I would really like to see the terminology 'risks of artificial
feeding'  used more often instead of 'advantages of breastfeeding'.
People really need to understand the risks associated with giving formula
to babies.  Then maybe I wouldn't see so many instances where moms are
told to 'top up' with formula after nursing 'just to be safe', or to
supplement because weight gain is slow (though not outside of normal
limits) 'just to be safe' or to pump and discard and feed formula while
the mom's on medication 'just to be safe'.  Supplementing is sometimes
seen as risky only in that it can undermine the breastfeeding
relationship, which translates to, as long as it doesn't undermine the
breastfeeding relationship, supplementing is fine.
   For the same reason I sometimes cringe when people quote the first
rule (feed the baby) without understanding that this means, feed the baby
(in this order) 1) at the mother's breast, or if not possible 2) the
mother's own milk, or if not possible 3) human milk from another source
(as in milk bank).  If none of these are possible then, and only then,
ABM (and in some circumstances, I would argue for glucose water).
   I just get bothered that so many people don't understand the magnitude
of the difference between breastmilk and ABM.  They see the 'advantage'
as similar to, for example, the advantage of organic produce over regular
produce, when it is closer to the difference between raising a baby in a
cloud of second-hand smoke vs. a smoke-free environment (and I think
that's still understating it).
   Yes, I know, I'm preaching to the choir. I guess it's just been one of
those days - thanks for listening.

Marcia McCoy
Sweltering in tropical Minnesota

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