I wrote that abrupt weaning would increase the risk of transmission of hiv if
the studies are to be believed.  But I really didn't explain what I meant by
this.  Of course, if one is abruptly weaning the infant, the infant will no
longer be receiving its mother's milk.  What I do believe is that some
mothers might because of discomfort of overly full breasts and a very unhappy
baby be tempted to just feed them anyway.  It would be a factor that one may
not be able to control. I don't think researchers or many health care
providers understand the ramifications of asking a mother to abruptly wean
and the difficulties encountered by a mother to follow such requests.  Abrupt
weaning will always be a risk for the health and well-being of mothers and
infants.  Mothers risk mastitis, abcesses, depression, return of menses with
subsequent loss of iron, breast cancer, etc.  Babies are at risk for all
kinds of illnesses because they have lost the protective benefits of
breastmilk.  I think it is even more risky for the "supposedly" hiv-positive
mom and her infant to have lost this immune-boosting relationship.(not only
the physical properties of the milk itself but the physical contact-the
touch--that boosts immunity)  Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html