> (Magda wrote:) One of the interesting things about qualitative research on breastfeeding is
> that it may often be done by anthropologists, sociologists, pyschologists,
> and so on.  When reading some of this work, it is frustrating to notice a
> lack of depth in the understanding of the researcher of the physical.,
> embodied processes of breastfeeding.  At the same time, in reading some work
> grounded more in medical science, it is frustrating to see a lack of depth
> of understanding of the strengths and complexities of qualitative analysis.

In dealing with medical dr's in trying to convince them of the benefits of breastfeeding in regard of preventing illnesses, it is a pitty that they will only look at quantative studies of a certain type and published in certain journals. I shared some articles of interest with an oncologist of a breastcancer information website about the decreasing risk of certain types of cancer in women who breastfed and/or were breastfed. His reply was that in looking for reliable research he will look at the citation rate (how much is the research quoted in other articles) and where was it published (most valuable he states is publishing in "Lancet", "The New England Journal of Medicine", "Science" or "Nature"). The tone of his remarks was such that it made me believe (or was supposed to make me believe!) that this is how most dr's look at research. (And *ofcours* he concluded that there is no evidence that breastfeeding does have a positive effect on decreasing cancer risks.) 

Gonneke van Veldhuizen, IBCLC, Maaseik, Belgium
 - one who gives birth is partly mother, one who nurses is fully mother
                                                                  - Jacob Cats, 17th century

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