Hi Vaishali,
I'm really sorry if I misunderstood you but when you repeatedly stated that
breastfeeding at this age is not physiologically necessary and by
implication that this was the most important consideration that this meant
that the non-nutritional aspects of breastfeeding were not significant. And
I fear you have misread what I wrote because I stated that many (not all)
health care professionals (not medical professionals) are not interested in
the non-nutritional aspects of breastfeeding. I stand by this assertion. You
often hear health care professionals (of all varieties) state that the baby
is *just* breastfeeding for comfort. Why the just? I think that we have
overemphasised how wonder breastmilk is and forgotten about breastfeeding. I
recently spoke at a conference where the them was "how breastfeeding
contributes to a healthy future" I was the only speaker that addressed an
issue on this theme that was not to do with breast milk. Why? I think that
the reasons I mentioned in my earlier email still hold.

Back onto the subject of the young toddler breastfeeding frequently at
night. I'm in the process of analysing a study that is looking at 100+
breastfeeding dyads where the breastfeeder is 2+ years. Many of the children
breastfeed at night. Often the mums could live without it but they state
that it is important for their child and especially for those mums who are
physically separated from their child during the day those night breastfeeds
are important. No it's not the same as the mum being with her child all day
but it seems to help some children cope with the separation. That's a good
thing. I think it's essential to listen to mums when they say that
breastfeeding is important to their child.

Karleen Gribble
Australia


> Whoa!! Whatever gave you that idea?!! No need to accuse the entire medical
> profession either.

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