><< It is estimated that between 300 and 3,000 children die each year in the
>US from causes DIRECTLY RELATED TO BOTTLE-FEEDING WITH FORMULA/LACK OF
>BREASTFEEDING. >>
>
>Two questions about this.
>
>First, Kathy, who estimates this?  and based on what? (OK, that's a double
>question.)
>
>Second, I'm trying to work through the relative risk numbers you suggested.


These numbers come from Dr. Allan Cunningham and Dr. Edwin Newton, from
conference presentations.  They are based on the increased risk of numberous
illnesses in formula-fed vs. bottle-fed babies, the rate of death from these
illnesses, and the number of children born in the US each year.

I agree with your analysis of the figures, that just going on the
epidemiological estimates, since we can't know what the risks are for a
particular child, that if all you are concerned about is the child dying,
then in most cases in the US, HIV+ moms should bottle-feed.  But as I
pointed out before, there is a lot more at stake than just that some tiny
fraction of kids die if formula-fed.  There is also a higher rate of
illness, some very serious illnesses even if the child doesn't die, plus all
the other things that the child misses out on if not breastfed.  So the
column of "disadvantages of bottle-feeding" is much longer than just a tiny
risk of dying.

Kathy D.

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