> I think we should recognize that there is no definitive
answer that says breastfeeding will not transmit HIV to an infant. <

True.  There is also no definitive research that shows that *not* breastfeeding
(exclusively) shows any *decrease* of the transmission risk to the baby.

(Remember, the Cousoudis study, the FIRST AND ONLY  study in this area to study
a group of exclusively breastfed babies, found an addition postnatal
transmission rate of HIV-1 from mother to baby of ZERO).

Whatever one feels one would do oneself if one were in this situation, I would
go to the wall for women to have the right to choose.  What really interests me
about the debate (if one can call it that, when so few people will engage in
discussion) about this issue is how any notion of informed choice and tolerance
so often goes right out the window.

Forget the epidemiology, that is the *real* threat of HIV in the context of
breastfeeding.

Magda Sachs
Breastfeeding Supporter, The Breastfeeding Network, UK

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