Hi Sara,

I have only ever seen this discussed once in any publication (a book from
Perspectives Press- sorry I haven't got the title written on my photocopy)
and they described it as a complex issue. However, I wouldn't think that a
link between breastfeeding and choosing not to place a child for adoption
should be a consideration. Here in Australia we had a long history of
coersion of single mothers to relinquish and for many of them they were not
permitted to see their child because they might change their mind. This has
been a source of lifelong trauma for them. The same fear is associated with
breastfeeding "If the mother breastfeeds she might feel love for her child
and change her mind." It seems that there are often too many vested
interests in a woman placing her child for adoption. How can a child have
too much love?? Children should only be placed for adoption if there is
truly no other option.

I would say that it is up to the woman herself. If she wants to breastfeed
she should do it, especially if she does place the child for adoption. If
she wants to but does not it may be a source of great regret. The fact that
she is considering it now seems to suggest that she would like to but is
looking for support from the midwife or perhaps the midwife brought it up?

Karleen Gribble
Australia




> Lactnetters,
>     There has been lots of discussion about adoptive nursing, but this is
> sort of a reverse situation.  I have had a request for pros and cons of
> breastfeeding a newborn by the birth mother prior to the baby being given
> up for adoption.  There is also the issue of engorgement, comparable, I
> suppose, to a woman choosing not to bf or to wean after a short time of
> bf.  The request is from a midwife.  The baby is due in a week or so, and
> the woman has not absolutely decided on her course of action.  I have had
a
> couple of experiences with such a situation; one birth mother decided to
> keep her baby and the other chose adoption.

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