Fran wrote, "Can you mention the major conditions [certainly not all 60, but
the biggies] aside from HIV, where mothers are told not to breast feed."

The l8 hour BFHI course (yellow manual, page 86) lists only seven
'Acceptable medical reasons for foods other than breastmilk' -

1) mother with active herpes lesion on breast/nipple
2) 3) and 4) all relate to HIV but stress that where the use of safe
alternatives to breastfeeding is not possible then breastfeeding should
continue to be the feeding method of choice,
5) mother who has severe psychosis, eclampsia or shock
6) mother who is taking cytotoxic, radioactive or anti-thyroid drugs other
than propylthiouracil and
7) mothers who specifically refuse to breastfeed.

Other than the above, I don't believe there are any *medical* reasons for
not breastfeeding.  Furthermore, the wording for reasons (1), (5) and (6)
implies that these contraindications are usually of a temporary nature, ie
when the herpes has healed, or when the mother recovers from the psychosis,
or when the drug is discontinued, then the mother can resume breastfeeding
and she should be helped to maintain her breastmilk production in the
meantime.

I hope this helps.

Pamela Morrison, Zimbabwe
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