>One problem with marketing breastfeeding as free is that a good deal has
>already been written to
>counter that claim.  I remember reading one argument -- from a book or ma
>gazine, I can't
>remember -- that once you've paid for a breast pump and its paraphenelia,
>  nursing bras, a special
>nursing wardrobe, visits to the lactation consultant, and probably a few
>other things I'm
>forgetting, breastfeeding is certainly not free!


http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cabi/phn/2004/00000007/00000008/art00009;jsessionid=e4jfv0v2r5be.alice


is one study showing exactly this - and breastfeeding came out as 
*more expensive* than formula. Of course a lot of the stuff that 
mothers buy for breastfeeding (and formula feeding for that matter) 
is not necessary; a lot of it is speciously-marketed tat.

You might find the calculations show an even greater gap in the US - 
all lactation support (such as it is) is free in the UK, and not 
everybody buys a breastpump by any means.

But it's no use trumpeting that breastfeeding is free, when it plainly isn't :)

It's definitely value for money, of course!

There are a different set of calculations to make when you take into 
account that breastfeeding may prevent or delay a woman's return to 
the marketplace, and the fact she may make certain health or 
lifestyle choices in order to support her breastfeeding (whether she 
need to make these choices is a different matter - I am thinking of 
vitamin supplements, I suppose).

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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