A self-described "foster mother" contacted me earlier today.  She has been
given a 4 mo. old baby by the baby's mother (an acquaintance/friend) and has
been declared the legal guardian(paperwork included.)  The birth mother is
living out of her car, is already pregnant again, and had been feeding the
baby Hamburger Helper!  Baby was to be removed from birth mother for
neglect, so mother gave legal guardianship to avoid Human Services placing
the baby.  The legal guardian mom breastfed her own 3 children 10+ years
ago, and wants to use an SNS to nurture the baby at her breast.  If she were
simply a foster mother, I cautioned her to make sure nursing the baby was ok
with the Soc. Worker, but since she is legal guardian, can she do as she
wishes?  I am contacting an att'y who is on our BF coalition for info, too.
Has anyone else had this situation? And will this little babe at 4 mos. even
take the breast?  Heaven knows, the baby needs all the nurturing it can get
at this point.

Jennifer Kneuss, IBCLC  New Phila, OH
Mother and Child Services

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html