While a rights based approach to breastfeeding sounds attractive, there are
pitfalls.  Whenever people live together (whether in a society or an economy
- don't get me started on that!), their rights claims will come into
conflict with one another. (For example my right to personal autonomy might
conlict with your right to park your car in your own driveway.)  Of course
there are often accepted ways to navigate these conflicts but not always.
Do we really want to put ourselves in a position where we pit the rights of
the infant to be breastfed against the rights of the mother to autonomy?  As
hard as it is, I think it is more fruitful to think of ourselves as
supporters of the rights of the dyad.  When we give mothers complete
information about the risks associated with artificial feeding, we respect
her right to make informed choices; and the infant's right to a carer who is
capable of making them on his/her behalf.  We know that it is no good making
a choice that you do not have the power to achieve - what each of us seeks
to do is to teach mothers the skills they need to turn their choices into
actions.

Nina Berry BA/Bed(Hons) Dip Arts(Phil)
Breastfeeding Counsellor
PhD Candidate - "Ethical Issues in the marketing of 'Toddler Milks'"

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