>I agree with Nikki that something just isn't right in this story. To 
>me it sounds as something  we call, in my corner of the world, a 
>''Monkey-meat sandwich story'' or an urban legend. Heather did you 
>know this mom and baby or were you asked for an expert opinion by 
>the journalist?
>If it's not an urban legend I think some things are possible. First 
>an undiagnosed disorder in the child. Or incapable hospital staff to 
>send home a child that is ill and not feeding well. I might, but 
>would rather not, even think child abuse. But it could even be (when 
>thinking in conspiricy theory mode) a purposely set up urban legend 
>to place breastfeeding in a very negative light.
>
>Warmly greeting,
>Gonneke
>IBCLC, LLLL, MOM in drowsy southern Netherlands


It's *not* an urban legend - this was an inquest held in a courtroom 
in Yorkshire this week.  It was properly constituted, and the coroner 
took expert advice from the pathologist (who conducted the autopsy on 
the baby) and a neonatologist .  The newspapers have reported this 
responsibly and as far as I can tell accurately.

I was asked to comment because the newspapers here often contact me 
for comment on a breastfeeding story as I act as spokesperson for 
NCT.  I didn't know the mother.

The child had no undiagnosed disorder. This would have shown up at 
autopsy. The cause of death was suffocation.

It is possible the baby was sent home from hospital not feeding well, 
but this was not in evidence.

The reason why something isn't 'right' about this story is that *we* 
know a baby would be unlikely to die in this way - suffocated 
apparently at the mother's breast - unless


i) the baby is forcefully held  face-in to the breast for enough time 
to interfere with breathing
ii) the baby has rolled off the (sleeping) mother's breast and onto 
the sofa and  has become wedged in between the mother's body and the 
sofa, or has become otherwise trapped. In this situation the mother 
would be lying or reclining on the sofa

In both cases the cause of death would be suffocation.

The alternative scenario that the mother falls asleep sitting up 
would surely mean the baby fell off her lap and onto the floor.

This is why I was disturbed that no one asked 'what position was the 
mother in when she was on the sofa?'  and that no breastfeeding 
expert was called to give evidence.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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