I fully admit that I am reacting to this dioxin thing completely as a mother
and not someone involved with helping other moms breastfeed.  In all the
years I have been breastfeeding (approaching 8 years lifetime total and still
anticipating breastfeeding for some time to come) I have never heard anything
as upsetting as this. Today as I nursed my 16 month old daughter I was filled
with anxiety over whether I am hurting her in some way. Then I worried about
all of my other kids (I have five) and thought about my first born, who only
nursed for a little over 5 months.(The literature seemed to indicate the
worst risk for the first pregnancy and nursling).  I consider myself pretty
well versed in breastfeeding issues, and have been involved with LLL for many
years, and I am wondering why something this upsetting has not been raised
over and over again, especially by those wishing to negate the positive
aspects of nursing.  It is also still true, apparently, that even in spite of
the presence of dioxin in breastmilk, that there still are lower incidences
of cancer and other illnesses for breastfed infants/children than for those
bottle fed.  I must be missing something here.  Considering this is a
personal issue for me at this time, I would appreciate any discussion on the
issue that might be reassuring.  I am 40 lbs heavier now than I was before I
started having children, and would like to lose some weight.  I have known
for some time that breastfeeding women should not lose weight too quickly
because toxins can be released into the milk from the fat stores.  But I
never dreamed this issue was as frightening as today's posts about the levels
of dioxin in breastmilk indicate.  There must be some more answers out there.
 I would appreciate hearing them!

Sincerely,
Betsy Koval , LLL Grand Ledge, MI, who is trying really hard not to panic

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html