Coach Smith here.

Asking (debating) whether it's OK to teach mothers how to bottle-feed in
classes because some will eventually use bottles when they go back to work
is asking the wrong question. 

Mothers who "need" to use bottles because they "need" to leave their babies
for extended periods for employment reasons need better MATERNITY PROTECTION
LAWS in their country, not group instructions on bottle-feeding. 

Maternity protection legislation is one of the 4 Action Goals of the 1990 /
2005 Innocenti Declaration. This is a huge global issue, and it's not new.
The International Labor Organization tackled this issue and issued the first
set of supportive guidelines nearly 100 years ago! 

All babies need their mothers, regardless of how they are fed. All babies
need lots of loving touch, physical contact, carrying, comforting, etc.
Dare I suggest that bottle-fed babies (including those getting breastmilk in
the bottle) need their mothers' physical presence and touching even MORE
than breastfed children? Separating mothers and babies is bad for babies.

And yes, Maternity protection is a "political" issue that is global, not
limited to any single candidate or political party or even any one country,
and vital to all mothers and babies everywhere. 

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre Ltd.
6540 Cedarview Ct, Dayton OH 45459 USA
(937) 438-9458 / fax (937) 438-3229
www.BFLRC.com 

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