I have been <lurking> on LACTNET all week and have found it
fascinating.  I am a breastfeeding researcher--in both senses of
the phrase.  (Struggling to keep my 5-1/2 month old, bottle-
adjusted baby going, while I spend all day at the office trying to
get something done amid all the LACTNET messages).  At the office,
I analyze data on lactational infertility, maternal employment and
breastfeeding, postpartum contraception...also read JHL.:)

The comment earlier this week about *average* breastfeeding
durations being 4 years nagged at me.  Of course there is no data
on historical populations, but the longest *average* duration (for
a whole country) currently documented is 30.4 months in Bangladesh.
See:

Trussell J, Grummer-Strawn L, Rodriguez G. Trends and differentials
in breastfeeding behaviour: evidence from the WFS and DHS.
Population Studies 1992; 46:285-307.

To get an average of 2-1/2 years, breastfeeding into the 3rd year
would have to be quite common.  Still, it's hard to imagine *that
many* women breastfeeding *long enough* to get the average up to 4
years.  Maybe in selected populations, but not a *worldwide* norm.

Cindy, the researcher who will probably wean her baby to attend
APHA and present a paper on maternal employment and
breastfeeding.:(  (But please don't lean on me to take her with me.
As an overextended mother of two with a husband in law school, I am
really looking forward to a week away from that crew.  Believe me,
this is NOT a baby that will easily handle a cross-country flight
and a week in a strange nursery.)
Cynthia Visness
Senior Research Analyst
Family Health International
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