If we believe that human milk is the gold standard, what is the basis for
belief in human milk fortifiers and lactoengineering of human milk?  Is it
human milk is the gold standard only in the full-term and/or healthy infant?
How do we rationalize this need to change this precious liquid into something
science believes must be better for the compromised infant?

The answer seems to be that we have human milk research that shows us that
premies and/or infants with certain diseases must have fortification or have
their mother's milk improved upon.  Yet the research on human milk fortifiers
seems to be mostly funded by the infant formula industry.  While
lactoengineering seems to be a rational response to avoid those fortifiers,
is it even needed?  And lactoengineering sends a message loud and clear to
mothers--your milk is not rich enough, good enough for your baby.

Yet my question is what makes us think that we have enough knowledge to do
this?  What makes human milk the gold standard only part of the time and not
all of the time?  What is the basis for this belief?

I think we are shooting in the dark, playing god, and assuming that somehow
men and women of science know better than nature itself.  If profit were not
a part of this grand adventure in nutrition, I might believe that human milk
fortification is a necessity.  Yet profit is a huge part of this science.
Who owns human milk research?  Let's not kid ourselves into believing that
breastfeeding advocates own the research.  The research is mostly bought and
paid for by the infant formula industry--and now the drug industry, too.

I do take issue with the concept that human milk has not "evolved" enough to
take care of all the premies needs.  This is a rationalization for a
technological approach to feeding infants.  This statement implies that human
milk is no longer the gold standard.  It means that technology because it is
faster paced is now the gold standard of infant feeding.  The manipulation of
human milk should mean that we  know the correct weights for premies and
infants. It would mean that we know that no harm will befall these infants
now and into the future because of these manipulations.  I don't think we
know this.  Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC


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