Hi Everybody:
    A  benefit of breastfeeding is a reduction in allergies, wheezing, and
upper respiratory infection. The increased incidence of asthma has been
documented world wide, and could be ascribed to a decrease in breastfeeding
initiation and duration. But this topic, like all others, is much more
complex.  Questions are being raised about a possible association between
infant immunizations and asthma in more than one article. A recent one is "Is
Infant Immunization a Risk Factor for Childhood Asthma or Allergy?" by Kemp,
Pearce et.al in Epidemiology 1997, 8:678-680.
   A fascinating newsletter, Primal Health Research, is available for $20/year
from Birthworks, 42 Tallowood Drive, Medford, NJ 08055.
(<[log in to unmask]>)Michel Odent is the editor. That's where I saw this
piece about a possible connection between certain immunizations and asthma.
The latest issue had an article "How polluted is mother's milk?" I quote the
overall conclusion; "........In particular, there is no advantage in reducing
the duration of breastfeeding since the milk becomes less polluted as
lactation progresses."  Web site is <www.primal-health.org>.
    warmly, Nikki