>Does your lack of concern cover Black women also?
>
>For those who have never thought about it, some White women perm
>their hair to make it curl, while most Black women who perm their
>hair perm it to make it straight.

Wow! So much to learn.  I don't know if the hair straighteners would be of
concern to a breastfeeding infant.  It is something that I would like to
know, however.  Do you have a list of ingredients in the more common
products?

So many products and chemicals that we began to use in the years when a
mother and her infant were two separate entities (in more ways than one)
have never been tested for transfer to breastmilk.  The usual, easier reply
is to say, "When in doubt, don't breastfeed." But we are challenging that
response every day and the issue needs to be taken seriously.

Most of us would look at the risk/benefit ratio if we knew what the risk
was. But who will care enough to test such products? Certainly not the
makers of the products.

So long as there appears to be a "safe" alternative to feeding babies at
our breasts, the issue of chemicals in our lives will not be addressed. I
have clients who are worried about the safety of fenugreek, so they
supplement with abm.

Thanks for another "lesson."

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee
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