In a message dated 4/26/03 6:34:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> Barbara Wilson-Clay presents:
> <<The total irony of this is that as the big Ad Council/Dept. of Women's
> Health marketing of breastfeeding campaign gears up, I often wonder do we
> have the infrastructure to even deal with increased referrals? >>
>

The United States has been notoriously wonderful with breastfeeding
promotion. Folks in the States know how to sell and how to market.
       Without breastfeeding protection and support, all the promotion in the
world won't help much.
       I share Barbara's concern, and take it a bit further. I am worried
that   women who want to breastfeed and fail at it because they don't have
the support will do more to discourage their friends than any ad campaign can
undo. Women are better off knowing nobody who has breastfed, rather than a
friend who had a rough time.
       If the money funding this ad campaign was put into having
knowledgeable and dedicated lactation helpers at every single WIC office and
every single pediatric practice, so that every single breastfeeding mother
would have the support she needs, then it would be money well spent. What
about grants to all the local nursing mothers' organizations? What about
getting babies to breast after birth, until their first breastfeed which is
the best way to increase breastfeeding duration?
       People already know 'breast is best'. The challenge for us is to get
them to put breastfeeding into their lives.
       There have already been two terrific ad campaigns; remember BestStart.
And there is still more formula being used than before. More mothers are
initiating breastfeeding, but the exclusivity is still very low.
       warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MSN, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CIMI, CCE, craniosacral therapy
Adjunct faculty, Union Institute and University, Maternal and Child Health:
Lactation Consulting
Supporting the WHO Code and the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative

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