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Letter: Letters : Hungry for life

Published 7 February 1998

From Jos Wassink

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Garry Hamilton suggests that it is hunger that drives the fetus out of the
womb and starts off the process of birth
(“Let me out”, 10 January, p 24). But
when my first boy was born, he didn’t succeed in drinking breast milk
straightaway (yes, it has to be learnt). I was told that a baby doesn’t need to
eat or drink in the first three days after its birth. It can easily live on its
reserves. And in fact he did.

So if a baby has reserves of fat or whatever else, how can it be under stress
as a result of hunger?

Issue no. 2120 published 7 February 1998

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