and why not make women feel guilty for bottlefeeding? if someone said, i don't
use a car seat because my fingers got pinched and bruised the first couple of
times i tried to hook it up, so i didn't use it after that. or,. sure we smoke
around the baby, i have heard that it isn't as healthy for them, but lots of
babies survive when people smoke around them, don't they? or, of course i go
off and leave the baby at home alone, after all, it is more convenient for me
that way . . . . i know, i haven't come up with a new analogy, but when you
try to take your baby home from the hospital around here, they supposed won't
let you leave unless you have a car seat and they see you put the baby in it
and hook it up correctly. hospitals even have a loaner program to make sure
you do this.

SO HOW COME THEY LET YOU GIVE BABIES THE OTHER STUFF? the rule ought to be,
they breastfeed while they are here, because that is the healthiest thing to
do, and what you do when you go home is your own business, but we are telling
you it is best. in other words, we can't police you after you leave here, to
make sure you use that car seat every time, but we can darn well make sure you
drive away using it.

yes, women give up on breastfeeding because they "didn't get any help," but
what about the ones that didn't try to get help? if the baby had a physical
defect, would they just give up if they didn't get help from the first person
they asked? or would they continue to try to find a solution? yes, yes i know
all the reasons women don't nurse, and i have already had a chance or two to
encourage, nay beg, someone to bottlefeed, but until we stop letting people
believe that bottlefeeding the other stuff is an adequate substitute for human
milk, it will remain common.

and furthermore, continuing the "ashamed to be an american especially
considering what's on tv" mode, it is pathetic that we have several human milk
banks in this country, and the technology to get human milk available
everywhere, but there are still too many doctors and nurses who would "never
consider using the stuff," to quote a nurse who said this recently. at a
lactation journal club meeting! someone who claims to be working in the field
of lactation!

okay, okay, off the soap box, but not EVEN short of breath.

carol brussel IBCLC
Three Time Donor and Milk Bank Volunteer,
and youse guys oughta' be one or the other, too