I did not go to the ILCA Conference but wish to applaud Regina for standing
up and speaking out.    It takes courage to speak out when we "perceive" that
we are the only one who believes as we do.  Yet, I would say that often,
there are others who feel the same as we do, but find it impossible to speak
out.

I am troubled by a profession that so easily criticizes the medical community
for its cozy relationships with the infant formula industry.  Yet seems to be
blinded to its own cozy relationships with breast pump companies.  I don't
wonder why most American women believe that breastfeeding requires a breast
pump.  We have a profession that has entangled itself with the need for a
"thing" or "things" to make breastfeeding work.

In part we are entangled in the need for "things" because we live in a
society that treasures it "things" and not its people.  The investment in our
society is in creating a need for products even when the need does not exist.
 Thus, we now have women who believe that in order to breastfeed one must
have a breastpump.  Yet, I  do believe that having a breast pump is a real
risk for many women.  It can ultimately destroy breastfeeding because it is a
thing that stands between a mom and her baby.

The need for money is not a good enough reason for ILCA to bury their head in
the sand in regard to this issue.   Money is always a need for individuals,
corporations, and governments.   That need for money has to be balanced by
the need to consider what we sacrifice when we open the door a teeny, tiny
bit....and, sometimes before we know it the whole door gets kicked wide open.
 Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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