I have found the discussion of this topic most perceptive, as usual.  I'm
going to give a personal statement from my, then, 3-year-old daughter that
perhaps sums up what many of you have been saying.

Alison waited too long the have a bowel movement, probably from being too
busy.  She had a lot of pain with the stooling.  A few days later I
"detected" that she needed to go again and suggested it to her.

She replied with certainty, "I'm not going to do that any more; it hurts."
I knew we had a problem to solve, but I was pleased with her 3-year-old
level of "self care." That "wisdom" has served her well throughout her 26
years.

I join others in hoping that this mom can see that eliminating the cow's
milk and focusing on the human milk can heal the child's intestinal tract
and sooth her emotional uncertainties until she can better handle the
leaving of something as special as breastfeeding. If Mom can see the many
benefits of continued breastfeeding for herself and her child, and feel
good about a decision to wait for weaning, they could reinforce the
connection that they have begun.

I hope that all of the support that you have gotten from Lactnetters helped
you to help this family.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Upper Midwest, USA
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