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Subject:
From:
"Valerie W, McClain" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 19 May 2004 08:19:03 EDT
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Rich or poor, mothers decide to use infant formula in the USA because they
believe it to be a risk-free decision.  They do not know that this decision will
increase their infant's risk of hospitalization, disease, and even death.
Who will tell them?

Instead we avoid that discussion and focus on the benefits of breastfeeding.
Is that fully informing parents?  No.  We will have a national campaign on
the RISKS of not BREASTFEEEDING.   I worked for the WIC Program in Florida from
1994-1998.   Staff members were educated on the risks of infant formula.  When
we started talking about risks of infant formula, parents became very
interested in breastfeeding and made efforts to breastfeed.    I believe it made a
difference.

In Pediatrics this May is an article by Dr. Aimin Chen and Dr. Walter Rogan
on "Breastfeeding and the Risk of Postneonatal Death in the United States."
The article states, "Assuming causality, however, promoting breastfeeding has
the potential to save or delay ~720 postneonatal deaths in the United States
each year."  I would not be so polite as these authors.  The use of infant
formula is a risk--the risk is infant death.  Let's give mothers the information
they need to make a life-affirming choice.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

for Pediatrics electronic article
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/113/5/e435

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