Tina is nicely seeking information that she hopes will impress her GP with
the value of breastfeeding "longer".  The GP has already mocked the AAP and
the WHO and shown an ignorance of basic physiology BUT maybe Tina will find
some tidbit that will be impressive enough to sink in.

I don't remember exactly where I got this tidbit and perhaps I don't even
know for sure if it is all accurate but it sure seems to impress doubting
Thomases about the value of "extended" breastfeeding and the value of
breastfeeding beyond the "good stuff" (colostrum).  (I get folks who think
they have done the bulk of breastfeeding if the baby just gets the
colostrum.) I say colostrum is the protein part of the milk.  It is still
there after the "milk comes in", it is just diluted by water, sugar and fat
(which the baby also needs).  When the breastfeeding slows down and the milk
supply diminishes the protein part is still there.  As the older baby or
toddler (I skip the preschooler or kindergartner examples for most of these
folks) nurses less and less the protein part becomes more concentrated
again.  It is as if the milk goes back to a colostrum like state.  This
means the child continues to get the same immune protection over a 24 hour
period the whole time s/he breastfeeds, regardless of the volume of milk.

I know this is at least partially accurate but where oh where does it come
from?

In the hope that an emotional response will work where science has not I
suggest the following.

Perhaps Diane Wiessinger's article "How Long Should I Nurse?" (found here
and many other pages, including Diane's neat new page which I can't find
right now) http://members.tripod.com/~bmsg/howlong.htm will strike a
resonating note.

Or Comfort vs. Nutrition - by Kathryn Orlinsky
http://members.tripod.com/~bmsg/BFarticles.htm or
Why Mothers Nurse Their Toddlers  - by Norma Jane Bumgarner
http://members.tripod.com/~bmsg/nursetoddlers.htm

I found these on the web page of Breastfeeding Mothers' Support Group
(Singapore), they have a lovely index of articles at
http://members.tripod.com/~bmsg/

Carla

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