Hello everyone,  I accidententally erased the digest that had the question as
to whether I had understood Dr. Gordon correctly about reducing gas in
babies; I forgot who asked--anyway, I didn't actually hear him say anything
as I wasn't there; but I did see that written on the outline I received in
the mail at the Health Dept.  Whether the outline originated from him and was
handed out at the conference I don't know.  If it was from an attendee who
took notes, perhaps they misunderstood--I really can't speak to that.  I had
never heard anything like that before in reference to gas so that's why I was
asking if it was valid or not.  If  someone knows him personally, perhaps
they could ask what his recommendations are and share them with me.

Also, judging from the responses I have gotten to my comments about Babywise
in my introduction, I think I didn't represent myself very well.  To those
who have received personal "books" from me feel free to skip this, but I
wanted to clarify where I am coming from.  I am not the "schedule queen" that
many of you seem to think I am.  I have read the Babywise book and LOTS of
demand feeding literature, including one of Dr. Sear's books, and have sort
of come up with a middle of the road way of handling it. I have never and
will never suggest or support a woman letting her hungry baby cry because it
isn't time yet.  Nor did I do that with my own son.   Initially I fed Hayden
when he was hungry even if it was "less than 3 hours" (usually 2.5 for him),
 but when 3 hours rolled around and Hayden was asleep, *I* initiated a
feeding so I could be sure he got the minimum 8 feedings per day--so in that
sense I "scheduled" him--I didn't wait for him to "demand".    I suppose
because of that he got used to feeding every 3 hours on average and then
gradually stretched that interval as he got older and heavier and I got less
hyper about waking him.  (After awhile I quit waking him at night and let him
tell me when he wanted to eat--that interval stretched to approx. 7 hours by
5.5 weeks--I didn't MAKE  Hayden  sleep through the night.  He just did
it--why should I interfere when he is growing? ) This is basically the advice
I give to a pregnant woman regarding what to expect with breastfeeding
frequency--"healthy newborns typically need to nurse at least every 2-3
hours.. you will need to feed your baby whenever he is hungry,  but I
recommend not allowing him to sleep longer than 3 hours without a
feeding....at least until his growth is well established...."  After a baby
is born, and growth and adequacy of feeds is assessed, I would adjust any
such recommendations to suit the baby.  If one needed to be awakened more
often that's what I would suggest.
       Regarding Babywise, the principles I borrowed from that book include
the importance of the marriage relationship to a healthy family (and secure
child), assessing cries to determine the true need so you can respond
appropriately (more on this in a minute),  the development of a *routine* (as
opposed to a rigid  *schedule*--I have read lots of literature before ever
hearing of Babywise on the benefits to a child of a routine for security in
knowing what happens next, getting a sense of time and how they fit in to
their family etc......  )   I agree with the basic theology/philosophy upon
which the Ezzo's base their teaching but not always with their specific,
rigid APPLICATIONS of that philosophy.  (For instance, as an R.D. I don't
agree with some of their recommendations regarding solid foods, and there are
many other "for instances").  I never felt that theirs is "God's way" or the
only proper way to feed a child.  Now I realize that some people reading that
 book could get that sense and follow it rigidly and to the letter and you
could have problems. (Do these people not read the sentence that says "If
your baby is hungry, feed him, but investigate why he is not making the 2.5
hour minimum between feedings"--Granted I don't agree with some of the
recommendations that follow this sentence regarding testing your milk
supply..... )  BUT, I don't think that it automatically follows that because
a mother decides to feed her baby according to a FLEXIBLE routine (or even a
more rigid schedule if it was consistent with her baby's needs ie. all the
baby "demanded" was every 3 hrs.), that her baby will automatically have
growth problems, or she supply problems.  Certainly there is risk, but there
is just as much risk in rigidly following a demand feeding philosophy (ie.
when the baby doesn't demand enough and mom doesn't wake him because that
would be "forcing him into her arbitrary feeding times"....) or when she is
putting him to breast "all the time around the clock" but the feeds are
ineffective......
Now, one area I'm sure I DO differ with most of you is in reference to
meeting needs with nursing.   I personally do not think it is necessary or
even desirable to meet all of an infant's needs at the breast.  Definitely
hunger (in whatever pattern it presents itself) should be met with nursing.
 But why teach a child that food is the answer to boredom, distress,
discomfort, frustration, loneliness, tiredness, etc.?  Many eating disorders
get started this way (ie. compulsive eating, etc.)  What is wrong with
comforting in a variety of ways  ie. just holding/rocking/playing with,
singing to your baby?  Or heaven forbid, letting his father or grandparents
do it sometimes?   Or letting him get some (Please note that I'm not saying
ALL) of his nonnutritive sucking needs filled with a pacifier or his thumb?
 You can be holding him while he does this so that he's not stuck all by
himself somewhere "self-comforting"..
Hayden sometimes will insert his thumb into his mouth beside my nipple toward
the end of a feeding--I feel it's his way of telling me, Mommy I'm full but I
still want to suck and milk keeps  coming out......  His babysitter says he
does this with the bottle too sometimes.  I enjoy holding Hayden after
nursing while he sucks awhile longer and smiles at me--these are special
times for us.

I have already heard arguments to the contrary regarding meeting needs at the
breast--more will not change my opinion about this, so please refrain from
blasting me on this one, or I might be tempted to sign off even though I 'm
learning so much.
Laura.