Dear Lactnetters
                     QUESTION 1.  A mother who is breastfeeding her 5month
old son is to have a vaginal hysterectomy in 2 months time for a prolapse.
Her son has repeated ear infections and his ENT specialist has asked her to
continue breastfeeding as that is his best protection. ( Mother is dairy
intolerant so has no dairy products in her diet.)
 She has been told by her gynaecologist to stop breastfeeding. He said
breastfeeding results in lower oestrogen levels which will increase the
liklihood of infection, and her pelvic floor muscles will be less firm. Is
there any evidence for this?  I'm sure the mother will continue to
breastfeed. She just wants reassurance and some facts to go back to her
doctor with. It is no easy thing to go against the wishes of her doctor.

                     QUESTION 2.  Have there been any studies on nipple
confusion or is the evidence anecdotal?

Thanks heaps
Robyn Dunning
RGON, RM, IBCLC