Dear Dr Paula,
I agree with you that the pump does not take nearly what the baby can take
from the breast.   I like your term stating that the mother's body is
relatively "turned off" to the mechanical pumping action.
I have 23 years of experience in the breastfeeding field and am an
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant working full time with
breastfeeding (notice it is spelled as one word ... not two).
The most of what you wrote about breastfeeding was AWFUL and MISINFORMATION.

It no longer surprises me that physicians know so little about natural,
normal feeding of infants.  Formula companies have poured big money into
teaching you mistruths and making sure you are not taught anything in medical
school.
Most breastfed babies fed on cue and not by the clock gain much faster in the
first weeks / months.
Nearly all mothers have plenty of colostrum.... the first concentrated milk
that fits perfectly into that walnut-sized stomach.
If the infant is not given an artificial nipple to change his suck and has
not had medications and manipulations during the labor/birth, then unlimited
suckling will not do any harm to the mother's nipples, in my experience and
that of my many colleagues.
I could go on, but I will just say, that I am truly dissapointed with most of
your web site on breastfeeding.

Sincerely,
Opal Horvat, BA, IBCLC
Bergenfield, NJ