I thought you might be interested in what happens in the UK.

Currently, mothers on low incomes get milk tokens, which they can
exhange for ordinary milk or for formula. They get these tokens for a
year. The monetary value of the vouchers is greater if they are
exchanged for formula, compared to ordinary milk. This has been
criticised for years, as it is a financial disincentive to breastfeed.

There is widespread abuse of the system. Milk tokens are only
supposed to be exchanged for formula at clinics, or at recognised
grocery outlets. However, there are instances of tokens being
exchanged for other goods, and then the receiver of the tokens goes
to the clinic and exchanges them again for formula, which is then
sold cut price at car boot sales (like a rummage sale, where
individual sellers pile up cheap goods - often the poor buying from
the even poorer).

This week, the Govt. has floated a proposal which will give a £10
food voucher to all low income mums, which will be the same for
formula and bf mothers.  This has been touted in the press as being
'payment to breastfeed' which of course it is not - it is a proposal
to equalise, and to make choice more genuine.

I went on local radio to talk about this, and the presenter asked me
if the proposal was putting 'more pressure on mothers'....according
to him, just saying 'Breast is Best' is both untrue 'as surely the
powdered milks today are just as good as breast milk' and also
pressurising. I hope I dealt with that correctly and resisted the
urge to yell at him ; )

I don't know if the prooposal will happen....the suggested vouchers
are supposed to be exchangeable for 'healthy' foods only , and this
may mean paternalistic policing of poor people, which I do not like.

Interestingly, no one has raised the notion that mothers will stop
using formula, and will use other liquids instead to save money,
although this was the original thinking behind the voucher
scheme....make it easier to give formula, and you will prevent
mothers giving cheaper, ordinary milk, or worse, cola, was the
thinking.

One good thing about our child welfare and health schemes in the UK
is that everyone has access to them, everyone is visited by health
workers, and the visits are not stigmatising. One hears very very
occasionally of poor mothers giving unsuitable fluids and foods, but
they *are*  picked up by the system...usually.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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