Thanks, Pam, for a fascinating report of the recent history of infant
feeding in your part of Africa.  I was so struck by various points you bring
up.  One is that it was the visit from Helen Armstrong and Elizabeth Hormann
and your own wonderful work that laid the groundwork for improved public
health policy in your country.  What a beautiful affirmation that the LC can
be a potent agent for change.

 The underpining of all of my own beliefs about breastfeeding is that it is
the safety net of the mother and the baby.  But as for knowing how to do it
successfully, it comes down to the fact that no one expects women to give
birth without support.  Neither should we expect bfg to proceed successfully
without access to care and support.  The support may not always look like a
medicalized model of care, but I believe you when you describe the potenial
under-reporting of mortality in infant populations in marginal settings that
result from feeding problems.  I believe this has probably always been a
part of the high risk inherent in the perinatal period.  This is as true for
young mammals of other species.  I have seen many young mammals that we've
bred (rabbits, cats, dogs, and farm animals on my grandfathers farm) who did
not survive because they were injured being born or were too small and weak
to feed well.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
LactNews Press
www.lactnews.com

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