I've been lurking here for a little bit, and finally couln't resist posting
a reply to this situation.  I have encountered this situation twice. One
mother approached me with concerns over a babe 6 weeks failing to thrive.
(Baby with birth weight of 8lbs 4oz, lost 10 oz first 4 days then gained,
but had only regained to 8lbs10oz by 6 week check).  Babe was listless and
"meowed" instead of cried.  She was seeing the pediatrician regularly, and
he had reccomended that she contact her local LLLC leader (me).  I looked
into management, and discovered straight off that she was nursing only every
4hrs. and not nursing at all during the babies prescribed "rest times" from
9:00pm till 6:00am.  This had been reccommended to her by her pastor.  A man
for whom she obviously had the utmost respect.  These guidlines were
intended to help her raise a child who had "inner discipline", and was not
possessed by her physical needs.  This was an extremly delicate situation
for me.  On the one hand, I respect this womans religious choices,on the
other....this wee thing was thin...and clearly not getting enough to eat.
The mother was looking into a sns, to try and "get more into the baby during
the feedings"  This babe nursed beatifully,  (had probably refined her
technique in an attempt to do the same...and get more during the chances she
got).  In this circumstance, I was frustrated to the max.  In the end,after
many, many, many books lent and long conversations, the mother decided that
her milk wasnt' good enough, or the baby would be satisfied.  A prompt
switch to abm followed for the babe.  A prompt and lingering case of "what
could I have done" followed for me.
A second case was much the same.  Except that this families motivation was
health, not spirituallity.  I found them extremely receptive to information
and after some research (and their baby who was clearly *not* healthy), they
adopted a more demand based schedule (although continued to give the baby
fruit juices and purees at 5 weeks).
The community I live in is extrememly diverse, and a local church practices
a version of this. I see it a lot in my phone calls, meetings and in my own
neighbourhood. In my experience, I've found that extreme delicacy is needed.
Parents are extremely reluctant to receive any information which is contrary
to thier familys spiritual or health centre. As one mother told me "on one
side I have God....on the other, you"  I was not shocked to find out whose
opinion rated!  I have since developed a philosophy that is a lot like  you
can lead a horse to water....but you cant make them drink.  I make the
information available, back it up carefully (make sure the babe is seeing a
doctor) and then try to be supportive while they find thier way.
I would love to hear what others have found helpful.

Stephanie Pearl
LLLCL