> ><< What is the percentage or statistic of mothers who cannot produce an
> >adequate
> >milk supply, despite all  commonly used successful stategies, and in the
> >absence of breast disease or surgical procedures
[augmentation/reduction]? >>
> >
> >at a recent conference, Marianne Neifert discussed that some previous
> >research indicated that 5% of women have primary insufficient lactation,
but
> >it may be closer to 4%. this figure did include breast dx/surgery,
various
> >serious illness/disorders/stressors.

I do seem to recall numbers like less than 1% of all women that deliver a
baby *not at all* being able to lactate, due to inborn defects (this rules
out all forms of accidents, injury ands breast surgery). That is what I
would define as primairy lactation inability. I think I must disagree with
Neifert to define primairy lactation insufficiency as including conditions
that have to do with factors like surgery and illnesses/disorders, unless
the ilness/disorder is due to the same cause as the lactation insufficiency.
I'd prefer to use primairy lactation insufficiency as from birth on not
being able to provide the amount of milk a baby needs for a healthy growth
and development (however difficult it may be to find a universal standard
for that, I agree, Heather) and to use secundairy lactation insufficiency in
case the condition is related to accidents, injury, surgery, etc *and* to
conditions related to iatrogenic lactation insuficiency.
I think, as lactnetters before me did as well, that using axact definitions
and {can't find the good English word to say what I mean: using the same
word always for the same situation, phenomena, etc}.
In the Dutch Lactation Consultants Journal I started a article series
("Terminology") trying to achieve that goal for our language. Using
consequent and understandable terminology can raise the standard of our
profession as looked upon by other health care professionals and will keep
us from misunderstandings. And in that context I would again ask to re-read
writings to Lactnet before sending them, to see if there are any
abbreviations in it that might confuse  readers with other first languages
or another professional jargon.

Greeting,

Gonneke van Veldhuizen, IBCLC, Maaseik, Belgium
 - one who gives birth is partly mother, one who nurses is fully mother
                                                                  - Jacob
Cats, 17th century

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