Janice has discussed the terms breastfeeding advocates, activists, etc from
the Chicago Tribune story as if I put those words in the reporter's mouth! I
did not identify myself as anything other than a registered nurse and
international board certified lactation consultant. Reporters glitz things up
and choose to use any words they want to cause people to read their paper. As
I never saw the article before it was put on Lactnet I had no clue what the
reporter would say. They pick and choose. I guess I resent the tirade. I work
hard and long as a breastfeeding advocate every day at the state and federal
level. We have 5 breastfeeding bills pending in the state of Massachusetts. I
have been part of a group of representatives from the US Breastfeeding
Committee that has met with the FDA and HRSA (Health Resources and Services
Administration of DHHS) in Washington to advocate for breastfeeding. We don't
talk to these agencies about family harmony. We talk about the health
outcomes of breastfeeding and not breastfeeding, and the dollar cost of
paying for diseases and conditions preventable by breastfeeding. You bet I
have an agenda! Our work must be clear and focused. I do not see how "we"
have placed our agenda as more important than anything else, I do not see
anywhere the implication of breastfeed or else. If people do not like the
Chicago Tribune story, perhaps they should write to the paper.

Parents need to be worried about what they are feeding their babies. I intend
to keep advocating for breastfeeding. The formulas with the DHA/ARA
supplements have side effects that are not making babies happy or healthy and
are not causing family harmony. The public is quite aware that breastfeeding
is healthier for babies. They need help understanding how to overcome the
barriers. Some mothers will always choose to feed their baby formula, either
because they have to or because they do not want to breastfeed. As a nurse I
have taught many of these mothers (and fathers) how to prepare and use
formula safely and correctly. We need to be advocating with medical and
nursing schools to include lactation and breastfeeding support in their
curriculum, with hospitals to use the 10 Steps as the foundation for
breastfeeding support, etc.

I suffer terribly from myopia.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

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