>From: "Linda J. Cartwright" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: Tandum Breastfeeding > Does breastfeeding contribute to a higher probability of miscarriage? No. Breastfeeding, like skin contact, like coitus, like orgasm, causes oxytocin release. Oxytocin release causes uterine contractions but does not stimulate premature labour unless there are large numbers of oxytocin receptors present in the uterus, and other conditions are right. If so, then all these causes of oxytocin release can bring on labour (and personally I think nipple stimulation is preferable to oxytocin injections anyday). If not, not. In normal pregnant mothers there are too few oxytocin receptors (or some other hormonal override is in place) for breastfeeding to have any effect. What's maddeningly illogical is to hear healthworkers saying sexual intercourse is fine, even multiple orgasm is fine, as long as you don't enjoy it while breastfeeding. Could it be perhaps that an adult partner gets resentful if important sources of mutual pleasure are needlessly removed while we expect an infant not to mind? (since they can't tell us that they do. And they DO!) The logical approach to the habitual aborter, who clearly has an abnormal uterine environment that allows early delivery of an immature baby, is either ban all sources of oxytocin release or none. Does anyone know of any medical literature on this? it's largely come to me from animal physiologists, who all know far more about economically valuable animals like sheep and goats and wallabies than we know about women.