I am not sure I understand the rationale behind the promotion of
breastfeeding by only or mostly talking about the benefits of breastfeeding.
The decision to breastfeed is a healthcare decision.  It is a rational
decision based on risks as well as benefits.  I think risks are  a far more
important consideration in regard to health than benefits.  We can all live
without benefits but if something is risky we may think twice about our
decision-making.

Parents need to know the risks of not breastfeeding their infants. We can
talk till we are blue in the face about the wonderful benefits of
breastfeeding.  But until we let mothers and fathers know that artificial
baby milk is risky business, we will continue to have parents making choices
that damage their infants. In developing nations the decision to use infant
formula means certain death but even in developed nations there are risks
including death to the infant. (enterobacter sakazakii contamination of
powdered infant formulas)

When we educate our children about tobacco usage, do we discuss the benefits
of breathing clean air.  No, I think we talk to them about the end result of
tobacco usage--lung disease, heart disease, smelly clothes, smelly breathe,
etc.  I think its time to stop talking about benefits (most professionals and
parents can name most if not all of the benefits).  But do they know that
infant formula is risky?  For example:  "US formula-fed infants have a
10-fold risk of being hospitalized for any bacterial infection."  from Marsha
Walker's Summary of Hazards of Infant Formula.

I have used Marsha Walker's Summary for staff inservices and with parents.  I
saw an enormous difference in staff attitude (when I worked in the WIC
Program) and an enormous difference in parental attitude about breastfeeding.
 Most parents want what is best for their infants, if they are educated about
the very real risks of infant formula you will see a difference.  Valerie W.
McClain, IBCLC


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