I have 2 questions. The first one is about iodine radiation. I have a mom with papillary cancer (on her thyroid) who had surgery last summer 7 weeks after her baby was born. She only had pumped enough milk to give baby during her surgery. Now she needs to have a dose of I-131 in July. Originally the endocrinologist wanted her to have it 6 months after surgery, but her commitment to nursing encouraged her to delay it. Her information now says she will need to be away from her children for at least 4 days after the iodine treatment and then there is still some left in her body for 80 days. She will not know the exact dose until after an initial small dose 2 days before the larger dose. She nursed her first for 21 months so longer nursing is what she wants to do. She would at least like to get her baby to one year of nursing. Do you have any research or know of anyone in a similar situation? Part of the problem is that few people have been so committed to nursing and delaying treatment that there is probably little research around. She would also like to available to others who face her situation and to help them. My other question is about nipple confusion. This woman tried to breastfeed at the beginning. Baby was fussy and wouldn't latch on well. This baby was 5lbs7oz. Her first was a premie and she didn't nurse that baby. She is committed to breastmilk for baby. Now she is pumping and giving her a bottle. Baby is 4 weeks old. For the first 2 weeks she fed via syringe. She tried the SNS. She saw several LC's and they said she was doing the right thing. I don't what or how much suck assessment was done by LC's or drs. She was also very tired and depressed and "just wanting to be a family again" so she started with bottles of breastmilk. A friend and WIC peer counselor have been also working with her. Perhaps she knows only the pump and feed method from the premie. How long can she keep this up? and How can I encourage her to try at the breast again? How long do you encourage someone before they decide they have had enough? Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks. Marie, LLLL