Dear Ms. Henry,

 

Your article, "When Mother's Milk is Poison" caught my eye as I am a
Lactation Consultant.  But, I was surprised to read about the rare metabolic
disorder, Galactosemia rather than poisonous breastmilk.  I felt the title
was very misleading and inflammatory.  Sadly, it could easily cause fear in
a new or expectant mother about the safety of breastfeeding.  

 

Too many articles use startling and inaccurate titles to get their articles
read which I feel is sad.  The last thing we should be doing is inciting
fear in new or expectant mothers about the quality or safety of their
breastmilk.  The fact is, right now, many babies are starving in the
disaster areas (Katrina) due to being formula fed rather than breastfed.
These babies would be surviving beautifully had their mothers been
encouraged to breastfeed from birth.  If we lived in a society where
breastfeeding was the norm and formula feeding was the last option (instead
of the first), babies would not be at such risk in disaster situations -
they would have safe food available.  However, the title of this article
just called mother's milk poison, thereby giving many mothers a possible
reactionary based fear of even initiating breastfeeding - something that
could easily save their baby's life.  

 

The hazards and risks of formula feeding in safe situations are already well
researched and documented.  Formula feeding in disaster circumstances can be
deadly.  Contamination of water, spoilage of the formula, not enough formula
available leading to starvation, watering down of what formula is available
(to make it last longer) leading to malnutrition and death, illness due to
bacteria in the water leading to death, are only a few examples of what is
easily possible.

 

The information in your article regarding galactosemia was fine.  Calling
breastmilk poison was not.  In this story, breastmilk is truly NOT the issue
here - the metabolic disorder is.  Galactosemia is a rare and dangerous
metabolic disorder.  Breastmilk is the best and most optimum and complete
form of nutrition for the vast majority of infants and children.  The
research, studies and documentation available support that beyond any doubt.
When we call mother's milk "poison" (regardless of the reason) we do nothing
to support the vast majority of infants in receiving their right to the best
possible start in life nutritionally.  Ideally, it would be better to
support testing for metabolic disorders so that those infants at risk can be
treated immediately.  Continuing to support breastfeeding (and breastmilk
feeding) is the best way to encourage new and expectant mothers to give
their babies the best possible start in life.  Refraining from inflammatory
and fear inciting titles for articles (in order to get readers) would be a
nice place to start.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC

California

 


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