Yes, Jessica, we are all tired of hearing about this, but until there is
more research on the "long-term effects" of long-term bf, we probably will
not know and the interest in supporting such research will only come about
as part of a major shift in our society.

There is, of course, some intriguing information coming out about breast
cancer and a decreased risk from long-term bfing AS WELL AS FROM BEING BF.

Right now, internationally, the World Bank and the Interamerican Development
Bank have become interested in Early Human Development.  But in the
discussions that they are having they are not taking breastfeeding into
account AT ALL.  This week, I was at the Interamerican Development Bank to
present the video I showed at the ILCA conference and I was told that the
bank had an internal task force to look at the situation of women working IN
THE BANK and that, in spite of the fact that there were women becoming
pregnant and trying to bf, support for bf was not mentioned in the task
force report.  There were several women there who spoke out about the
difficulties they were having in the workplace -- And the Bank has a
generally woman friendly environment and tries to be quite conscious of
these issues.

In the meantime, most evidence is anecdotal.  I myself have two children,
both of whom bf well beyond toddlerhood.  One child never wanted to sleep
away from home until she was well into primary school -- and I almost began
to believe that "too dependent" stuff myself.  But I remember once at a La
Leche League meeting when we had fathers present on our 10th anniversary,
when my husband spoke up about what most impressed him about our by now, not
bf kids, he said it was that they were so independent, in spite of the dire
predictions.

Now that I have two grown children, one with a Masters' living away from
home since she was 17 and a son who is about to enter his senior year in
college -- I really feel that, if there are any "long-term" effects, they
are all positive.  My kids are pretty well adjusted, quite independent,
warm, loving human beings.
We never went through that terrible adolescent period when you sort of want
to strangle them, even though you love them. Our communication continued to
be open (pretty much) even during the "dark" years of teen-age hood.

So, I think that we have to keep pushing for research and not cave in to the
"predictors."  Katherine Dettwyler's chapter in her new book on the Natural
Age for weaning (presented at ILCA conference) is a nice piece to give
someone who wants to consider this issue seriously.  The rest of the people
are mostly just reflecting our anti-bfing culture here in the US.

Hopefully, as our own group grows and develops, especially our kids, some of
whom will begin to enter fields that will enable them to carry out this
needed research, it should help.

Certainly in the US, with 40 years of history of LLLI, there ought to be a
fair size sample -- to be able now to look at some long-term effects, both
physical and emotional of long-term bf. For example, the breast cancer
research is much easier than, say, looking at the incidence of alcoholism or
depression.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of the census in the whole
world asked people about how long they were bf and how long exclusively bf?
Wouldn't it be wonderful if ALL research protocols on physical or mental
health asked the same questions.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if this were a
normal part of medical records, so that there would be information available
to do chart reviews?

Maybe some day....

I have noticed, at least a couple of people who are beginning to express an
interest in doing some research.  Just in the last 10 days, I have clipped a
couple of posts off of the net and sent them to a friend of mine who will be
working on a project on Early Human Development in a few months.

Hang in...


                 ***************************
"The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are
 creating.  The paths are not to be found, but made, and the
 activity of making them changes both the maker and the
 destination."  Attributed to John Schaar, University of California.

 Judy Canahuati
 email: [log in to unmask]
               *******************************