Dear Lactnet Friends:

This question was posed on Lactnet today, based on the recent study
published in Pediatrics where non-human milks are deemed useful to preserve
breastfeeding exclusivity and duration: "But why are so many people so
unwilling to consider that, at the very least, we seem to have a
potentially promising intervention here that is well worth further
research, and that perhaps some of the currently-held beliefs on the
undesirability of supplementation *may*, just *may*, not be quite as
correct as many of us thought?"

1) Exclusive breastfeeding is held as the ideal by every health
organization on Earth, from the AAP to the WHO. Violating exclusivity by
using a little infant formula and then claiming that somehow exclusivity
will be preserved is incongruent and Orwellian.

2) Babies that need supplementing can use milk from their mothers (obtained
via hand expression), by frequent breastfeeding, or by using donor human
milk. This will bolster the mother's confidence in breastfeeding, and is
the medically safest way to supplement a baby. Non-human milks are designed
as replacement food when human milk is not available, never as the first
choice.

3) The study admits the controversy behind this approach,  "The second
reason the ELF approach
may be controversial is that the introduction of even small volumes of
early formula might reduce some of the
health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding." Using the modifiers "may" and
"might" does not lessen the impact of global recommendations for
exclusivity.

4) One of the authors was (and may still be) a paid consultant for 3 of the
major formula companies. As the USA has currently several major initiatives
to promote breastfeeding, this study would seem to be part of industry's
attempt to promote its products while continuing to undermine its
competitor, i.e. breastfeeding. The fact that Similac launched a formula
specifically described as "for supplementation" shortly after this paper
was published is too timely to be coincidental.

5) Non-human milks contain non-species specific proteins, rocket fuel
residue, 40 times more aluminum than human milk, genetically modified
ingredients, ingredients derived from genetically modified fungus processed
with hexane, and other ingredients that aren't on the label. They are, in
part, responsible for the global epidemic of diabetes and obesity. We owe
it to the health of the precious babies who are our future to avoid routine
use of this chemical cocktail, even "just a little bit."

warmly,

-- 
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC
Author:* Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breastfeeding Therapy*
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
https://www.facebook.com/nikkileehealth
*Get my FREE webinar series
*

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome