I firmly believe any research regarding breastfeeding needs the following:



1-firm definitions of what is "breastfeeding" - The only truly reliable
results will be in comparing EXCLUSIVE breastfeeding with EXCLUSIVE
artificial feeding.  Any other mix will give debatable results that can be
too easily twisted to mean whatever the person citing them wants them to
mean.



2-wording all statements, objectives etc. in a way that makes breastfeeding
the norm, not the experiment - This includes such statements as: "Artificial
(formula) feeding infants exhibit X% more of such and such a condition."
rather than "Breastfed babies have less of the same condition."



3-NO FUNDING whatsoever by any company that in any way makes money when
women do not breastfeed.

This would include not just the obvious manufacturers of formula, but those
that make and market containers for artificial feeding, those that
manufacture (or create in some way) ingredients used in formula and probably
other categories that I can't think of at the moment.  Funding by
makers/marketers of breastfeeding products such as pumps, storage containers
etc. should be looked at carefully to be sure any results could not be
advantageous to them by making moms feel the product is generally necessary
to breastfeeding success.  The problem is, of course, that no one makes any
money (except the monies saved by the family etc.) when babies are
successfully and exclusively breastfed so who is likely to provide such
funding these days!



Winnie Mading IBCLC


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