just when i think i am having some small success in what i do, when i believe
that breastfeeding might be hovering in the vicinity of becoming the norm,
then i am jerked back into reality and realize - i am obviously a complete
idiot, why did i take up this work? mainly to spend a lot of money our family
doesn't have, of course, and to be - okay, let me make up a nicer version of
this - squirting breastmilk in the wind.

that is to say, i can't imagine how to fight this stuff. maybe it's ONLY
where i live? i doubt it. anyway, i received a copy of a publication called
"expectant mother's guide to denver" which is a little freebie placed in
doctor's offices. it is full of helpful articles and advertising, and of
course, they are quite eager to sell me some advertising for my "business" in
this thing. it is largely sponsored by our local children's hospital. there
are no articles on breastfeed, although there is one on buying nursing bras.
(its pretty large, not like one could say there isn't room).

there IS, however, an article entitled "feeding your baby . . . what  you
need to know about Infant Formula." some selections:

(this is the beginning of the article)
the good news . . . "Infant formulas are a safe alternative to breast milk,"
says dr. barton d. schmitt, professor of pediatrics at the university of
colorado school of medicine and director of general consultative services at
the children's hospital of denver. in his book, YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH (that's
how they printed it), he states - "bottle feeding can provide your child with
all the emotional benefits and many of the health benefits of breastfeeding.
bottle-fed babies grow as rapidly and can be as happy as breastfed babies."

throwing up yet? here's the next paragraph:

"Infant formula is increasingly close to breast milk," writes john d.
wallingford, phd, an infant nutrition specialist with the fda's center for
food safety and applied nutrition. "this means," writes isadora stehlin also
with the fda, "that while breastfeeding is still the best nourishment for
infants, infant formula is a close enough second that babies not only survive
but thrive."

then it goes on to claim that "as infant formula has improved and become more
nutrient-rich, it now spoils much more quickly." then it tells about the half
hour rule, blah blah blah. it also discusses how to meet your baby's need
more quickly - by fixing bottles ahead of time and using products that keep
the bottle of formula "fresh" and available at the side of the crib.

it then goes on to talk about those nasty dirty diapers and how easy it is
for daycare workers to contaminate bottles so you should use - wow! am i ever
surprised! - the special "shake it up" bottle from ross labs, which are
"safety sealed." whatever that means.

maybe it means that the formula won't be exposed to the air i breathe and
poison me, since i am overly sensitive to it.

this article finishes by helpfully listing some web sites which i am afraid
to go look at. one is the fda - which for those of you unlucky enough not to
be subject to their help, is the usa gov't agency the food and drug
administration, which theoretically has something to do with health and
nutrition. their website has a page called

"infant formula second best but good enough"

in another little article, the fantasy of the perfect mother and baby is
described. "her baby would be perfect, too, and only cry on cue." i am
desperately curious to know what "cry on cue" means.

okay, so i officially resign. this doesn't suck (my new version of an epithet
- because naturally if something sucks, that's usually good in my little
world).

carol brussel IBCLC

ps and what is worst about this is i can think of plenty of people with
similar initials to mine after their names who whole-heartedly agree that
this would be a reasonable and very helpful sort of thing for moms to read.

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