> I disagree with this formulation. Breastfeeding does not have benefits and
is
> not superior to anything.
> Breastfeeding is the norm and everything else is inferior untill proven
the
> contrary.
This is contradictory - if everything else is inferior then my argument that
BF is superior is proven. I would argue that sadly the actuality is that
breastfeeding is not the norm. I would argue that it should be the norm but
that formula will last for quite some time. Breastfeeding does have very
clear benefits indeed. It would be foolish for us not to indicate these
benefits to parents and thus to try to influence them. It is not enough to
merely state that BF is the natural thing to do. Years of advertising and
generations of bottlefeeding will take some time to reverse the trend.

>But lots of  HCP's are far more
> judgemental (without feeling bad about it!) about those choices than they
are
> when it's the infantfeeding choice they have to indvice or inform about.
Okay - this is true. However, it is easier to be judgemental about something
such as alcohol or tobacco or heroin with a multitude of proven dangers. The
difference is that with formula there are infrequent problems but with those
other they are guaranteed to be harmful. This is thus an unhelpful
comparison. We must sell breast feeding as a positive bonus to the health of
children - dwelling on tenuous negatives will fail. Remember that whole
generations have been bottle fed with no discernible link to mass illness
[including me sadly]

> Changing bad habits and fighting outdated believes takes time and energy,
but
> it can be done, as is shown by the changed image of smoking and smokers.
This is exactly the point I was making - rational discussion will win the
day but I  feel we are going to take quite some time to do it. I hope that I
am wrong.
Just because I am an HCP does not mean I am not on the right side....
Tony Knox
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gonneke van Veldhuizen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2001 6:15 PM
Subject: Re: phony formula claims


> In einer eMail vom 22-6-01 17:24:08 West-Europa (zomertijd) schreibt
> [log in to unmask]:
>
>
> > ... lecture regularly on the benefits. ...
>
> > ... I sincerely believe that breast feeding is superior in every way ...
>
> I disagree with this formulation. Breastfeeding does not have benefits and
is
> not superior to anything.
> Breastfeeding is the norm and everything else is inferior untill proven
the
> contrary.
> The dicision to choose between breastfeeding or any alternative is basicly
> from another order then the choice between brand A or B of formula.
> Ofcourse I do agree that the ultimate choice lies with the parents, as
well
> as the choice to smoke, drink alcohol, use drugs (non-medical), eating
> unhealthy foods is every ones own choice. But lots of  HCP's are far more
> judgemental (without feeling bad about it!) about those choices than they
are
> when it's the infantfeeding choice they have to indvice or inform about.
> Changing bad habits and fighting outdated believes takes time and energy,
but
> it can be done, as is shown by the changed image of smoking and smokers.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Gonneke van Veldhuizen, IBCLC
> MOM, LLLL, primary schoolteacher
> Hiilensberg, Germany
>
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