Hi, all. I have been lurking for several months, grateful for all the wisdom
and expertise that is available at the click of a mouse, overwhelmed by the
sheer volume of correspondence -if I am less than a week behind in reading
the postings, I feel lucky. I am the Co-President of the Boston Association
for Childbirth Education (BACE) and Coordinator of the Nursing Mothers'
Council (NMC). I serve on the Training Committee for NMC, have been a NMC
Counsellor for over ten years,  a Medela pump rental station for 3 years, and
most importantly, the mother of three breastfed children, Jennifer (27, who
sadly was only brf for about 5-6 months), James (12), and Margaret (5, next
week). My first child was born while I was in college, so I've been a teen
mom (barely), and my last child was born in my 42nd year, so I feel as though
I have a little perspective on birthing and breastfeeding practices in
American culture.

I cannot thank the Kathleens enough for creating this amazing forum. I learn
something new every time I log on--mostly I learn once again how little I
know! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I am coming out of lurkhood to ask for information for a friend of mine who
is a longtime LLL-er, whose daughter, age 17, has been told by at least two
MDs that her breasts will never develop "normally".  She has experienced all
the other signs of normal puberty. One of her breasts has never changed size
at all, the other has developed minimally in a conical shape. I seem to
remember a series of exchanges on breast shape a few months ago, and its
implications for future breastfeeding ability. When mom asked one of the
plastic surgeons about future brf ability if her daughter goes ahead and has
an implant in the flat breast and some reconstruction in the other, the MD
replied that with her breast structure, there was little likelihood that she
would ever  be able to brf whether the surgery was done or not. I would
appreciate any info on research articles and/or words of wisdom I could pass
on to this very concerned mom.  TIA

Beth Sargent
Needham,  Mass.