>
>I've got a copy of this book and have read through about half, and
>I'll vouch for it being very pro-breastfeeding and lukewarm, at
>best, about formula. There are all of three references to formula in
>the book.
>
>The most prominent is a table listing the comparative risks
>associated with formula feeding versus breastfeeding. The other two
>references basically acknowledge that formula exists as an option
>when a mother cannot breastfeed. The text then goes on to explain
>that it's very rare that formula is a medical necessity.


But this is Maureen's point, surely - that almost all articles and
books about infant feeding *pull their punches* about formula. That
is, they don't dare to reveal the full evidence for the potential
harm done to babies of not breastfeeding.

I know this is true, because (the day job being a journalist and
writer)  I have written many articles and books, and I have pulled my
punches...in the very early days of my writing career, to an extent
that shames me. As the years have gone by,  I have had more knowledge
and courage to be more evidence-based,  and editors and publishers
don't like it.  I have had specific instructions from editors *not*
to 'make women feel guilty' by which they mean present breastfeeding
and formula feeding as an equal 'lifestyle' choice, which I  never
agree to, and have lost work as a result.  BTW, I would have made a
lot of money and had a quite glittering media career if I had taken
the formula companies' shilling over the years - that's where the Big
Money is for everyone, not just for the people who manufacture or
sell the stuff !

It would be virtually impossible (I think) to write a
commercially-supported book like MM's Breastfeeding Matters (which
was, and maybe is, self-published, AFAIK).

This is mainly because editors and publishers often formula feed.

Magazine editors also take ads from the pharmaceuticals (and in the
UK, ads for formula milk) and this affects their editorial choices.
They also get many letters from angry formula feeding mothers who
will accuse the magazine of 'making them feel guilty' if any article
reveals too many negative things about formula.

>
>Consequently, I'm at a loss as to why Ross would want to distribute this book.


See previous correspondence about 'getting to' the breastfeeding
mother who is almost certain to use formula at some point and may
well switch totally.

>I'm further at a loss as to why AAP would contenance any involvement
>with Ross's distribution.

See previous correspondence about money, and how they don't get the
whole issue.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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