Kathy is right that we don't know all of the facts of the case.  What
bothered me most, though about this article is the title, "Nursed to
Death."  As I wrote Salon, this is not an accurate or THOUGHTFUL title for
thinking mothers, because it was the LACK of breastmilk, not nursing that
killed the baby, from what I have read.  So the implication of the title is
misleading, and women who just see that and don't read the whole article or
know anything about breastfeeding could assume it was the fact that she was
nursing and not formula feeding that caused the death.

It says she breastfed him "regularly."  What is regularly? Every four hours
with breasts that have been surgically damaged?  Has it said anywhere else
how often she fed him? Yes, she should have known that he was starving from
his appearance and insisted on him being seen by a physician.  Yet, I know
many poor women who are intimidated by the system and they do not insist on
what they feel is right.  They've had so many experiences of being told
they have no power. I've also known of other babies who were getting close
to starving that did not act "sick" because they were placid babies who
didn't have enough calories to give them the energy to cry.  Uneducated
women interpret this as being a "good" contented baby. Still, three pounds
is an extreme amount to not notice!

Lucy Towbin, MSW,IBCLC

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