Sue -- I have not read anything useful on this subject but my personal experience may help. After c-section birth of my son (1st child) developed severe arthritic symptoms in hands, wrists and feet. By the time he was three months old I had learned to lift him by sliding my wrists under his armpits to avoid pressure on my thumb joints. Rheumatologist was sure I had developed r.a., despite two negative blood tests. Internist was sure it was lupus, especially as blood test came back with marginal results. (Discovered later that that is not unusual in early p.p. period.) I found aspirin brought best relief with the least side effects. Also took ketoprofen and various other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories constantly. I was still having significant pain when he was two. My right wrist had to be splinted at night. We were not having fun. All specialists I saw would make vague mention that this was a postpartum syndrome (which didn't mean it would clear up -- just meant it was triggered by pregnancy/delivery). One made an attempt at explaining by implying some crossover of my son's blood to me during delivery. ENDING BREASTFEEDING MADE NO DIFFERENCE. When my son was 2-1/2 I had my tonsils out. They had been rotten for years and I was on near-constant antibiotic. Low-grade fever most days even on antibiotic. But it's hard in current climate to find an ENT who will do tonsillectomy until you are obviously beyond help of non-surgical treatments. Went off arthritis meds as couldn't take on empty stomach. And never went back on them. I have no explanation but the arthritis subsided to an insignificant level when my tonsils were out. I still have occasional problems but nothing like the extent experienced in that postpartum period. Joanna Koch IBCLC in Los Altos, CA