Hi to all.  The Children's Nutrition Research Center in Houston is a very
breastfeeding friendly institution.  I hate to see research trashed because
of the description of it which made it into a newspaper.  Many times the
popular press over-simplifies or misses the point.  Science is supposed to
ask hard questions and not to slant the results due to the bias of its
reseachers (pro or con.)  Sometimes people get results they don't want to
get.  Do you supress these data?  No.  They may form the basis of another,
broader study.  They may help refine the methodology.  Etc.  While I tend to
agree with the idea that 22 is a low sample population, I have certainly
quoted studies with fewer enrolled when it suits my purposes.  Until I've
read the study, looked at the design, and decided whether their conclusion
fits with their data, I think I will withhold judgement. Rather than attack
the messengers, we can undertake to quantify our own data and work hard to
get it into print.  We can also review the literature to look at other
studies (quoted on Lactnet before and available in the digests) on teen
mothers so that we are basing our clinical decisions on more than just
personal experience.  This can certainly be valid, but much useful
information can be gleaned even from studies we wish were more along the
party line.  The info that teen moms nursed shorter and fewer feeds is very
useful.  It can help me refine my counseling.  The risk of being trashed by
colleagues for unpopular conclusions ought not to be one of our fears if we
are sincerely on a quest for knowledge.
Barbara

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Private Practice, Austin, Texas
Owner, Lactnews On-Line Conference Page
http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html