Barbara -- I do realize that some couples with infertility problems don't
breastfeed because the same hormonal problems that led to infertility can
also lead to inability to breastfeed.  But even among infertile couples,
this has to be a small minority.  Most infertility is caused by mechanical
blockage of the fallopian tubes or low sperm count.



Jean wrote:

>> She still, to this day, if reminded, can
>>rant about his time spent trying to point out the hereditary tendency for
>>allergy, and that if she had allergies, her baby's risk was higher, and
>>she could reduce the risk by breastfeeding. She insists she went to him
>>because of her nose, and she didn't think her breasts were any of his
>>business!)

He wasn't concerned about HER BREASTS.  He was concerned about HER BABY'S
NOSE!!

>>I suspect I know that "gut feeling". It takes finesse to know how to
>>phrase it to some moms who are culturally already "locked in" to FF. I
>>still sometimes feel I'm walking on eggshells when I try "pushing the
>>envelope". I have to tell myself I can't be everybody's "savior", and
>>feeding, after all, is just one part of mothering.

I agree to a point.  Breastfeeding is just one part of mothering, but I
would say breastfeeding is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF MOTHERING.  It's
certainly *as important* as not using cocaine during pregnancy, not smoking
during pregnancy or afterward, not drinking during pregnancy, using a car
seat til the child is 4 years old.  Without breastfeeding, the mother does
not have the appropriate internal chemical millieu for mothering behavior.
So not breastfeeding means no oxytocin, no prolactin, no hormonal support
for mothering.  Couple this with a general lack of cultural/social support
for mothering, and you set the stage for all kinds of inappropriate
relationships between mother and child, child neglect, child abuse,
post-partum depression, etc. etc. etc.

I know it steps on people's toes, alienates some mothers (and fathers and
HCPs), and turns some people off to be proactive in promoting breastfeeding.
But I still say all health care professionals should consider themselves
morally and ethically obligated to be 100% truthful about the risks of
infant formula/not breastfeeding.

Putting a child in a car seat is just "one part of mothering" -- and not one
that happens all that often (1-2 times a day on average?) -- yet we have
LAWS in every state MANDATING that mothers put their children in car seats.
Getting a child their immunizations is just "one part of mothering" -- and
not one that happens all that often, a couple of times in the first few
years, and then occasionally tehreafter -- yet we have LAWS in every state
MANDATING that mothers get their children immunized (or else they can't go
to school).  Cocaine use during pregnancy lowers a child's IQ on average 3
points, while formula lowers it on average 5-8 points.  We have LAWS against
cocaine use, for everybody, all the time.  But formula is still considered
"just as good" or "almost as good" or "good enough."  It is time that
formula-use *when it is not necessary* (the vast majority of the time) be
recognized as *reckless endangerment of a child* with appopriate penalties.
If people don't want to breastfeed, they shouldn't be having children.

Kathy Dettwyler, on a rant again

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