In a message dated 2/25/1 9:32:12 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<<  I also agree breasfeeding is quite normal and by the time I have
children, I would hope that the medical community is more enlightened than
they are now. >>

Cindy,
As enlightened as the medical community ever becomes, nursing our babies is
ultimately up to mothers. There are those of us fortunate enough to have been
bf 40 years ago in the midst of a highly unenlightened medical community and
there are those of us fed all kinds of other stuff. I am, regrettably, of the
latter group.

<<But, I must tell you, I am almost 32 years old.  I was born 6 weeks early
and
weighed less than 4 pounds.  I was bottlefed.  I have taken antibiotics twice
in my life and get a mild cold, perhaps once a year.>>

Yep, I was the kid every year in school with the attendence award-never
missed school b/c I was rarely sick. Have also only ever taken abx twice in
my adult life--perhaps once as a child.  But...

<<I am not less healthy than breastfed babies.>>

I am, however, certain that I am less healthy than I would have been had I
been bf. Who knows in what ways--maybe I'd have been emotionally more
attached to my mother. Maybe I'd have some neurological advantage --maybe it
wouldn't be so hard for me to figure out the moves in my kung fu classes!
Maybe my mother wouldn't be dealing with some of the illnesses she has if she
had bf her own children. Who knows? But, I understand gene expression well
enough to understand that human genes are meant to be expressed in the
nutritional environment of human milk. Common sense tells me that, whether or
not I can name the loss, it is inevitably there.

<<There are people in existence who do not fit that profile.>>

In truth, every person in existence fits no exact profile. This is why we
must look at populations to help us describe what is happening.

<< And, it is harder for me to see the virtues of breastfeeding when I read a
negative conclusion about my upbringing that is, as it pertains to me, a
lie.>>

To say that it is a lie is to say that the book is closed on your life and
that you can prove that bf would have provided no advantage to you. We
certainly cannot know what we do not know, so it could only be conjecture
about what that advantage might be. OTOH, we know that many of the diseases
associated with any feeding other than exclusive bf are chronic and/or
degenerative and may not be visible until later in life. It is very important
to not take these things personally.

<<If I breastfeed exclusively, no one can guarantee my child will, absolutely,
without a doubt, have less illness than a bottlefed child. >>

Of course not, but whatever your child may have to contend with, you will
have given him the possible advantage nutritionally. If you think in terms of
genetic expression, you can think of each person as having a cup. Each cup is
filled to a slightly different level, dependent upon genes from both parents,
life in utero, birth experience, nutrition in infancy, stresses,
environmental factors, etc. As you move through life, you deplete or fill the
cup, based upon the choices you make and even those you don't (like
environmental hazards you may be unaware of). Someone with more in their cup
due to "good genes" is ahead from the start. But, assume bf fills the cup and
other feeding depletes the cup. Then assume that other dietary factors
throughout life, emotional and other stresses, environment, and other
variables fill or deplete your cup as you go. Can you see how if you have
many other depleting factors, it would matter very much that you had that bf
fill-up at the beginning? How your genes express themselves is estimated to
be 75% dependant upon the variables addressed above. Wouldn't you imagine it
is well worth manipulating those variables as much as possible to your
advantage? If you have been reading Lactnet recently, you know there is much
disagreement about many nutritional factors. It may be impossible to know
what is right for every human being. What we do know is that bf is
biologically right for everyone. It is a variable sure to fill the cup. So,
even if you cannot see the advantage, it is there.

<<Please consider qualifying statements when you post.  For, example, "Studies
indicate the overwhelming majority of children who are breastfed have a
significantly lower occurrence of illness than children who are exclusively
bottlefed.">>

We have often discussed why this is too understated. This kind of statement
implies cow milk formula is the norm and bf gives a slight advantage over it.
We need to always remember that bf is the norm and everything else diminishes
us. All of us.

Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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