Cathy Fetherston wrote: "There is a history of rape and assault." and " However, a minute or so after commencing breastfeeding (time correlates with normal time for initiation of let down) the mother falls into a deep sleep." and "The psychiatrist doesn?t feel that this is a dissociative state as there was never any anxiety apparent regarding breastfeeding, only a genuine desire t o be able to breastfeed this baby." My questions include: Is this psychiatrist familiar with all the publications on breastfeeding and sexual abuse that are available today? (I posted several references a few weeks ago on this topic.) Is she/he willing to become so? If not, is there another psychiatrist available who is familiar with this literature or willing to become familiar with it? I'm not convinced that an apparent absence of anxiety regarding breastfeeding and the desire to breastfeed in and of themselves definitively preclude the possibility that this is a dissociative state. Given the history of rape and assault, the timing of the mother's change of state, and her desire to breastfeed, I would sincerely hope that she has the chance to work with someone who is familiar or willing to become familiar with the literature on sexual abuse and breastfeeding. In my opinion, clarification of the psychiatrists training and experience in this specialized area is in order, as well as the consideration of a second opinion. The mother could also consider pumping to provide her baby her milk and/or until treatment (psychological, medical) is found that effectively addresses this situation. Does/did the mother have the same reaction to let-down while pumping? Cynthia Good Mojab, MS Clinical Psychology (Breastfeeding mother, advocate, independent [cross-cultural] researcher and author; LLL Leader and Research Associate in the LLLI Publications Department; and former psychotherapist currently busy nurturing her own little one.) Ammawell Email: [log in to unmask] Web site: http://ammawell.homepage.com *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html