Someone posted:
>I reread the march '99 Baby Talk, and I did not get the same impression that
>you did.  They specifically said "it is agreed that breast milk is the best
>food for baby.......a baby can be well nourished on formula too."
> I will reinforce the many benefits, that you mentioned, but I try not
>to be overly judgemental [ leaning towards  imposing guilt on them] if they
>still choose to formula feed.  It's a matter of choice, isn't it?"

It *should be* a matter of choice -- fully informed choice, with complete
and accurate information about the risks of formula feeding to both mother
and baby.  It is simply not true that "a baby can be well nourished on
formula, too" if you accept the health and cognitive development of a
breastfed child as your benchmark.  Concerns about making the mother feel
guilty, or "imposing guilt on them" should [ethically] have no place in the
decision-making process of a health care professional.  It is the health
care professional's ethical obligation to give complete and accurate
information about the consequences of the choices a mother is faced with --
both in terms of her health and in terms of the child short- and long-term
health and the child's cognitive development.  Once a health care
professional has given the mother complete and accurate information and
support, if she still chooses to use formula, then that is her choice.  But
way too many women in this country make their choice based on incomplete or
inaccurate information, such as the implication of the Baby Talk magazine
that a "baby can be well nourished on formula, too."

One would not sit quietly while a mother chose not to use a carseat.  One
would not sit quietly while a mother chose to use cocaine during pregnancy.
Formula-use is much more devastating to children's health in this country
(USA) because it is so wild spread.  And one of the reasons it is so
widespread is because people think it is "just as good" or "almost as good"
or "good enough" compared to breast milk.

Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology and Nutrition
Texas A&M University
Author of "Promoting Breastfeeding, Promoting Guilt?"