Ruth,
You asked for links and project names in regard to my statement that the US
Government believes that it is possible to develop an infant formula better
than human milk and funded this project(s).

The statement was made by the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development (part of the National Institute of Health)in its request for
clinical studies for Healthy People 2000 Project. Paragraph 6 under "Background"

http://ibiblio.org/pub/docs/nih-nsf/rfahd-91-10.910308

"Although it is commonly stated that human milk is the optimal food for
newborn humans, it might be possible to develop artificial formulae which enhance
infant development and health even more than does human milk, especially in
situations where the infant is stressed, ill, handicapped with congenital defects
or inborn errors of metabolism, or developmentally delayed."

One project (I think there was a multitude of projects--probably DHA) was "In
Vivo Activities of Lactoferrin--funds $750,000.  This is definitely about
adding lactoferrin to infant formula.  The research was done on human milk to
gain an understanding of how lactoferrin worked. see
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HD-94-019.html

The National Insititute of Child Health & Human Development has 14
research-based centers "designed to promote multidisciplinary interactions between basic
and clinical scientists, with the ultimate goal of improving human
reproductive health through accelerated transfer of laboratory research into clinical
practice."  Some of those centers are Baylor College of Medicine, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Oregon Health Sciences University (as well as their primate
center), University of Washington, University of Chicago, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, etc.  These centers support "the development and
maintenance of web-based genome/proteome databases for the ovary, mammalian
genetics and endometrium..."
http://www/nichd.nih.gov/cpr/rs/sccprr.htm

Baylor College of Medicine is the center of the biotech industry making
recombinant human lactoferrin.  Also, has the distinction of having the first
patent on human lactoferrin--the real thing, not the recombinant.  At this point
there are over a hundred patents on human lactoferrin.

Baylor is also part of the Human Genome Project. I think the investment of
the US Government is not in breastfeeding, but in genetically engineering a
substitute for breastfeeding.  I am sure that there are many on this list who
would disagree with my assessment of this situation.  Silence means what?
Acceptance?  Rejection?  I don't know, so I keep posting.

Although, I am not sure why one would believe that the US Government is
breastfeeding friendly.  I worked in the WIC Program for 4 years in the State of
Florida (1994-1998) There was no career service job description called lactation
consultant.  Rather amusing to think that you have a federal/state government
agency that didn't even recognize that lactation consultants existed.  Maybe
by now they have a job description called lactation consultant? I am not
holding my breathe on that one.....Just a small example of government efficiency
and support of breastfeeding.....have a program for breastfeeding but don't have
the people who know about breastfeeding run it.  Make them part of your
contract workers who have no benefits, no legal right to make a grievance.  Petty
of me?  It's just part of the big picture--breastfeeding advocates work hard in
various areas--WIC, hospitals, clinics, private practice, etc.  But the
problem is that lactation programs (in general--there are some excellent programs
around the country but rare) are not being run as essential components of
maternal-infant health and nutrition.  Breastfeeding promotion and those who work
in this area are undervalued, under-paid, and considered non-essential.  We
suffer professionally/financially because of this view and the populations we
serve suffer because breastfeeding is considered a personal choice and not a
health imperative for both mother and baby.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC





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