Dear Friends,



“The benefits of breast milk over formula, in our society, are over-stated…

There is no doubt that breast milk is good – and, all other things being
equal can be a wonderful thing to do. But modern baby formula is also good.
How much real health benefit does it confer, in our society?”



I think we should get back to basics here. The question is flawed. It’s not
on us to prove breastmilk, be it donor milk or direct breastfeeding, is
“better” than formula. Breast milk is food for babies. Why should any of us
have to defend it?

     I think that breastmilk will become the presumptive food for babies,
in all cases, even when mother’s own milk is not available. It just makes
sense.

    I suspect deep down the writer’s concerns aren’t about risks of milk
sharing. All our choices come with risks –being alive comes with risks
–risks can be managed and minimized. I think the real concerns are over
resistance to change, personal squeamishness, unfounded taboos, the
unknown, perceived threat to the established order. These one-on-one milk
transactions are hugely disturbing (gross!) to people who have internalized
the industrialization and commodification of baby milk (formula) as the
normal, inevitable way of feeding babies.

    Or maybe she just wants to hear us say formula is good too, or admit we
have overstated the “benefits” of breastfeeding. Okay, uncle. You got me. I
did that once or twice when I was a nube. Sorry. But like I said, we have
nothing to prove! I think we’ve learned from watching HM4HB that the milk
sharing movement doesn’t have a bunch of MDs or RDs or MPH's or IBCLC's or
scolds of whatever stripe (not that we are!) driving it – from what I can
see it’s grassroots. If women determine that it is of value to them to
donate and receive milk—in terms of health, economic value, emotional
value, social value – this movement will grow, without us having to argue
or convince people like Karleen’s opponent or Rosin or the Wolf woman.
Articles like Karleen’s help foster it along. Well done Karleen.

Best,

Kristen Panzer MS IBCLC

Dutchess County NY

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