"I am a passionate supporter of breastfeeding BUT
comparing bottlefeeding to drug use, or smoking, or not putting baby in a car
seat is no
more valid than folks who compare breastfeeding in public with urinating in
public. It
ain't the same."

I think all of those comparisons have validity.  Infant formula is an
over-the-counter "drug" that has health ramifications to not only infants but
mothers.  Infant formula in no way resembles a food--its dead, its in a can
and who the hell knows what's in it. It's use is only justified in dire
circumstances and if we had a milk banking system that all mothers could
access we wouldn't need infant formula.  In fact why  we think that formula
has to exist is beyond me.  Smoking and not putting a baby in a car seat are
health and safety issues just as breastfeeding is a health and safety issue.
I believe breastfeeding is a far, far more critical issue of physical and
mental health for women and children than anyone seems to understand--one
might view the patents in the US Patent Office on human milk components to
get a good idea how truly life-saving human milk can be.  It seems that
researchers have a better understanding of its potential than breastfeeding
advocates. Guilt is not the issue.  The well-being of the humanity may very
well depend on breastfeeding.  Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html