When we are talking about this kind of thing can we bear in mind Mike
Woolridge's research with malnourished mothers in Papua New Guinea.  Mike
explained that although the extra supplements given to the malnourished mother
made no difference to her milk, quantity or quality, or the weight and size of
the baby, it did make her periods return quicker and so the natural spacing
between children was shortened, so placing extra pressure on an already over
stretched ecosystem.

Now I really must find the references for this.  I know the research was done in
the 80's.  Off to do a search...

Sue Holden
NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor
Harrogate, UK
and Mike Woolridge's neighbour

newman wrote:

> Instead of endangering the babies by giving them supplements, and wasting
> money (formula is relatively expensive food), and re-establishing in the
> minds of too many poor mothers how wonderful formula is, the money should be
> spent to supplement the diets of nursing mothers.
>
> Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

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