Dr. Paul Donohue is a syndicated newspaper writer and in his column today he responds to a question about breastfeeding: Dear Dr. Donohue: I am trying to decide whether I should breast-feed my soon-to-be-born son. Some tell me it is too much of a hassle, and the baby and I will end up unhappy. Others urge me to do so. If I decide to breast-feed, how will I know if the baby is getting enough milk? --J.D. Dear J.D.: No baby formula matches breast milk as the best infant nutrition. Just about every healthy ingredient is contained in human milk. Furthermore, it supplies to the baby its mother's antibodies -- a powerful protection against infant infections. You won't have any trouble knowing whether your baby gets enough milk. A breast-fed baby that needs six to eight wet diaper changes a day gets enough milk. A well-fed baby regains or exceeds its birth weight at the end of the second week of life. Nothing challenges breast-feeding as the best way to assure a healthy child. It also helps the baby's emotional growth by establishing a strong bond between infant and mother. If a woman cannot breast-feed, she should not be made to feel inadequate. She can raise a healthy baby without breast-feeding it. Woman who want more information on breast-feeding should approach a local chapter of La Leche League, an organization founded to encourage it (www.lalecheleague.org) *********************************************** 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