Unlikely that an agency who would contemplate separating this child from its mother would be interested in attachment theory, but one could always try to remind them that early separation increases the risk that the mother will not develop the strong bonds necessary for nurturing this child from then on.  It is depressing that part of the 'care' of a family with such high risk for problems, consists of doing things that are known to cause the same problems.  This is a separate issue from the milk one, and just as important.

Back in the days when premature babies were cared for in units where parents were scarcely allowed to see them, it was commonplace for mothers to simply not show up to collect the child when it was able to leave the hospital.  Doctors 'discovered' that by keeping parents, esp mothers, closely involved in hands-on care, they could virtually eliminate such abandonment.  In those days, being born at 35 weeks often meant a several-week stay in hospital for the baby, and certainly meant being separated within the hospital for the first week or so.  We do seem to have learned something, and it ought to be applied in this case.

Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome