I just wanted to reiterate what Jena said about the importance of breastfeeding these babes with sensory issues and/or autism. My son also has Asperger's (and a host of other issues including bipolar disorder). He is 12-1/2 and was diagnosed with AS at age 8 years after 4 years of miscellaneous diagnoses. He was nursed for 19 months and worn in a sling until I was too pregnant with my daughter to manage it. I stayed home with him, not really out of choice but because we were on short military orders and it wasn't practical to go back to work. I firmly believe that if I had not nursed this child, worn him on my body and followed my gut in how to parent him he would either be dead or committed. Breastfeeding saved his life (from a mental health perspective rather than a physical health one, although he was not a physically healthy child either!). He has struggled all his short life, through 2 acute psychiatric hospitalizations and 3 months in residential care. Through attachment parenting he has blossomed. I am excited to say that he has been accepted at a wonderful boarding school in Pennsylvania for his 7th grade year. Yes, the baby/toddler/child that I never let out of my sight! This is not a "special needs" school but one that sees the wonderful boy inside the autistic child and is willing to work with him. He needs this school so much! He would not be at this exciting point if I had not nursed him. As Jena said...it is so worth it. Kathy, grateful to LLL who told me it was okay to do all those crazy things like use a sling,, co-sleep, etc. MEd (in special education, thanks to my boy!) and IBCLC (also thanks to Andrew) *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] 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