And to think I was about to go no-mail in order to get some writing done--I
would have missed Laurie's very kind boost to my morale! I do want to
clarify that I am not a psychologist, though I training and experience in
the field of clinical psychology. I would need a Ph.D. to be called a
psychologist and my little supervisor (i.e., almost-four-year-old daughter)
has not granted approval for the necessary continued formal education yet.
Not to mention, I would have to decide which of many very fascinating
fields to continue on in... Can one get one Ph.D. in
culture/lactation/psychology/and then some?

For some unexplained reason, I did not receive the digest containing the
weaning poem. "Extended" breastfeeding is a particularly difficult thing to
do in the US. I've talked with many mothers who have become "closet
nursers" as their nurslings have gotten older ("older" ranging from six
months old and up). Many of these women have swung periodically between an
intentional defiance of cultural norms that can so powerfully undermine
breastfeeding and the fear that Laurie describes: that someone so
uncomfortable and so uninformed about (biologically and psychologically)
normal breastfeeding might contact child protection services with the
result that an abrupt weaning occurs and mother and child are separated.
Newspaper accounts (with incomplete coverage at best) of such events add
fuel to this fear.

I personally and professionally wish I knew what the actual risk of such an
event is if the only "charge" were "extended" breastfeeding--though many
who engage in "extended" breastfeeding are likely to also warrant "charges"
of other culturally "abnormal" practices such as co-sleeping. Any thoughts?
And some mothers have much more than the average reasons (which are
incredible enough) to continue breastfeeding until their children outgrow
their need: some children have a congenital disorder or other family health
history that puts them at known higher risk for developing serious
disorders that breastfeeding might prevent or reduce the impact of (e.g.,
cancer during childhood and/or adulthood). Cultural barriers to "extended"
breastfeeding pose real hardship and risk to all mothers and their
children.

Regularly unwise,

Cynthia Good Mojab, MS Clinical Psychology
(Breastfeeding mother, advocate, independent [cross-cultural] researcher
and author; LLL Leader and Research Associate in the LLLI Publications
Department; and former psychotherapist currently busy nurturing her own
little one.)
Ammawell
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://ammawell.homepage.com

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