Hi all. In Living Marxism issue 92, July'/August 1996, there is a simply
shockingly unapologetic dismissal of the positives of breastfeeding by a
woman, Ann Bradley, who switched to formula after a short time of
breastfeeding, in an article: Is Breast for Baby Best for You? There is a
commentary section available so perhaps we can bring the full force of what
she refers to as breastfeeding fanaticism to bear on her journalistic head.
(joking, folks--but some intelligent comments would be nice). Some of the
gems she includes are:
--painting as ludicrous the idea that breastfeeding could be "one of the
most rewarding experiences of one's life"...read the article to get the total
visceral reaction of horrified amazement, but basically she says that maybe
animals consider "suckling" to be a fulfilling endeavor, but humans are way
above that.
--refers to the desire to stop nursing so that breasts can back to "their
natural recreational state", whatever that is, as being a fine reason to
deprive a child (her words) of breastmilk.
--refers to bf as being better for a baby, health-wise, in the first few
months...later in the article she makes mention of "another" such temporary
benefit, as if such rewards magically disappear sometime soon after birth.
The most surprising thing about this article is that its premise is to decry
the "guilt-mongering" brought on by breastfeeding advocates and the media who
reported on the finding of phthalates in ABM...but, at the end of the article,
she mentions that bottle-feeding moms will "have the last laugh" because
breastfed babies are getting 10 times the level of WHO established safe levels
of dioxin, in breastmilk.
Please, please, read this article. It is unbelievable. The web site is:
<A HREF="http://www.informinc.co.uk/LM/LM92/LM92_Taboos.html"> LM: Is breast
for baby best for you?</A> or
http://www.informinc.co.uk/LM/LM92/LM92_Taboos.html
Joy Berry-Parks
LLLL, Arkansas
Breastfeeding Scholar
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Childhood decides. --Jean Paul Sartre
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