Debbi Donovan asked what we thought about the study of midwifery inducing
lactation in never-pregnant women.  I am reminded of two things.

1.  Years ago there was news of a study that showed that women who lived
together (military, college dorms, etc.) would end up with synchronized
menstrual cycles.  Somehow their hormones perceived everybody else's hormones
and got into step.  Maybe it was their pheromones that communicated the
message.

2.  For me personally, menopause was easy.  But here's the odd thing.  During
the tapering-off phase, I had periods only at ILCA board meetings---living in
close proximity with other women and talking breastfeeding much of the time.
 Then the  final one came after a year's break, and showed up when I was in
Swaziland teaching a two-week course on breastfeeding---spending lots of time
every day with a group of women (although I had a hotel room to myself for
sleeping) and talking about breastfeeding all day long.  Go figure!

Being a person whose milk would let down just at the thought of my baby, and
also during sad movies, I am a firm believer in mind-over-matter.

Chris Mulford