Pat -

I'm working now w/ a mom whose negligible supply at birth has grown to half
her 8 week old baby's needs, and who hasn't used a drop of formula.  Her
husband has organized a crew of donors who deliver untreated milk daily,
which she uses in an SNS.  I talked w/ them about health issues, and gave
them a copy of Ruth Lawrence's book, page 573, part of which reads:

"Although feeding an infant by one who is not his mother is an established
means of sustaining life, it has been uncommon in Western cultures since
the 1930s.  There are no medical contraindications provided the nursing
woman is in good health, is infection-free, and is taking no medications.
The chief obstacle is psychologic or social...Perhaps as breastfeeding
knowledge and understanding reach a greater number of professionals and
women, such opportunities may be more common.  At present, it is
significant to recognize this as a viable option."

The parents figure if a mother dares to risk the life of her own child by
breastfeeding him (gasp!), it's pretty unlikely that their child will
suffer from her milk.  Interesting that the health profession is so quick
to encourage breastfeeding between mother and baby and so quick to fear it
between mother and *other* baby...

Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, LLLL  Ithaca, NY