Bravo to Katherine Dettwyler for giving us such a complete summary on this subject. The few Israelis who have asked my opinion on this subject had been told either by their doctor or nurse to wean immediately. If they "put the question" to me in such a way as to really be asking whether it is possible to continue nursing, I tell them yes, but to pay extra attention to dietary needs and more rest. Former Americans here just go ahead. My impression is that women are told to wean immediately; what they actually DO varies. I don't believe that there are "cultural taboos", but Yaffa Stark may be more knowledgeable than I. Judy Knopf, from sweltering Beer Sheva, Israel