Thanks to all who have written congratulating me for my Medscape letter.
Please be aware that I have an ulterior motive in making people aware of my
letters (beyond showing off!) I want to demonstrate to people that average
individuals (like me; I don't have an MD or PhD by my name) can write
letters and get them published. Those of you who have advanced credentials
are even more powerful. The more such letters there are directed to CEOs,
policy makers, legislators, etc, the more bricks get knocked out of the wall
of resistence to breastfeeding.
When a consumer movement linked up with a few friendly docs (like one
brave Surgeon General) and some independent minded researchers, they were
able to finally crumbled the refusal to see tobacco as a health issue. We
can do that with breastfeeding, but only if we all act in concert. If you
were moved by my letter, don't write to congratulate me, write a letter of
your own. Address it to your congressman and ask him or her to see why bfg
isn't in the new US Health and Human Services strategic plan. This is a
scandal. All of you as health workers have the moral authority to ask this
question. This effort would take you a half and hour, and you can borrow
the study statistics from my letter, or from the info below which our HMHB
coalition developed here in Texas for World Breastfeeding Month.
Breastfeeding Reduces Obesity:
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of childhood obesity. Breastfed children
have a 30% reduction in the risk of becoming obese in childhood compared
with formula fed infants. Obesity is linked with increases in the
development of diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases -
expensive and debilitating conditions to treat.
Lancet 2002; 359:2003-2004.
Breastfeeding Linked to Higher IQ:
Numerous studies link breast milk and breastfeeding with improved cognitive
function and neurodevelopment in infants. Texas needs a population of bright
school children as the basis of a secure future workforce.
Lancet 1992; 339:261-262
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 1998; 40:163-167
Acta Paediatrica 2002; 91(3): 267-274
Breastfeeding Reduces Health Care Costs by Improving Child Health:
According to a USDA cost analysis, a minimum of $3.6 billion would be saved
if breastfeeding rates are increased from present levels to those
recommended by the Surgeon General. This figure probably underestimates the
true savings, as the study only looks at 3 of the childhood illnesses that
breastfeeding protects against: otitis media (ear infection),
gastroenteritis (diarrhea) and necrotizing enterocolitis (a bowel infection
of premature infants). Currently, Texans spend huge amounts of personal,
insurance, and tax dollars treating medical problems that could be
prevented if breastfeeding rates increase.
The Economic Benefits of Breastfeeding: A Review and Analysis, USDA, Food
Assistance and Nutrition Research, Report No. 13, March 2001
Breastfeeding Lowers the Risk of Breast Cancer:
Women who were breastfed as children and women who breastfeed their own
children are at reduced statistical risk of development of breast cancer.
Many Texans has been impacted by the loss of a loved one from breast
cancer.
Epidemiology 1994; 5:324-331
American Journal of Epidemiology 2000; 152(12):1129-1135
Lancet 2002; 360(9328):187-95
Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
LactNews Press
www.lactnews.com
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