"I just don't see how it can possibly be valid to assume, in the absence
of considerably more research into the matter, that donor milk must be so
far superior to formula that we should be going to any lengths to provide
it instead."
I would also have to say "oh geez" to parts of this conversation that has
been going on! How can we possibly think that modified COWS MILK is better
for HUMAN infants than donor HUMAN MILK??? (Yes, I am yelling!) Can't
believe I have gotten so worked up over something on Lactnet! What you seem to be
asking for is like asking for research to prove breastfeeding is better
than formula. Again I say-- Why would modified COWS MILK be better for
HUMAN infants than donor HUMAN MILK??? Would we also say MODIFIED HUMAN MILK is
better for BABY COWS than DONOR COW MILK??? Really, I want an answer to
that! We really need a study to answer those questions?
And all of this picking about what word to use for breastfeeding toddlers,
geez! Yes, we should "watch our language" (thank Diane Wessinger and would
love to know what she thinks!) but I will not change my language at the
expense of saying something that is not true. It is premature weaning if done
before approx 18mths no matter the reason. In medicine, we say that there
is a range for certain developments in children, like walking and talking
etc. And if a child is outside that range we say something is wrong and look
for the reason. So if a child for whatever reason is weaned (either moms
does it or child) before the range of what we know to be the range for
breastfeeding in humans, then it is premature, early, not normal or any other
word that some say is "wrong" to use.
I will say that my last child was prematurely weaned at 8 months by me due
to cancer and did not receive the expected experience for human babies
since he was bottle fed human donor milk until 29 months of age. Though he did
get human milk until the expected range, he did not get the actual feeding
at the breast in the expected range. He got less than what is expected for
human babies and that is the truth. Maybe I can say this because I
understand what he lost. To say he got what was expected is to under value what my
other children got by being fed and weaned in the expected way for human
children.
I also share Nikki's view and hope that one day human milk will be
available for all moms and babies who need it. It is possible! BUT we chose to not
make it happen. Greed wins out because we have found a way to make money on
a substitute for human milk. We have BLOOD banks in every city, state,
country. Why??? Because we do not have a substitute for blood (yet). People
are not paid (at least in the US, except in case of plasma). And yet we have
blood for those in need because we have advertising for donations, donation
"parties" at work, school, and church locations. Yes, it is hard and their
are shortage but we still strive to make it happen because we have to. And
we have come up with a way to screen blood donors. And even when we had
the HIV scare we changed things to make it safer. We can do the same for
human milk but we have already made money and will continue to make money on a
poor substitute for human milk. I do not know how to change that. But I do
know I would never want informal milk sharing banned or regulated because
surely that is the way to decrease milk sharing.
I would also agree many moms do not know what formula is, they do not
understand that is very different from human milk in so many ways. Formula
marketing is amazing, it even gets *us* to believe it! Moms know the word
"best" but have no real understanding of what that really means, that is why I
hate "breastfeeding is best". Pizza Hut is the best, Domino's pizza is the
best-- they both make pizza so no big deal, pizza is pizza. Breastfeeding
is the best, milk pumped in a bottle, or milk from a can, milk is milk so no
big deal--- I think that is what many think. Moms also do not understand
that bottle feeding is very different from feeding at the breast, even if it
is human milk in the bottle. Have you seen how we bottle feed babies? I
even think breastfeeding professionals do not understand all of this and get
lost in-- it is just about the milk. I love the quote by Dr. Jack Newman
"There is more to breastfeeding than breastmilk."
PS Who is currently not working with moms, so you don't have to worry about
me using any "wrong" words.
Kim Ann
Kim Ann Lorber----LLL Leader Quad Cities IA/IL
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_http://cancercaughtme.blogspot.com/_ (http://cancercaughtme.blogspot.com/)
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