Hi all,
Thought I would pass along to the list the following Health Brief from the
AAP NEWS, the official newsletter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The
referenced issue is 12(7):2, July 1996.

"Breastfeeding Studies:  Two recent studies focus on protein, growth and
weaning ages for breastfed infants.

According to a February 1996 PEDIATRIC RESEARCH study, the lower protein
intake of exclusively breastfed infants is not likely to limit their growth.

Fifty infants, breastfed exclusively up to age 6 months, were compared with
91 infants who were breastfed and received prepared solid foods (including
egg yolk) from ages 4 months to 6 months.

Despite the 20 percent higher protein intake of the supplemented infants, no
differences were noted in rates of growth for either weight or height.

A second study, in the December 1995 CLINICAL PEDIATRICS, indicates that,
among a sample of American women who practice extended breastfeeding, the
average age for weaning was reported to be 2 1/2 to 3 years.

Most of the 179 survey respondents described weaning as "gradual" and
"child-led." Fourteen had weaned at least three children; their youngest
were significantly older at weaning than the older siblings were.  Weaning
age ranged from 1 month to 7 1/3 years.

The findings support previous research showing true child-led weaning seldom
occurs before age 4.

Among the mothers sampled, 43 percent were college graduates, 25 percent had
graduate degrees and 94 percent were married.

Many practitioners have never encounterd long-term nursing, so unusual in
North America that mothers might resort to doing it secretly, the study
notes. Practitioners' lack of awareness regarding long-term nursing could
limit their access to important information about the mother-infant
relationship.

Extended nursing has documented benefits and practitions can be confident in
supporting mothers who choose to nurse their children into toddlerhood and
beyond, researchers conclude."

YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! Is this a cool reference to have or WHAT???  I urge
everyone to copy this and keep in their legal rights files for all the moms
who have custody or visitation conflicts in which their practice of extended
breastfeeding has been an issue.  It is also a great ref. to provide to MDs
who are urging weaning on un-ready mothers and babies, as it comes from such
a respectable and acceptable authority as the AAP.
Barbara

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