Dear Friends:

From Wikipedia: 
Breast ironing is a form of _body modification_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_modification)   practiced in parts of _Cameroon_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon) . A pubescent girl's _breasts_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breasts)  are flattened, usually  by the girl's _mother_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother) , in an attempt to make her  less sexually attractive to men. 
This practice is believed to help prevent _rape_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape)  and early _marriage_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage) .  
Grinding stones, _pestles_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pestle) , belts, heated 
objects  and breast bands are used to press or beat down the forming breasts. 
Local _non-governmental  organizations_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organizations)  are trying to call attention to this practice and stop 
it. 
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I met a mother today in a clinic from Cameroon. Her mother did this to her,  
to protect her from men. She was 9 or 10; a large coin was put over the  
nipple area on each breast and then a cloth was used to tightly bind the  coins in 
place. The pressure from the coin broke down tissue under the nipple.  It hurt 
a lot. 
Fortunately, she has tons of milk with her babies and no difficulty in  
lactation. 
People do the darndest things! 
warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI
craniosacral therapy  practitioner
_www.myspace.com/adonicalee  

_ (http://www.myspace.com/adonicalee) 



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