Hi All,
    In my post yesterday, I forgot to mention that I was living in OK at
the time that Lacie was 4, which is why I remembered the articles. I was
pleased to hear that she is doing well, survived this serious problem -
and we now have one closely documented situation that exclusive
breastmilk beyond 1 year old will not cause harm to the infant. I have
seen many cases of babies 9 months to 14 months who nibble and taste,
but prefer breastfeeding.
    I am sure that the surveys of baby lead weaning, will show many of
these babies had little or no interest in other foods. The USA has
bought a bill of goods (LIES, to those outside the USA), promoted by the
baby food industry that babies can't survive on breastmilk alone, or
would do better on their version of SIN and certainly past the first ___
(day, week, month - depending on the ethnic group or area of the
country) could not survive without solids (real food).
    What is missing from this little story is that commercial production
of baby foods and formulas are young in the scheme of humanity. If you
take the religious road, breastfeeding and natural parenting are the way
to go. For how many thousands of years? If you are the evolutionary type
well then your battle of commercial vs natural is on even shakier
ground, as it is how many millions of years, that nature was up and
going before commercial?
    What I was trying to get at is that we have, in history and
certainly in the present day,  proof that what the commercial interests
are pushing are not only not the best but not even close nor even close
to the truth. Humans themselves have proven that baby led weaning is the
best for the infant. There are so many research tests and studies, that
to me, prove over and over again the rationale for ALL to encourage,
teach, support and advocate for breastfeeding, baby led weaning and
delay of (or no use what-so-ever) commercial baby food products.
     Many of the behaviors we assume have been 'forever' (hospital
births, medication for birth, SIN, bottles, etc.), have not been around
that long at all. What worries me is that the people to whom this
literature, propaganda and lies are aimed at, don't know the truth and
if their HCPs buy into the literature that they are provided, then the
fight becomes almost useless and certainly harder. Sometimes I would
like to just sit and copy every study since 1990 and just run around and
hand them to every HCP who says No breastfeeding, Can't breastfeed, or
Stop breastfeeding. I would also like to say - Haven't you read your
Journal this (week, month, or year?!?)
    Unfortunately, we are not the ones whose headlines are blasting on
the front of every newspaper and magazine, the stories such as Lacie and
many of the ones that I've read here are not the ones in the same media.
And the reality continues to be covered up by the special interest of
the commercial baby food manufacturers.
    Just MHO, .02 worth and a rant for the morning. I really need a
vacation, thank goodness Christmas is coming!!

Leslie Ward
Vine Grove, KY