In a message dated 9/13/01 11:39:39 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<<   With the information that I found, I believe that LAM can be 
effective if the “rules” are followed properly.  My question, is this 
taught frequently to mothers?  If so, who is teaching it to mothers?  
If not, why? >>

LAM is primarily taught in the US in "fringe  circles", such as among 
homebirthers or those who bf long-term or use primarily holistic medicine. 
This is often all the same group of people, so it is very small. I think 
there are many factors, such as money, control, lack of respect for women and 
our bodies' normal cycles, assumptions about lifestyle choices women are 
willing to make and fear that it really is this easy. If word gets out that 
there are huge benefits to a lifestyle of keeping babies close, nursing on 
demand w/o artificial nipples, etc then what does that say about the 
liefstyle choices valued in our culture? What do we lose by engaging in them? 
Connection with our own bodies as well as our babies? And isn't connection 
the most primary human need? This is a can of worms the medical establishment 
doesn't dare have opened, b/c there is so much in that can that makes their 
drugs and methods unecessary, invalid or even dangerous. After all, if a 
woman can space out 3 babies in 13 years, while gaining the protection to her 
own body of LA and breastfeeding, w/o ever using a drug, are the risks of 
those drugs acceptable? I witnessed first-hand in a clinic the heavy-handed 
control wielded over women in all aspects of their fertility and the very 
palpable fear of women learning about LAM.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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