Dear Linda:
There is a nice study by Brun, Nilsson, and Kvale in the British Journal of
Rheumatology 1995; 34:542-546 where 63,000+ women with this disease were
followed for 28 years. The total time of lactation was associated with reduced
mortality; the protective effects appear dose-related.
So if she truly has RA , it is to her advantage to breastfeed. Warmly,
Nikki