"Most adoptive moms who had never been pregnant made very small quantities."
This may be the case in the west but it is not the case in developing
countries where development of a full milk supply for an adopted baby (even
if the mother has not been pregnant before) is common according to the
literature. Jelliffe and Jelliffe in a 1972 letter to the editor of
Pediatrics talked about the psychophysiology of lactation in reference to
induced lactation as well as lactation following pregnancy. They said that
there were 3 things necessary for lactation. 1) knowledge, 2) a suckling
baby, 3) confidence. The constant negativity surrounding milk producing
capacity and adoptive breastfeeding becomes a self fulfilling prophecy as
the confidence of adoptive mothers in their ability to produce milk for
their child is undermined. I wish this could be changed!
Karleen Gribble
Australia
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