> I believe we are seeing a growing # of mothers who certainly value the
> product enough to be milk-harvesting, but are not aware of the benefits
> of the actual process of direct breastfeeding.
>
> K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
> Dayton, Ohio USA
>

I think you are right, and this is a very interesting phenomenon, and I
think it speaks to the fact that breastfeeding campaigns *are* working, and
mothers *are* recognizing and believing that giving their babies breastmilk
is important.

On the flip side of the coin, though, is that I've heard from a lot of
mothers who exclusively pump who have said they feel "discriminated against"
by lactation professionals, or looked down upon with disdain, because
they're not breastfeeding.

I think it's a fine line - getting the information across that there ARE
benefits to *breast*feeding that one simply cannot get from exclusively
pumping, while still acknowledging what the mother IS doing for her baby, as
certainly exclusive pumping is a heck of a lot more work than breastfeeding
is.

Kerry Luskey
LLLL, Minneapolis

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