Hi.  My name is Ann Twiggs and this is the first time I have posted on
Lactnet although I have been a subscriber for many years.  I am the Ohio
WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator and Preseident of the Ohio Lactation
Consultant Association.  I am responding to Katherine Dettwyler's
comment on the Ross Mothers' Survey.  Actually, the 21.7% still
breastfeeding at 6 months refers to the universe of mothers giving birth
in 1996.  The 1997 report lists both the duration of those initiating
breastfeeding and the 6 months breastfeeding rate of the universe of
mothers giving birth.  They did not report it that way previously.  The
1997 report does show the statistics both ways going back to 1971.  In
1996 36.7% of the 59.2% who initiated were still nursing at 6 months.  In
1997 41.7% of the 62.4% were still nursing at 6 months.  However, only
26% of the universe of mothers who gave birth in 1997 breastfed at 6
months.   I am glad to have both statistics now.