The Lawerence Eagle Tribune,
P.O. Box 100 Lawrence,
Ma. 01842.

Dear Editors:

As a mother and published researcher, I am truly appalled at your recent
coverage of the breastfeeding law in California.[-Headline- California
allows moms to breast-feed anywhere-by Betsy Hart   Score one for the
breast-feeding Nazis.  They and their political sisters have won a major
victory.]

In case you haven't heard, breastfeeding is actually an integral part of
the definition of being a mammal (that is to feed one's young from the
mammary glands).  Is it possible that your paper and writers are so
obcessed with breasts as sexual objects that this simple fact of nature has
been forgotten?  When we feed babies with bottles of formula, which I'm
sure you would not object to having this done in public, we are actually
undermining the future of the human race. The fact that women are asked to
leave malls, stores, restaurants, etc. when feeding their babies in the
"normal" (as defined by humans being mammalian) manner is repugnant.  If a
man is offended by a breast--a functional organ which we have
sexualized--it is HIS problem.  It is often cited that the eyes are what
attract most parteners to eachother, yet the eyes are functional.  Would
you suggest that we cover our eyes because they attract others sexually?

One only needs to take a brief glance at the breadth and depth of recent
high quality research that demonstrates the essential nature of breastmilk
for babies (All references available upon request).  It is not simply that
breastmilk gives babies a nice advantage; rather, formula endangers the
health of babies everywhere including in the United States.  Formula has
been implicated in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and higher infant
mortality, such that if all babies were breastfed our infant mortality rate
would drop from 9/1000 live births to 4.5/1000 live births (That's just in
the US; a much higher death rate from formula is found in developing
nations).  Babies who are formula fed are 15 times more likely to be
hospitalized in the first four months and are ten times more likely to
contract bacterial infection when compared with breastfed babies. Formula
and bottle feeding actually reduces children's IQ and impairs brain
development!  Formula causes bleeding entero-colitis, gangrene of the gut,
allergic reactions (including anaphylactic shock and death), inflamatory
bowel disease, ear, respiratory, and gastro-intestinal infections, tooth
decay, malocclusion, obesity, juvenile diabetes, and even cancer.

And, as if all the effects on babies were not enough...breastfeeding has
major impacts on mothers.  The failure to breastfeed endangers the health
of women everywhere by raising the rates of breast and ovarian cancers,
osteoporosis, obesity, late-on-set diabetes, anemia, and post-partum
depression.  Moreover, breastfeeding saves families at least $1000 per year
in formula costs; more if one includes savings of health care costs.  This
takes away valuable resources that could be used for many other necessary
items, including education.

Environmental resources are saved when women breasfeed because the
production and use of formula/artificial baby milk requires huge amounts of
land dedicated to cattle and soy production.  Formula/ABM use leads to
deforestation, pollution, soil erosion, over-work of women, and massive
disposal problems (from tins of formula).    It has also been demonstrated
that parents of breastfed children have increased productivity in the
workplace.  This is evident by the decreased level of absenteeism from work
because their children are not excluded from daycare due to illness.

I find your reporting of this issue to be irresponsible and down-right
offensive, especially in the use of the term Nazi.  The Nazis murdered
millions of people.  Why not call formula companies Nazis since their
products are responsible for the deaths of over 1.5 million babies each
year worldwide?

If you would like full references for each and every fact listed above,
please feel free to contact me or search the Internet for the vast number
of articles documenting the need for INCREASED support of breastfeeding.

Sincerely,
Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC



: )Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC  email: [log in to unmask]   : )
: )HSR & Health Educational Consultant        voice/fax: 541 753 7340    : )
: )LLLLLLLLLLLLL**CHANGE THE WORLD, NURTURE A CHILD!**LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL : )