Genuine question: are the circumstances where a mother in the US is
truly *not allowed* to breastfeed? In the UK, too, there has been at
least one high profile case where a mother was told she coud not bf
her baby (b/c of HIV) and she had to escape/try to escape social
services who were attempting to take her baby into care.

It perturbs me if the state can get involved to this extent, and
actively not allow a mother to feed her baby how she wishes. I
perfectly well understand the issues and that carers may be concerned
with the baby's health, but it seems to me there may be alternatives.
I heard  of a drug users unit in Glasgow where workers encourage drug
addicts to breastfeed, support them, and make sure they support the
mother through weaning so the baby does not suffer withdrawal, if the
mother continues to use drugs.


Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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