Coach Smith back again. I too am horrified by the Remedia situation!  This
is one MORE reason why infant formula needs to be strictly regulated. So
sad, and so unnecessary!

 

Valerie wrote "It would be far safer and cheaper to support, promote, and
protect breastfeeding. But....we don't." 

 

I agree that supporting BF is safer and cheaper. I disagree that "we don't."


 

"WE" in the US are making enormous progress in PROMOTING breastfeeding - a
three-year national media campaign will be kicking off soon. Go to
www.4woman.gov <http://www.4woman.gov/>  for information. The CDC
breastfeeding page gets thousands of hits every day
www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding. Many communities, cities, states, hospitals, WIC
agencies, etc are engaging in HUGE promotional projects. There's lots of
good news in the "promotion" category, including this week's article in
Parade magazine.

 

We are also making enormous progress in SUPPORTING breastfeeding - the
support network is growing more robust every month. There are thousands of
LLL or similar mother support groups in nearly every geographic location;
thousands of IBCLCs working full-time to help mothers in many different
clinical settings, and tens of thousands of health care providers who are
getting smart about breastfeeding through various educational programs -
more than ever before. There are more lactation courses, distance learning
resources, accurate and timely books for parents and professionals, quality
newsletters, etc every year. Check the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine's
web site for excellent protocols created by some of the best medical minds
(regarding breastfeeding) in the world www.bfmed.org <http://www.bfmed.org/>
. 

 

We are making enormous progress in PROTECTING breastfeeding too. The CDC is
collecting "clean" data on breastfeeding initiation and duration rates. 36
states and the federal government have laws prohibiting harassment of
breastfeeding mothers in public. Some states and many companies have laws
that support breastfeeding when mothers return to paid employment. The US
Breastfeeding Committee is alive and well, very aware of these issues, and
working toward policy solutions - check the web site for some excellent
downloadable documents and position papers
http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Publications.html .

 

Of course there's still more to be done. 33 years ago today I gave birth to
my first child, and I can assure everyone that the BF scene is FAR better
today than ever before! Let's take a moment to rejoice in what we HAVE
accomplished, as well as plan for the next steps. I'm absolutely sure that
collectively we ARE making a difference. 

 

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC

Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre Ltd

6540 Cedarview Ct, Dayton OH 45459

ph 937-438-9458 www.BFLRC.com 

 

 


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