Some recent postings about reasons women are given by others to wean their
babies got me thinking about reasons for not even starting to breastfeed and I
came up with the following list. I was thinking of using it to stimulate
discussion among young teenagers. All additions welcome.

20 reasons not to breastfeed

 * The production method is unscientific and uncontrolled.
 * Accurate measurement is impossible, packaging and content vary.
 * Production and consumption are untaxable
 * Packaging fails to give nutritional information, ingredients or artificial
additives
 * The product  is not marked with sell-by-date
 * Packaging does not bear a tamper-proof seal
 * Although the product contains living cells it is not covered by legislation
to control this.
 * The product has health-giving qualities but is not a licensed medicine
 * External quality controll is not applied to the production.
 * Equipment cannot be sterilised chemically, with steam , in the microwave, by
boiling or in any other way
 * It is unhygenic for a mother to use the same equipment for all her children
 * The technology is outdated. Method , process and equipment have remained
unchanged during the last few millennia, nor are there any plans to update them
 * It is wasteful as most babies are provided with two dispensers
 * Economic productivity is undermined as neither the process nor the product
lend themselves to mechanisation or commercialisation
 * Women are prevented  from working to their full potential as they often give
in to the temptation to supply the product to their child and will usually sit
or even lie down to do so.
 * Taxes cannot be levied
 * The process should be classed as a  leisure activity (or possible a vice) as
it is enjoyable to both parties.
 * Unnatural interdependency is caused
 * Men cannot take part in the process at any stage of manufacturing.
 * It costs nothing therefore it has no value

 Veronika Tudhope, Kilmarnock, Scotland
(about 20 miles S of Glasgow for those of you who, like me, look at maps)