Paula Tripp's question about long-term pumping and a gradual diminution in milk obtained is a common reaction. I work with many mothers who pump long-term after having gone back to work afte rthe birth of #1 or #2 baby (usually by the time #2 or #3 comes around, they have figured out that is NOT how to raise a baby and they make other changes so that being away so many hours a day is not part of the experience). As the baby begins to take other foods and/or breastfeeds for shorter (but highly effective) periods and/or for fewer of them and begins sleeping longer at night--all this usually after 6 months or so--nearly all my moms report a gradual decline in the amount of milk the pump is able to obtain. Keep in mind that the pump is not as effective as the baby in stimulating a let-down response. Therefoer,e what might be far less obvious with the baby can be noticeable with a pump--besides the fact that the mother actually sees the milk she is getting out. I reassure the mother that this does not mean she cannot nurse any longer. She simply will not have to continue to pump and can go on to nurse as long as she wishes. In situations where the baby is from a highly allergic family, we do talk about ways to avoid exposing the baby to cow milk until at least the first birthday anniversary. (Careful selection of solid foods helps with this.) Re: the piece I wrote about childbren and LC practices, that derived from an (original) post to KB about the topic. She asked--and got permission--to print it in the VLCA newsletter, which is probably where you saw it. All posts to LACTNET should be handled in the same manner, regardless of the author. If you wish to distribute elsewhere, ask for permission to do so, in order to correctly cite the source. Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC - [log in to unmask]