On Sun, 8 Jun 1997, Jack Newman wrote:

> For the form:  Breastmilk is still milk and thus contains protein, fat,
> carbohydrate, growth factors, and immunological factors, some in greater
> amounts at 2 years than earlier.  And breastfeeding gives comfort and
> love to the child, and comforts the mother and increases her self esteem
> and self confidence.  You'd think a psychiatrist would prescribe
> extended (actually normal) breastfeeding to his women patients.
>
Besides, it tastes good: my son, three years-old, heard this morning the
call for snacks.  He lets go of the breast, says "cookies with chocolate
?" with bright eyes, seems to hesitate for a few seconds, then goes right
back on the breast. I ask "is my milk better tasting that cookies with
chocolate ?" and he nods without even letting go of the breast.

Seriously, nursing past the first few months really seems so outrageous:
these past few days, I have read on Lactnet questions about the mental
health of mothers breastfeeding for a normal amount of time (still taking
you-know-what from my own psy... it's all right, it is now a running joke
between us), and about the need for fat in kids. Breastmilk is very rich
in the right kind of fat, at whatever age; fat can also be added under
the form of oil for growing kids. I remember reading some WHO text
suggesting to parents in developping country to put one more sponful of
oil in whatever the children were eating, on top of the regular (i.e.
adult) recipe. The important thing to remember is that kids need calories
to grow, and fat is a very efficient source of calories. No cut in fat
intake unless the child is already fat or at higher risk for heart
disease than normal. Of course, I have heard conflicting advice, but
common sense, it seems, would consider that 1. breastmilk has a good
proportion of fat and 2. a child who is not obese has to grow on
something... Now, do not get me into animal fat vs vegetable fat: I am
thoroughly lost in the controversy (and thoroughly addicted to milk...
the non-fat one!)

Louise Denhez, M.D., M.P.H, Montreal, Quebec, Canada