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Breastfeeding of a Medically Fragile Foster ChildA case is presented in which a medically fragile baby was breastfed by her foster mother. As a result, the childs physical and emotional health were improved. The mechanisms whereby human milk improves health are well known. The act of breastfeeding may also have an analgesic and relaxant effect as a result of hormonal influences and skin-to-skin contact. Many foster babies may benefit from human milk or breastfeeding. However, the risk of disease transmission must be minimized. Provision of human milk to all medically fragile foster babies is desirable. Breastfeeding by the foster mother may be applicable in cases in which the child is likely to be in long-term care, the child has been previously breastfed, or the childs mother expresses a desire that the infant be breastfed. However, social barriers must be overcome before breastfeeding of foster babies can become more common.
Key Words: wet nursing cross-nursing breastfeeding foster care foster child attachment relactation milk banking
Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 21, No. 1,
42-46 (2005) |
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