana B. Lakhkar, from the Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, evaluated the
factors affecting the induction of lactation in 23 mother-adopted baby
pairs. The age of mothers ranged from 35 to 45 years. Fifteen mothers were
of low socioeconomic status, three mothers were working while the rest were
housewives.

Twelve mothers agreed to nurse and were given metoclopramide to induce
lactation. Initiation of breastfeeding was documented in eight subjects. It
was successful in four and partially successful in four mothers. The mean
time to initiation of lactation was 8 days. The success of initiation
depended on the motivation of mothers, with the most motivated mother
starting to lactate on the fourth day, writes Dr. Lakhkar in the October
issue of Indian Pediatrics.

Among the mothers who refused to breastfeed, the common reasons for refusal
were working status, shy to breastfeed an adopted baby, not convinced about
the effectiveness of breastfeeding an adopted baby, and unwillingness of
husband to support the practice.

"It was easy to convince poorly educated women who felt breastfeeding was
natural," Dr Lakhkar writes. "[The] younger the adopted baby and [the]
earlier the initiation, [the] better was success," she notes.

Several studies from developed countries have documented the success of
breastfeeding in adopted babies, she points out. "This study shows that it
is quite possible to [induce lactation in] an adoptive mother and in
developing countries like India it may be a lifeline for adopted babies," Dr
Lakhkar concludes.

Indian Pediatr 2000;37:1114-1116.

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