Thanks to Janice Reynolds's call to action, I've sent the following letter to my local newspaper. I'm sending a similar letter to a paper where I used to work in NY, which has a vastly different readership demographic (that largely overlaps that of the Times, incidentally).


Dear Editor:
The heated national debate over breastfeeding versus formula feeding hit the front page of The New York Times ("Breast-Feed or Else," June 13), the "Today" show, and countless other media sources this week. These reports focus in part on the sense of guilt women feel over not breastfeeding. What's troubling is who or what is being blamed.
 
People respond with feelings of guilt when the information they hear makes them uncomfortable. Many smokers feel guilty when confronted with the medically documented risks of cigarette smoke, yet no one's clamoring to silence the anti-smoking campaign. But when scientists reiterate the essential benefits of breastfeeding, everyone's in an uproar, claiming that breastfeeding advocates should shut up and back off.
 
Let's look at the real source of the guilt. Many moms who feed their babies formula feel societal pressure to return to work within weeks after they give birth. Although there are women who successfully  maintain breastfeeding while working, the majority never even start. But instead of blaming their distress over this on the economic status quo and a government that does little or nothing to support families, they blame the breastfeeding advocates.
 
The message is clear: Breastfeeding is the normal, biologically optimal method of infant feeding. Except under rare and unusual circumstances, any substitute for breastfeeding is unnecessary and can, in fact, be harmful. In industrialized countries where this is recognized, women are supported by extended maternity leave and other measures that respect family bonding and the value of long-term breastfeeding.
 
It's not enough to tout the proven benefits of breastfeeding if women in this society continue to be under economic pressure to abandon their babies for the marketplace.
 
On a local level, this issue and many more are taken up at monthly La Leche League meetings in Amherst, Belchertown, and Northampton. Begun in the 1950s by a group of new moms and now a huge international organization, La Leche League promotes mother-to-mother breastfeeding support and encouragement, and provides information, education, and referrals. Links to local leader contact information can be found at www.lalecheleague.org.
 
Sincerely,
Ilene Roizman
LLL Leader and mother of three

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