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Lactation Information and Discussion

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Subject:
From:
Karleen Gribble <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 4 May 2001 10:08:22 +1000
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This is something that I am very interested in. 
Yes, it is possible for older children to be taught how to breastfeed. I know of children up to the age of 3 years who have been 'weaned to the breast'.

Generally it is a slow and steady process, take small steps at a time. If anyone is attempting it I would advise them not to read the general literature on adoptive BF which just says "the older the child the harder" without giving any ideas of how to overcome difficulties. There is an article in a German breastfeeding newsletter called Stillnachrichten (in German but with photos) specifically on the subject and on the Web there is Darillyn Starr's experiences with her daughter Julia http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBSepOct93.adopt.html and the WHO booklet on relactation, although not addressing older children specifically, is very good. Most other publcations tend to be patronising and not encouraging.

There are a couple of adoptive BF mailing lists on yahoogroups as well as bulletin boards with women who have breastfed adopted children. They are a great place to 'meet' someone who has been there and has the specialist knowledge on the topic.

Although there has been nothing published on the subject I do think that adoptive breastfeeding can be a very useful technique in promoting attachment for a number of reasons.

Karleen Gribble
Australia
(PS I'm still trying to track down that reference on adoptive breastfeeding from the Canadian Journal of Obstet and Gynae, I'd be happy to do a swap with anyone with one of the other refs I have on adoptive BF if anyone else is interested.. I have a stack here)

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