Dear Lactnetters-
       I agree with Rachel about reading the entire article.  Reading the
electronic responses was also very informative and a whole lot of fun.
       One thought I have---perhaps an off-the-wall one---remember the days
when breastfeeding was maligned for raising bilirubin levels.  Finally, a few
brave souls stood back and said-"Wait a minute.  Breastfeeding is the
physiologic norm.  Thus, perhaps higher bili levels are normal and even
protective in some way."  Then came a new look at bilirubin and it's role as
an antioxident.
       IF, despite the lack of adequate control for confounders and the poor
definition of 'breastfeeding', the results are true and breastfeeding is
related to stiffer arterial walls, are formula-fed babies missing out on a
potentially protective effect?  Are stiffer arterial walls beneficial?  Or
does breastfeeding afford some compensatory response for these stiffer walls
which protects from heart disease later in life?
       Seems to me we keep getting away from breastfeeding as the norm.
-Debi Page Ferrarello, RN, IBCLC
Breastfeeding Resources, Inc.

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