Carol, I am not sick of discussion about WIC, at least as far as the
philosophy behind giving poor women free formula goes. I think it is
a debate that lies at the heart of breastfeeding advocacy.  I wrote
earlier this week that the UK has a system of subsidising formula for
poor women, so there are parallels elsewhere.

I agree with you that paternalistic attitudes are not helpful.

However, where I would take issue with your vision of a health
service that no longer pushes formula is that it still depends on a
top-down, health professional centred view of what is 'good' for
other people.

It omits the view that infant feeding should be a mother centred
decision, not sabotaged (as it is at present) by the formula pushers.

>
>what happens in countries like zimbabwe where the government, health system
>and media don't push formula feeding? even "poor, uneducated" women
>breastfeed. no one tells them "you are too stupid or irresponsible to
>breastfeed." you cannot be neutral about pushing formula. you are either
>"FOR" breastfeeding or "agin" it.


Countries like Zimbabwe and indeed, in the West, Norway, have never
had a bottle feeding culture. Norway was certainly at risk of
becoming one,  a few decades a go, but it never ever came close to
the situation we have in the UK or the US where bottle feeding from
the earliest days of life is now the norm.

Now, to breastfeed in the West (apart from Norway!) is to take a
counter-cultural stance, and as a mass movement it can only truly
succeed if women really want to do it.

Yes, I think everyone should know that using formula is a big deal. I
think there is very little justification for state subsidy of any
sort for formula. Its marketing and distribution should be
controlled. Milk banks should be subsidised and placed everywhere.

  But where, Carol, is the room in your vision for women to support
each other, to demand the services and the support they need from the
health services, from employers and others...for  a 'bottom up'
approach, so the health services can learn from the women they are
trying to reach?

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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