Before I comment, does anyone have the current statistics to show first time infants still have higher death rates? Reasons historically were probably the same as risk factors now. Age: usually 16-18 First delivery: with all associated unknown risks Higher risk of prematurity.Poor nutrition. Not all people were fed equally, those of 'greater value' whether male or female ate first. It also depended upon the harvest and could affect all pregnancies. My mother has clear remembrance of the outcome of my grandmother's pregnancies being tied to time of year and quality of harvest (this was while in north america). In her case she chose to feed her children first. Also in my grandmother's case and I think this was common, she was new to the family...the brides moved into the husband's family compound. This put her at the bottom of the pecking order. My grandfather was away most of the time trying to get income to escape (immigrate). She believes the baby died of infection caused by poor care by his (my grandfather's) step mother. The problem between the mother in law and my grandmother may be part of the reason she never learned how to breastfeed, although I got the feeling she never tried. When you look at these large complex families where ever they live and whatever their ethnic background don't dismiss the family dynamics and don't assume all family members are supportive of the infant's survival. Several years ago I saw a UN presentation on survival rates of infants under 5 when co-related to the existence of their grandmother. It was more closely related than the existence of their mother. Food for thought. Just as a note the local old wives remedy for teething, colic or fussing was a concoction of poppy and honey (lets see opium and botulism). This was also used to keep the infants quiet during the day so the mothers could work in the fields. When my grandmother was in her late 70s we asked her what was the most amazing technological advance she had seen. We expected it to be something like, telephones or the man on the moon. Her straight faced, serious response was 'birth control' :) *********************************************** 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