I can't put any scientific or medical input into this, but I have noticed
that mothers/parents who have had to jump through hoops,  go through a lot
of cash (advanced and prolonged infertility treatment is by no means
automatically free in the UK), and all the blood, sweat and tears and
disappointments of it all, are rather *less* likely to breastfeed than
you'd expect for their age, education and economic status.

I don't mean this happens every time, of course, but I observe that they
may try for a very short time  (maybe a day)  and then quit.  Obviously,
too soon to diagnose not enough milk, and it's clearly much more a
psychological or emotional situation...I explain it to myself by saying
that these parents,  more than anyone, have less reason to be confident
that  their own bodies will do what nature intends. They have become used
to measuring, charting, timing and so on - and you can't do that with
breastfeeding.

It is very sad - but maybe it's just me who's noticed it, and it's not
generally true at all. Any comments?

It has just occured to me that the research showing a higher incidence of
developmental problems with some babies conceived after fertility treatment
(for example, the stuff that shows problems with ICSI babies) should look
at whether these babies were breastfed or not.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK