In a message dated 95-11-29 18:01:23 EST, [log in to unmask]
(Automatic digest processor) writes:

>  Is it possible that in Western
>>>cultures our excellent diet (over eating) could contribute to a situation
>>where the breasts are in some way producing rather too much milk for a baby
>>- and that thumb sucking is a valid way for a baby to regulate this?
>>
WOW! This topic has really triggered a lot of discussion.
I was going to mention this earlier but didn't get the chance.
I seem to recall from my early bfg days (18 yrs ago!) reading Ashley
Montagu's wonderful, two-inch thick book called TOUCHING (which was in our
Group library at a LLL meeting)  in which he mentioned that it seemed
peculiar to Western civil. that mothers would have too much milk.  He didn't
attribute to diet but to society & the lack of confidence in bfg (we
overcompensate for our lack by producing too much.)

I found that with my first born I was overflowing with milk, with the little
guy gagging on a very strong let-down - this fellow ended up with triple
thigh & chin rolls.  With my second I decided to use only one breast at a
feeding and had a pleasantly plump little girl with not quite so much extra
rolls and not as much leaking - I leaked for 8 or 9 months the first time!!

Only my second started to suck her thumb.  And every time I saw her doing so
(when she was only a month or two old) I offered the breast.  Perhaps because
I caught it early & often a 'habit' got nipped in the bud.  But she did not
have as strong a desire to suckle as either her older or younger brothers.  I
do think that some babies do find an over ample milk supply too much for them
and may not want to continue to suck on a breast "which is never empty" when
their stomachs are full.

My nine year old was still sucking on the collar of his winter jacket last
year - will see about this year.
Mardrey in NH