dear janaki and all,

this mother does not have to wean to deal with her arthritis, but i will say
plainly that until she sees a rheumatologist and quits taking every new
popular supplement on the market and self-diagnosing her illness, she is not
going to improve. there are over 100 diseases in the group loosely known as
"arthritis" and some are auto-immune diseases. weaning will not improve or
worsen her disease, and most treatments are compatible with breastfeeding. i
have been through the whole story myself, and she needs to know that sitting
and nursing her baby will always be easier than mixing and preparing bottles
of formula. why is weaning always the first line of treatment? i never met a
rheumatologist who even entertained the thought. any treatment plan that was
ever suggested to me always allowed for breastfeeding, even when i was nursing
a much older child.

carol brussel IBCLC