<<I am just extremely struck by the use of '24 weeks'.  If we are talking
about roughly 6 months' exlcusive breastfeeding as the norm, where does 24
weeks come from?  >>

Magda, you can't imagine how hotly this topic can be debated!  As we (WABA
and IBFAN) were working on our materials for breastfeeding advocacy at ILO,
one of the most intense issues was whether to press for '16 weeks,' '17
weeks' or '4 months' of maternity leave.  The peculiarity of the calendar
that most of us manage OK in our daily lives has a hugely magnified effect
when laws and standards get written, using---as they must---the precise
language of laws and standards.  And our debate took place among friends and
allies!
Then once the standards are written, there are unfriendly interests who would
obviously benefit financially by shrinking the length of exclusive
breastfeeding, or the length of maternity entitlements.  Any time they can
turn 'six months' into '24 weeks,' or 'four months' into '16 weeks,' there's
a week or two more when they can legitimately sell formula, or a week less
than an employer has to pay for leave and replace a worker who's not at work.

This is just another instance of how breastfeeding advocates have to be picky
about language.  We may look like we're quibbling about insignificant
details, but we need constant vigilance as we strive to protect
breastfeeding.  We are a potential threat to lots of commercial interests,
because (as Coach Smith pointed out years ago), if you want to increase
breastfeeding, you have to decrease bottle/formula feeding.  Our opponents
know this, although they don't say it aloud.  They just keep whittling away
at breastfeeding at every weak point they can find.

Watching those jots and tittles in eastern USA,
Chris Mulford
WABA Women and Work Task Force

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