Interesting discussion - sure making the neurons fire :)

I agree that 'fake milk' isn't the right term here.  Manufactured
substitutes for human milk do exist, after all, and can be used for the
purpose for which they are sold.

I think it IS possible to support all women, without pretending that formula
isn't a manufactured substitute for human milk.

INFORMATION IS NOT JUDGEMENT. People react to information based on their own
internal dialogue; it's always possible that someone will be upset, but it's
not because they've heard something described correctly.  

By using correct terminology, such as 'manufactured substitutes' and 'human
milk', we can communicate facts without resorting to loaded language like
'fake'.  Taking the word 'breast' out of the conversation can help quite a
bit too, particularly in our body-phobic culture (but if you've got some
beer to sell, bring on the boobs!).

When I use the correct terminology in conversation with a mom or during
meetings (which isn't all the time - sometimes it's just easier to say
'formula') and see a reaction, I might say something like, 'you seem
surprised'.   Conversations go a lot of different ways from there, and
always include acknowledgment of just how hard it is to breastfeed in North
America.  (If a society deliberately set out to annihilate breastfeeding, I
imagine the plan would look pretty much the same as what happened in
industrialized nations in the 20th century.)

Not breastfeeding when you really wanted to is a huge loss, and one that's
almost never acknowledged.  When breastfeeding supporters are honest about
breastfeeding and how important it is, we give women an opportunity to
process their feelings, shed the burden of guilt they are unfairly carrying,
and free them to make decisions they really feel good about going forward.
People who feel guilty are very easy to manipulate, a fact that hasn't
escaped the notice of manufacturers of substitutes for human milk.

Most importantly:  A recent poster said that she would have done things
differently if she had had more information at the time (wouldn't we all?).
When we don't keep the facts front and centre, we do a disservice to all the
women who are making those decisions NOW.

Ingrid 

Ingrid Tilstra
La Leche League Canada Leader
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

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