I understand, appreciate and relate to the recent posts by Rachel and Amy.
A very key point has been missed, however.   My goal is to elevate
breastfeeding to a new level of respect and importance - to where it should be.   Just
staying with the basics, is not going to achieve that status.  It is very
important to note I stated nothing derogatory about Michael Phelps. He is a super
athlete and a super person.   His mother is also super, and I understand their
loving relationship.   I wish all parents were that close to their children.
As Rachel mentioned, Michael is now a very public person.   HIS mother stated
he had ADHD as a child and was bullied by the other kids.   It does not matter
if he was breastfed or not, or is tongue tied or not, but his facial
characteristics DO put him at risk for having sleep - breathing problems, especially
when he becomes older and less active.

I am as excited as everyone else about his success and his metals, but to me,
keeping him alive and healthy far outweighs the importance of his metals.
What I say here applies to YOUR family and your own loved ones!

My goal is to help him - and you - be as healthy as possible later in life.
The KEY time to try to prevent sleep apnea is before the age of 16.   I know
he is older than that, but the earlier the condition is addressed, the better.
  Since heavy snoring is a pre-cursor to sleep apnea, the Norway swimmer is
also at risk for suffering the consequences of sleep apnea (listed on my
website) if his problem is not addressed early.   I would rather eat Humble Pie than
not tell him of his challenges and choices than to see him die at an early
age because he did not know of his problem.   Whose responsibility would it be
if he died early because he did not know WHAT questions to ask?

I can relate to Michael's earlier years.   I was a skinny little kid from a
poor part of town.   My brother beat me up about every other day.   It sounds
like Michael's ADHD may have helped propel him into being an Olympic swimming
star.   My situation propelled me into building myself up to the point where I
received a 4 year college football scholarship, which later allowed me to play
3 years of professional football.   I did not win 14 metals, but it motivated
me to improve myself and get a college degree.

At the beginning of any of my breastfeeding support presentations, I put up a
key slide which states: 'I am NOT SAYING that all breastfed babies will be
healthy, but what I am saying is that breastfed babies have a better chance of
being healthier and are at less risk of dying from heart attacks, strokes and
SIDS - than are bottle fed babies.'   Most of the time I also list the reasons
people can develop allergies.   Just because someone is breastfed does not
mean they are immune from allergies.   Near the end of a presentation, I use the
motto: ' Yourself, you can change if you choose; others you can only love and
encourage'.   Even though I try hard to educate others, I know I cannot help
everyone.   Time is too precious to waste on those who do not want to help
themselves!

If Michael could have done better is NOT what I am trying to stress. He has
proven that he is an outstanding athlete.   His record may never be broken.
MY concern is his health AFTER he stops competing.   I have been researching
the importance of breastfeeding for 30+ years, longer than ILCA has been in
existence.   I have been researching sleep apnea for 15+ years, which is longer
than most.   Most of that research is available on my website free of charge.

I had an article published in Germany in 2005 that introduces the
relationship between not breastfeeding and sleep apnea.   The English version is
available at: http;//brianpalmerdds.com/pdf/Master_2_27_06.pdf   The article is also
available in German, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, French, Italian, Russian and
Ukrainian, in my International Room at:
http://brianpalmerdds.com/international.htm

You might also gain a better understanding of facial form, high palates and
narrow dental arches by reviewing my free presentation at:
http://brianpalmerdds.com/pdf/E-Occlusion%20-%20Facial%20Form.pdf

I can relate to Amy's story as well.   My brother and I were both breastfed.
 In 1995, he had a massive stroke as a consequence of sleep apnea.   He has
been in a long term care facility ever since and will never get out.   Reason
for his sleep apnea - he became overweight.  The fact that he was breastfed was
not protective for him.   Even though I was breastfed, I was diagnosed as
having cancer in 1999.   Based on heart scans, I have a 90% chance to drop dead
at any time.   We will all pass away for some reason, at some time.  My mother
recently passed away at the age of 96.   Maybe I will have more of her genes
and live a long life.   My ultimate goal was to get a presentation online on
the topic of how breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of sleep apnea.   I want
to thank Health e-Learning for allowing that to happen.   Other presentations
I am hoping to get up are:   Dispelling the MYTH that breastfeeding causes
decay, Consequences of tight frenums, Why pacifiers do not reduce the risk of
SIDS, and Why forcing infants to sleep on their backs is not the safest
position.   There is a lot of misinformation out there!

Amy, I have eaten a lot of Humble Pie over the years.   As a male dentist
researching the importance of breastfeeding, I have been laughed at for close to
30 years.   Physicians are now starting to accept my research.    I still
believe I can help people live healthier lives.   I have done my homework, so I do
not think I will have to eat any more pie - but I will if I have to.

KEY POINT TO UNDERSTAND:   Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of developing
the malocclusions that can put an individual at risk for developing
obstructive sleep apnea.   The risk factors also applies to long, narrow faces.   Sleep
apnea is a MAJOR contributor to many of the health problems we have in our
society today.

Lactation Consultants need to know about the significance of sleep apnea, and
sleep specialists need to know about the importance of breastfeeding.   If
this does NOT happen, breastfeeding will never be elevated to the level  of
importance that it deserves!   With this higher level of importance will come more
respect from the physicians, and hopefully better reimbursement from
insurance companies.   If you are just interested in the basics and there is no
interest in elevating your profession to the next level, there is no reason to
continue researching.

Sorry for the long note.   I hope it will save somebody's life!

Brian Palmer, DDS
www.brianpalmerdds.com


**************
It's only a deal if it's where you want
to go. Find your travel deal here.

(http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047)

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome