Adoption of Katharine

During two pregnancies, the mother ingested cocaine. Her first child, whom we call Katharine, was bom prematurely on January 28, 1993, with cocaine in her system. Considerable efforts by social service agencies to assist the parents in abstaining from dmgs — the father used cocaine as well — were not successful. Another child, whom we shall call Jeptha, was bom on May 6, 1994, also with cocaine in his system.

The mother and father have appealed from a judgment *26under G. L. c. 119, § 26(4), rendered April 28, 1995, by a judge of the District Court, that the children be placed for adoption…