Thanks, Pam, for an insightful and informative post sharing your
observations about breastfeeding from within a culture that still primarily
breastfeeds.  I was especially struck by your observation that assumptions
about what is "natural" trivialize breastfeeding.  I think breastfeeding is
just as complex as any other issue related to human sexuality, and, like
other systems, has wide individual variation, is subject to disruption from
any number of factors including bad luck, and which can fail as often as it
can succeed.  I agree totally that a proportion of infant deaths probably IS
related to bfg failure, something we're spared in the developed world only
because of economics.  After three or four weeks of starving due to poor
breastfeeding, all the little American infants would die too if we didn't
have good sewage and clean water and formula.  And their mothers would
sicken and perhaps die if not for antibiotics to prevent sepsis from
mastitis and abscess.

This is NOT an apolgy for formula, but a ringing mandate for health workers
better trained to support breastfeeding as it needs to be supported for the
women and infants who don't get a perfect start or have perfect
circumstances.

Barbara Wilson-Clay BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
http://www.lactnews.com

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