![]() Fourthly, breastfeeding involves maternal skin-to-skin contact, which stabilises blood glucose levels, body temperature and respiration rates, aids neurobehavioral self-regulation and also reduces stress hormone release and blood pressure. Thirdly, the sweet flavour of milk stimulates the release of opioids in the midbrain of infants, which act on receptors that decrease the perception of pain. Secondly, suckling and intestinal adsorption of fat from milk stimulates the release of the hormone cholecystokinin, which activates an afferent vagal mechanism that induces relaxation and pain relief. Firstly, suckling at the breast stimulates the infant's oropharyngeal tactile- and mechanoreceptors and focuses attention on the mouth, reducing outside influences. There are several reasons for this calming and analgesic effect. Breastfeeding calms and provides analgesia to infants, as evidenced in reduced heart and metabolic rates and a reduced ability to perceive pain during suckling. However, breastfeeding is more than just the provision of nutrition the act of suckling at the breast has an impact on both child and mother. The positive impact of breastmilk on the growth and development of babies is widely accepted. ![]() Four case histories of adoptive breastfeeding will also be presented. This evidence will include discussion of the impact of the physical act of breastfeeding on children and mothers the way in which the pre-adoption experience of children influences their ability to form relationships how breastfeeding may be initiated in cases of adoption and the potential impact of breastfeeding on adopted children. In an attempt to ameliorate this situation, this paper will provide evidence to support the proposition that breastfeeding can play a significant role in facilitating the development of the child-mother relationship in cases of adoption. Thus, health care professionals and prospective adoptive parents may be left with the impression that adoptive breastfeeding is something that is nice to do but is without potential for substantive benefit. In addition, discussion of the benefits of adoptive breastfeeding uniformly lacks detail on how breastfeeding may assist the child or mother. The ability of adoptive mothers to successfully relactate/induce lactation is regularly questioned in literature, in spite of evidence that most adoptive mothers are physiologically capable of producing sufficient milk for their child. However, both professional and lay literature are often unclear as to why adoptive breastfeeding may be of benefit. There is also a growing awareness that it is possible for women to breastfeed their adopted children, and that health care professionals should support them if they express a desire to do so. The value of breastfeeding in supporting the normal growth and development of infants and young children is recognized worldwide. The impact of breastfeeding as observed in cases of adoption has applicability to all breastfeeding situations, but may be especially relevant to other at risk dyads, such as those families with a history of intergenerational relationship trauma this deserves further investigation. Breastfeeding may assist attachment development via the provision of regular intimate interaction between mother and child the calming, relaxing and analgesic impact of breastfeeding on children and the stress relieving and maternal sensitivity promoting influence of breastfeeding on mothers. As illustrated in the case studies presented, in instances of adoption and particularly where the child has experienced abuse or neglect, the impact of breastfeeding can be considerable. This paper reviews the evidence in physiological and behavioural research, that breastfeeding can play a significant role in developing the attachment relationship between child and mother. ![]() Breastfeeding an adopted child has previously been discussed as something that is nice to do but without potential for significant benefit.
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