Winnie makes the point that mothers who express and feed their own milk are
giving their children vastly better food than if they were putting formula
in the bottles.  Of course this is the case.  I don't have a problem with
mothers using breastpumps when they need them.  But I doubt that many of the
mothers would call what the pump gives them 'freedom' and I hope I never
live to see the day when a mother asks me 'is it true that the Symphony pump
is second only to a baby, for naturalness?'  Groan!
My objection is to the way pumps are being *marketed* to people who work
with breastfeeding and to mothers, at the last several conferences I've
attended and in journals to which I subscribe.  The implication, reinforced
by the way all the pregnancy/baby mags seem to have an article about
everything one needs from day one, complete with list incuding a breast pump
but generally omitting 'sling', is that breastfeeding should not be
attempted without a pump in the house.  All such a message does, is
undermine womens' confidence in their bodies and their babies, and lessen
the probability that the child will be breastfed at all.  It is also of
concern to me that the retail price of pumps has risen rather sharply here
over the past couple of years - possibly to cover the advert budget?

Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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