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Subject:
From:
Denise Schuler <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:37:19 -0400
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text/plain
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Rachel,

I hope my post wasn't the complete cause of your "inordinately grumpy" state. 
As I replied to Sam, there was a reason why I posted that question. I had just 
been reading Motherwear's summary of laughable breastfeeding research from 
2007 in their latest newsletter. I was astounded to read that a study was 
actually done on the smell of breastfeeding (breastmilk?) and if it causes 
sexual exciteability (I'm assuming in males?). I thought if someone was 
assinine enough to pay for this research, why not penis size? The particular 
physician to whom I am referring is a complete smart*** and thinks he knows 
it all. Interestingly, he's obscessed with weight and weighs about 140 lbs. He 
is known for making his patients with a BMI greater than 25 want to jump off a 
bridge. I have inundated him with all the research on breastfeeding and it's link 
to preventing obesity because of this. He still doesn't see the big deal with 
breastfeeding. I see it as arrogance. However, due to his vanity, I thought it 
might be funny to have a study showing some increase in male penis size 
associated with breastfeeding, because sadly, it might influence his thinking. I 
do what I have to. I don't feel responsible for protecting the integrity of 
breastfeeding in this case as the issue is not about integrity. It's about taking 
someone down a notch or two for the greater good. I don't think he'll ever 
completely come around even if it's proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that 
breastfeeding prevents every disease known to man. He'll still challenge it 
because he doesn't want to believe it. After all, HIS kids were formula fed and 
they are magnificent!

Thanks for your thoughts!


Date:    Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:33:43 +0200
From:    Rachel Myr <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Post not offensive, but pediatrician may be

Denise posts, hoping it isn't offensive, asking whether anyone knows of
research on this topic because at her workplace they have 'determined we
could get one of our "holdout" docs on the subject of breastfeeding in our
corner if we could 
prove breastfeeding has some correlation to increased penis size in males.' 

The post was not offensive to me, but the pediatrician's attitude was.  Not
because she or he is concerned about penis size, but because it reveals such
a cavalier attitude to evidence-based practice.  

I've never claimed to have heard everything, so I can't say NOW I've heard
it all, but this was astonishing.  All the evidence to date has not
convinced this holdout doc that breastfeeding serves any useful purpose, but
if someone can come up with research showing that breastfeeding increases
penis size, she or he'll come around?  I'm sorry, I just can not resist:
does this doc think he or she could have been an even bigger d***head if his
or her mother had breastfed?  I'm probably being offensive too, and I think
maybe I am a little bit sorry for that, but I hope Denise realizes I am not
at all taking aim at her.  This is in sympathy with Denise, and even
gratitude to her, because the next ten times I hear a clueless remark about
breastfeeding, no matter what the source or setting, I think I will be able
to say that at least it wasn't as bad as refusing to acknowledge its value
until it is shown to add length, girth or both to an organ not even remotely
involved in the process. 

I don't know who or where this doctor is, which is probably for the best,
because I would be sorely tempted to put up a poster in the waiting room
listing the functions of breastfeeding like ensuring the normal maturation
of the immune system, laying the foundation for normal growth and the like,
and at the end of the list putting 'Increased penis size?  No one knows yet,
but our own Dr D***head is waiting for someone to do research on that before
making a commitment to support you in breastfeeding.  Meanwhile, the rest of
us are happy to help you right now, even though we all know that it will
cost our practice a lot of money if you succeed, because we will miss out on
the income from all the illnesses your baby would need care for just in the
first year if you formula feed her.'

Rachel Myr
Feeling inordinately grumpy in Kristiansand, Norway

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