Actually, Fio bings up an interesting point. IF we "could" convince people
that 'formula' causes illness, which I doubt we can (regardless of the facts or
lack of facts), the alternative may not be seen as breastfeeding, but as
"homemade" formulas. My own mother fed us evaporated milk, water, karo syrup, and
a dopper of baby vitamins. Of course, I am still alive. Haha. Which is
"proof" for many that babies can adapt and survive without human milk. Many can
look around them and see people are still alive. (My goodness, even smokers
don't quit regardless of the information about their health. It is not the
cigarettes that bother me, it is the marketing of them as though they are "cool"
and "normal" healthy choices.) The same is true with formulas. In the USA the
alternative feeding available is commercially prepared formula (for now) and
I could accept that. If it were not for the marketing of the product at the
expense of the truth and the best interest of babies and mothers. So, perhaps
the wording that uses "formula" as the culprit as opposed to the lack of
breastmilk may not actually increase breastfeeding even if it decreases commercial
formula. With that in mind, I would discourage saying "formula causes" even
if it were 100% accurate, because the American mind will not interpret that as
"breastfeed" but as use another product. Better to assert the fact that "lack
of breastfeeding" is linked to...or results in...or even causes, but use the
"lack of breastfeeding" as the culprit not a product they will see they can
replace with a different prodcut...or a new and improved product sure to come
out any day now.
Don't misunderstand me. I do believe it is formula that causes illness the
same way I believe cigarettes cause cancer. I just don't believe that the
American public will accept that concept as fast as they accepted cigargettes
cause cancer. (After all there are many people who are Just Fine who were fed
homemade concoctions and commercial formlas.) And really, I don't want to wait 20
plus years for the "truth" to be accepted. And, knowing that many women are
totally happy with good enough and cheaper is fine, and my mother did it, and
my sister did it, and I did it with my first kid, etc etc. I do not think that
"formula causes illness" will fly in this generation. And by the next, we
might not even see that many children "born" normally let alone "fed" normally.
And hey, in no time normal will be totally lost. How fast do you think
mutation and evolution really take until we can actually reach optimum without
normal? Most already think we have reached "just fine". I think we need to assess
what will be most easily absorbed into the conscious minds of a sadly gullible
public and win them over as formula companies already have. As someone else
said, it is very hard to market breastfeeding.
We are on the brink of a change however, and this is very exciting even if
very frustrating. The very fact that the corporate profit is threatened by a
marketing plan says they are on the right track. Indeed formula is the
competition and they are likely to fight because the money is bigger than big and
breastfeeding is in fact their only threat. To all those involved in making the
ad campaign a reality in my lifetime, bravo, bravo. You know you must be right
when those standing to lose the most money are willing to spend more to stop
you. These are times of anger and outrage to be sure, but also very exciting
times when we can offer a generation of adults with health concerns that
breastfeeding would have likely lowered risks of or perhaps prevented. We can say
that what we feed our babies matters, how we feed our babies matter. Our
babies matter! This is indeed exciting. Our mothers could have claimed "we did
not know" but future mothers will have to say "I did know, but chose
otherwise". Those that could not breastfeed, will be able to say "I knew it was best
and tried my hardest but it was not possible, luckily there are products that
allow my child to still survive". Ah, for the day that formulas (and homemade
concoctions) are seen as "life savers" when breastfeeding is impossible, and
breastmilk unavialable--like a medical treatment or drug. Something you are
glad is there, but wish you did not need. Even better would be easily and
affordable milk banks with those who cannot provide breastmilk still able to provide
their babies with the 3rd choice...not the fourth. I know, one step at a
time...
Best,
Pam MazzellaDiBosco, IBCLC
FL, USA
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