Connie ane I have the same question about both breasts for newborns.   I have
just taken over the position as LC at a hospital and am reviewing the
policies and procedures and I just read the same recommendation at our
hospital: to offer both breasts at every feed.

I have also been trying to decide whether to change this.  As Carla has
observed disturbing a newborn at the breast may be disruptive to the
continuance of that nursing session.  I don't like the artificialness of
insisting an infant be taken off a breast where s/he is snuggled in doing
fine just because the policy/procedures stipulate both breasts at a feeding.

Hasn't it been reported that using only one breast at a nursing session
results in less primary engorgement?  I suppose the question this raises is
whether limiting suckling to only one breast while in the colostral phase
compromises the later ability to produce adequate milk.  De Carvalho's
hypothesis [Riordan & Auerbach p. 88] is that frequent sucking in the first
days after birth is conducive to greater numbers of prolactin receptors on
the surface of the alveolar epithelial cells which may lead to a faster
increase in milk production.  If this is hormonally induced it would occur
regardless of which breast or if only one breast were suckled.  'According to
Carvalho, the number of these receptors increases in early lactation and
remains constant thereafter.'

I hope that the Dec. issue of JHL comes out in December since I'd like to see
if a tape or video of Floyd Schanbacher's ILCA 1996 conference talk as
Maureen recommended will be available.

Has anyone acquired the Plenum Publishing INTERCELUALR SIGNALLING IN THE
MAMMARY GLAND advertised in the Sept. issue edited by Colin Wilde, Malcolm
Peaker and Christopher Knight?  Perhaps this would be a good review since it
includes autocrine control of milk secreton, intramammary control and
endocrine factors,  etc.
Only $89.95 in Canada and the USA!  I think I'll reacommend it to the
reference librarian at the health sicence library.  He ahs been very
cooperative in the pat in acquiring lactation texts there.

Mardrey