I have been following the bris contributions with interest as a
couple of years ago I heard Gene Cranston Anderson give a talk at
Georgetown on gentle care of the newborn, and the need to prevent
crying.  She was taking about the stress extreme crying puts on a
baby's cardiovascular system and how it might cause blood to shunt
through the incompletely closed foramen ovalae (the opening between the
two atria of the heart used in foetal circulation), possibly
interfering with the closure process. Apparently it closes by about
day 7, but she quoted a study of young adult males which showed an
amazing percentage who had incompletely closed foramen avalae.

She was talking about these young adults as  babies who would have
been separated from their mothers into nurseries, but it also made
me wonder about the role of circumcism in the first few days of life.
It also made me wonder why bris is performed at day 8 (after the
foramen ovalae has closed?)  Is this yet another case of wisdom based
traditional practice?

While I've got the Jewish Lactnet audience attention -  I am
currently in contact with a young breastfeeding mother who tells me
that they are the only orthodox Jewish young family in Hobart.  This
and total deafness contributes to isolation.  However, she is on the
internet. She would love contact with other Jewish mothers of young
families - particularly orthodox.  Please email me privately and I'll
pass any messages and email addresses on to her.

Ros Escott
Tasmania, Australia