Hi all,

Just about choked on my chocolate today in the bookstore.  I ran across a book
entitled, "When Breastfeeding is Not an Option: A Reassuring Guide for Loving
Parents".  1998 copyright.  The author, Peggy Robin, breastfed her first for 7
months, weaning then in order to become pregnant again (she talks in the book
about "breastfeeding's often-unwanted curtailment of fertility").  With her
2nd, she was hospitalized for mastitis and put on IV antibiotics "but after
the doctor told me that the source of the infection was most likely
bacteria...found in my baby's mouth, I became skittish about putting her back
on my nipple."  She pumped and bottle-fed a few more weeks until she got her
strength back, but by then her baby preferred the bottle.  Duh.  Pumping and
bottlefeeding was easier than nursing????

Anyway, the 300-page book was written as a "resource and support" for women
who CHOOSE to exercise their "right" to formula-feed their babies.  A sampling
of various chapters and subheadings:  "Breastfeeding Isn't Free (the bras,
pumps, LC consults & 'extra food as well as the high price of prescription
vitamin and calcium supplements' really add up!!);  Breastfeeding Isn't a
Guarantee of Health; When Bottlefeeding Is Best; 38 Reasons for the Bottle;
The Overselling of the Breast; Questioning the Claims (she systematically
shoots "holes" in the "claims" of health advantages)...anyway, you get the
drift--and that's only through Chapter 2!

OOHHH!!!  I just read the fine print in the copyright info!  This is the NEWLY
REVISED version of Bottlefeeding Without Guilt.  Well, thank goodness it's not
a SECOND author, just the same one with "new" ammunition...

She has a "quiz" for expectant mothers to help determine if they'll prefer
breast or bottle for their baby.  Was this in the original book?  I've glanced
at it, but never bought it. I may take this one back after I've examined it a
bit closer...hate to think I'm helping her make money off of it.  Speaking of
which, does anyone know anything about "Prima Publishing"?  Wonder if there
are any pharmaceutical connections.  She includes 800 numbers for all the
different formulas, as well as formula club contact #s and (to be fair) pump
and other breastfeeding support numbers.

So. Thanks for letting me rant.  Stepping off the soapbox, breathless (how do
you manage to do this so often, Kathleen A.??!!) and wiping my brow from the
effort.

Chocolate-smeared Smiles,

Carol