Unfortunately (and I'm sure NOT a coincidence) pump marketers know the fears
that new moms have that their product will fix:

* Make breast milk feeding as discreet as formula feeding 
* Know EXACTLY how much your baby took...so you can now control the feeding 
* Get help with your baby 
* Mom won't be "stuck" having to take her baby everywhere (you can now take
a PUMP! ...<she says with frustration>)

Again, we need to be aware of how this marketing method will ALSO cause
problems - but at the same time, like formula, pumps are NECESSARY for SOME
mothers and make breastfeeding possible for others who might not consider it
without their availability.  

Unfortunately, whenever I give a SHORT talk - or send an e-mail to Lactnet -
all the exceptions brought up - as if we weren't aware of them...it's
frustrating as nothing we(I) say is meant to say: YOU MUST DO IT MY WAY -
but it is meant to say: "what MOST women and babies need is:" and "in
educating the community, families, during the "preconception" and pregnant
period should be 'baby feeding at the breast' as the norm."

YES there are babies who won't/can't nurse (preemies, oral problems, etc) -
and moms who won't/can't breastfeed (for example moms who were abused and
find baby at the breast causes a great deal of emotional turmoil) and those
moms are able to feed breast milk despite it - but I still would NEVER
encourage/recommend pumping as an "either/or" any more than I would
recommend formula (even though I KNOW of babies whose lives were saved with
formula!) ... and most of the mothers I've met (except the wife of an
executive of a breast pump company) wish they COULD breastfeed... 

Pump marketers AND our current lifestyle (lack of support, lack of knowledge
of what normal babies are like, working moms, etc) are combining to bring us
more and more mothers who PLAN on pumping and not breastfeeding...

Jeanette Panchula
California, USA

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