LACTNET Archives

Lactation Information and Discussion

LACTNET@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Rick Gagne and Elise Morse-Gagne <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 27 May 2005 20:40:07 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (35 lines)
The last Breastfeeding Abstracts had an abstract about lactational 
amenorrhea in a traditional Toba village in Argentina.
Their babies breastfeed 3-5 times an hour round the clock, for about 2 
minutes at a time, for 18 months.
This means they nurse *100 times a day*.
Note I say "the babies breastfeed" not "the mothers breastfeed".  Though it 
doesn't say so, I'm betting the babies are carried or worn all the time and 
that nursing the baby at a particular moment is not a conscious decision 
the mother has to make.
I told my last prenatal breastfeeding class this, to try and get them away 
from the idea that nursing 10-12 times a day was carved in stone, or 
excessive, or whatever.  I said the baby is probably born expecting that 
Toba pattern, and has to make a pretty big adjustment when s/he gets 
American parents! I drew a 24 hour clock face with 5 precisely scheduled 
half-hour feedings on it to depict the ca 1930-1960 European/American 
middle-class feeding schedule.  (For a great example, check out Enid 
Bagnold's novel The Squire).  Then I drew another circle with 5 brief 
randomly spaced feedings on it and said that that was a single *hour* in 
the breastfeeding life of these South American babies. It was fun.
Elise (one of two Elises!)
LLLL, IBCLC
New Hampshire, USA 

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

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

ATOM RSS1 RSS2