Let's hope that the adoption plan was for an open adoption, wherein the birthmother has met and had some say in choosing the adoptive parents, to whom she will then legally transfer the permanent responsibilities of parenting, not "give the baby up". Openness, in greater or lesser degree, is the path that infant adoptions in general are now taking. Secrecy, and control by adoption professionals has fallen out of favor because so much more is known about the lifelong emotional effects revealed by countless adoptees (and birthmothers). The adoptive parents then have not only full authority to parent, but helpful information to give the child when they feel he is ready, not setting up the heartbreaking scenario of searching and fear of rejection when he becomes an adult. If this is the nature of this young mother's adoption plan, and she decides to finalize it legally, the adoptive parents will eventually be able to provide the child the knowledge of what a healthy start the birthmother chose to give, one that no one else in the world could possibly have given, even though her situation prevented her taking permanent responsibility for parenting. The basic credo of adoption professionals is that adoption exists to provide a family for a child, not a child for a family. Pre and post placement counseling for members of the adoption triad is an important service provided by agencies. The importance and availability of this is not always made known to those who bypass agencies. It remains to be seen if the trend to openness can be expanded to consider discussing some breastfeeding as a priceless benefit for the child. I commend this young mother, no matter whether she decides to parent her child, or transfer that responsibility legally to the adoptive parents. Hats off to the LC who refused to interfere with this mother's right to make her own decision. K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC Biological mother of 5 and adoptive mother of 1 ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]