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Lactation Information and Discussion

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Subject:
From:
Katherine Dettwyler <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 14 Jul 2001 21:39:54 -0400
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The problems I see with commodifying human milk -- making it into a product
for sale are twofold:

(1) You separate the product from the process, when we all know that the
process is very important as well, and more importantly
(2) What will mostly likely happen is that poor women will get free formula
from WIC for their babies, and pump and sell their milk to wealthier women
who will then be "free of the bother of breastfeeding" by exploiting the
poorer women to the detriment of everybody except the babies of the rich
(who still won't actually get to be breastfed).

This is what happened with wet-nursing.  Read Valerie Fildes' book on the
history of the artificial feeding of infants, including wet nursing.  It
makes fascinating reading.  It is titled "Breasts, Bottles, and Babies."
She also has a chapter in "Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives."

Kathy Dettwyler (and yes, I did get chastised by several of the list moms
for my rude post earlier)
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