Greetings from Vancouver!

I grew up thinking I was breastfed and a few years ago I asked my mother how long she fed me.  With downcast eyes, she told me she had only fed me for 2 weeks.  My sister was born in 1941 and was breastfed.  I was born in 1943 and when my mom took me to the doctor because I was gassy, he made her squirt some milk into a vial, held it to the light and announced it was no good - too watery. I too, was fed evaporated milk and corn syrup.  I sucked my thumb for more years than I would like to mention and have always "struggled" with my weight.

I wondered why I grew up thinking I was breastfed and I think seeing my auntie breastfeeding my cousin had a big impact on me - I was about 6 at that time and still have a very clear picture in my mind - down to the details of where she was sitting and the curtain.

Many women were told they had to stop breastfeeding because their babies were "allergic to their milk" or "lactose intolerant".

In nurses' training, (1962 - 1965) I remember working in the formula room.  We also added sugar to the "mixture" and I remember there was a disastrous mistake in a Canadian Hospital, when salt was added instead of sugar.

By 1968 we had ready made formulas and all the "free" goodies that went along with this relationship.  The value of the "free" goodies escalated over the next 25 years to include huge monetary gifts (up to 5 million dollars for signing a contract) until we finally said "NO MORE".  The young nurses, of today, are shocked when we tell them what was going on.  The fact that some women actually succeeded in breastfeeding during these years is amazing. 

Renee Hefti - Graham


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