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Subject:
From:
"Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 22 May 2002 17:09:07 EDT
Content-Type:
text/plain
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text/plain (38 lines)
Gonneke you wrote, "But.
It is not hte AIF industrie that is to blame when mothers look for
alternatives to breastfeeding. Throughout history there is evidence that
women who could afford it would feed their children in other ways or make
other women breastfeed their children."

Yes, throughout history there have been women who have rejected
breastfeeding.  Yet I hope you will reconsider your statement that it is not
the AIF industry that is to blame when mothers look for alternatives to
breastfeeding. This statement seems to be excusing all the behavior that has
gone on in developing countries and continues to this day in subverting
breastfeeding. (and not just in developing countries..around the world)  It
excuses the Enfamil crib cards I just saw at my local hospital this past
weekend.  [I have yet to see Marlboro cards on the bedside of patients in the
hospital.]  It excuses the tons of free infant formula and coupons that moms
get in the US. It excuses the infant formula's patenting and ownership of
human milk components.

I think if we look at the history of infant formula, this industry is not
driven by market forces.  Rather it creates the market, the need.  It does
this by appealing to "gender" issues--the liberation of women from their
biology.  It questions the safety of human milk  (human milk as infectious
and toxic) while downplaying their own safety record.  It presents
breastfeeding as difficult, time-consuming, and primitive.  While formula
feeding is easy, time-freeing, and modern.  Should we fault women for buying
into this media production..even the FDA says, "Infant formula:  Second Best
but Good Enough."  Sounds like a Nestle commercial to me.  A woman believes
Nestle and or the FDA and some breastfeeding advocates think she is ignorant
or selfish.  I don't think it has anything to do with ignorance  or
selfishness...just simply the social marketing of a product.  Valerie W.
McClain, IBCLC

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