From: -Lisa Marasco, BA, IBCLC
>Last possible threat-- mom with very large breasts that smother baby during
>sleep. May have to watch for this and how they sleep together!

I write:
I know Lisa meant well, but I for one would like to see a study that
indicates that this is in fact a "real" risk.  (a la Dr. Jack, I guess!
:-))  I would hazard a guess, no offense meant to Lisa, that she does *not*
in fact have 'very large breasts,' and that she doesn't understand what
this experience is like.

I know many people with large and very large breasts, and some of them
have/had family beds.  I myself am very large chested, and our daughter
slept with us for some months.  While it is true that yes, I did have to be
aware of where my breast was in relation to my daughter, I would hazard a
guess that this is true of smaller chested people as well.  They're a body
part like any other, and I tend to know where they are, thanks!  I don't
see any difference between them and say, an arm, in relation to smothering
a baby.

I also take offense to the statement made to me in the hospital by a
postpartum nurse.  My husband was asleep on the little pull out chair/bed
with our 1.5 day old daughter (cesarean birth, that's why we were still
there), and she told me I ought not "let him do that" because he's
overweight!  Please!  Has *anyone* seen a study which links problems with
co-sleeping to either overweight people or women with large breasts?!

Tricia Jalbert
wanna be LC in Oakland, CA