Please don't misunderstand my post about Mothering Magazine.  I *LOVE*
Mothering magazine.  But it does concern me that some of their articles are
not based on research, especially if they are written and presented to the
public as though they are.

One example, from many years ago -- they had an article about the risk of
Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) and whether or not it was linked to mother's age.
  The author wrote that obviously there was no relationship between age of
the mother and risk of having a child with Down Syndrome, because most
mothers of children with Down Syndrome are young.

The author seemed not to realize the errors in her logic.  Of course, most
mothers of children with Down Syndrome are young, because young women are
the ones having most of the children.  Still, your *risk* is higher in your
teens and after 35 years of age than it is in your 20s and early 30s.  The
risk at age 45 years is about 1/12 births.  This is a very high risk,
compared to the 1/1000 risk during your 20s.  But, there aren't many 45 year
old women having babies.  That's why you don't see very many older mothers
with children with Down Syndrome.

The article told women not to worry at all about any link between maternal
age and risk of Down Syndrome.

The general public tends to think that there is some great overriding
censorship/quality assurance group that certifies everything before it gets
published, so that if something got published, therefore it is true.  That's
why I said that Mothering should be taken with a grain of salt.  Not a
bucket of salt.  Not tossed out with the bathwater.  Just taken with a grain
of salt.

Just last month in Canada, I tried to talk with a 'lactation consultant'
(not sure of her credentials) who took issue with my presentation about the
issue of guilt and harm caused by formula.  No matter what research I tried
to inform her about, she responded "If formula hurt babies, *they* wouldn't
allow it to be sold."  THEY being the government, I guess.  Because it is
available for purchase, it must be 100% safe, was her reasoning.  Like
cigarettes and alcohol, I guess.

Kathy Dettwyler
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