This is just a quick introduction.  I hope it's okay for me to be
lurking on the list.  I'm a third-time BFing mom with a 5 year old, a 3
year old and a 6 week old.  My 5 year old has an autistic-spectrum
disorder, probably Landau-Kleffner syndrome, currently in a regressive
phase, and I'm gearing up to try him on a GF/CF diet.  One of the things
I want to try is giving him pumped breastmilk in lieu of some of the
dairy products I'm going to be removing from his diet.  I am in great
need of support for this move.  My husband thinks it's a fine idea
(especially because of the cost savings over soy and rice milk
products--why pay big money for a cow's milk substitute when I'm making
one already?) but I know I'm going to get a lot of flack from family and
friends, if they find out.  I do not intend to tell my son what is going
on his cereal; his ability to understand such things is limited, I
think, and best not to risk him understanding this the wrong way (ie.,
mom thinks I'm a baby.)  I'd be happy to tell you more about my son and
his diagnosis and why I've made this decision--in part hoping that the
diet change and breastmilk may let me take him off the Prozac sooner
than the doctors plan to.

Other than this brave venture, breastfeeding is going great and I plan
to breastfeed this baby until long after she begins demanding solid
food. (I do not wish to give her solids before then, and hope never to
give her formula.) I enjoy advising young mothers who are friends and
acquaintances of mine about breastfeeding, especially when I can
repudiate the lies that they are sometimes told by people who want to
see them feed formula, and someday I'd like to try being a lactation
consultant.  Lurking on this list has already helped me with pumping, as
I now understand better what happens with my breasts while pumping or
nursing, and I can "pump smarter" to take care of not one, but two. I'm
also very interested in herbs and diet changes that will let me make
more and better milk.

Let me add that what you do is very important. Just today I talked with
a new father whose wife gave up on breastfeeding after only two
attempts; the baby didn't "get it" right away so she gave up, thinking
he would starve. That is so sad to me.  I honestly think that the clinic
where she delivered is guilty of malpractice for not providing better
help establishing breastfeeding.

Please tell me if I'm lurking inappropriately; I promise that unless
asked or unless I'm made very welcome, I will not post anything again.
I understand the necessity of a list that is open only to professionals;
I ask only to lurk while I'm working with this unusual tactic for my
son's neurological health.

Sheri Lynn Meyers
Oklahoma