I don’t believe we accomplish anything by hiding our heads in the sand and
denying the situation.  Let’s face it, because they are in our environment,
there are toxins in breastmilk.  Because of our (and our babies)’ place in
the food chain, whether that is at the top, near the top or merely high,
breastmilk becomes an easy substance to test and measure the extent to which
it is pervasive in our environment.

 

I think many if not most of those who write about toxins in breastmilk are
trying to make the point that if it’s in breastmilk, we have a problem
because that indicates how pervasive it is in all of us.  Unfortunately, too
many of those who make such reports seem to be naïve about how such
reporting can impact efforts to promote breastmilk.  We need to be careful
not to automatically attach ulterior motives to undermine breastfeeding per
se to such reports. Yes, some authors might have this motivation.  Some
editors might have such influence, direct or indirect, that affects the
final wording of such reports.  And yes, in some cases the initial writing
may have the underlying motivation to discourage breastfeeding.  However, if
we automatically attack every report about such “contamination” we are
likely to lose our own credibility.

 

Instead, we need to work with those who are studying and reporting on
environmental contaminants to be sure that the message is that there is a
problem in our entire environment.  We need to work on getting it out of or
at least reduced in all of us.  Babies are exposed in utero and from contact
with their environment after birth through air, other foods, etc.  The end
message must be that while its presence in breastmilk should make us worried
about our environment as a whole, it should not discourage breastfeeding.
In spite of presence of toxins, it is still the best we can offer our
infants and remains far superior to any other alternatives.  Ways that
mothers can breastfeed that reduce the exposure should also be part of any
such article.  Too often, all there is is a line “tacked on” at the end
saying something to the effect that breastfeeding is still “preferred”.  We
need to be sure that the idea that formula feeding will eliminate or
significantly reduce a baby’s exposure is neither presented or even implied.
We need to make it very difficult for readers to even make that inference
themselves.

 

Winnie


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