Roni Chastain <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

"She has
already been advised by the orthopedist that she should not breastfeed due
to
bone loss during bf."

This is one of the worst examples of poor, non evidence- based medicine I
have heard of yet. Breastfeeding, specifically the long period of weaning
STRENGTHENS bones, adding more density than they had before pregnancy.
Bottle feeding is the worst choice for this womans bones (as well as worst
choice for baby). I am scrambling to find my latest statistics, these
studies are a few years old but will get you started.

Kalkwarf HJ, Specker BL. Bone mineral loss during lactation and recovery
after weaning. Obstet Gynecol 1995;86:26-32

Sowers M, Randolph J, Shapiro B, Jannausch M. A prospective study of bone
density and pregnancy after an extended period of lactation with bone loss.
Obstet Gynecol 1995;85:285-289

Specker BL, Viera NE, O'Brien KO, et al. Calcium kinetics in lactating women
with low and high calcium intakes. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;59:593-599

I will now go and search for the newer ones, here is a quote from
Biancuzzo's Breastfeeding the Newborn:

"[E]vidence is accumulating to support the idea that breastfeeding does have
a protective effect against this common problem in women. Bone density may
decrease transiently during lactation, but bone loss during lactation is
regained after weaning. Furthermore, bones recover to pre-lactation levels
even with extended lactation and subsequent pregnancies. The decreased
urinary excretion of calcium and increased bone absorption during lactation
may help to explain beneficial effects. Epidemiological studies consistently
demonstrate protection with breastfeeding." p.57

good luck!

Michelle DePesa

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html