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Subject:
From:
Cathy Bargar <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 22 Jan 2001 11:59:05 -0500
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And besides, given the demographics of breastfeeding in the US at this point
in time, when I think about the babies that are *least* likely to be
breastfed, I can see that these are the very babies who should be given the
best (even if it's the best second-best, if you follow what I mean here)
formula scientists and manufacturers can stuff into that can.

Children born into families that are more likely to be poor, to families who
are likely to have less education, in families that are more likely to have
less adequate nutrition, to people who show up more often in all kinds of
negative circumstances in life, are the very ones that MOST need every
single drop of "advantage" they can get. OF COURSE they should all get
breastmilk!  That's a given! These kids need every single brain cell they
can possibly develop; they have a tougher road ahead of them than the babies
of those in more "fortunate" circumstances!

But a lot of them are just plain old not going to be breastfed. That's the
fact, here and now, in this time and place. So they NEED the formula that's
more likely to help their brains develop properly - well, as well as they
can in the absence of the preferred food. If it were up to me (just pretend
for a minute), I would make sure that those babies not being breastfed got
the DHA-enhanced formula, and I'd start with the
lowest-socioeconomic-status babies around, and I'd make it *less* expensive
than the "regular" stuff so that more babies would be able to have it.

(All this assuming that DHA-added formula is in fact "better",  in the ways
it is claimed to be, which I'm not actually convinced of yet...But IF it
is...)

Cathy Bargar, RN, IBCLC

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