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Subject:
Re: $11,000 cost of breastfeeding
From:
Naomi Bar-Yam <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 7 May 2023 16:05:18 +0000
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (1 lines) 
Nikki,

 I couldn’t agree with you more. Economics is one lens through which we see the world, a very flawed and inadequate one. And capitalism is also one model of how the world can be.



However, we live in a capitalist society and policy makers use economic models to make policy decisions and direction. We are not in a position to dismantle capitalism and economic models on our own.



Our job is to: 1. Assure that the economic models used reflect reality as much as they can. This is something economic models do very poorly, so we have our work cut out for us; 2. Be persistent in reminding legislators, policy makers and others that breastfeeding is, indeed, priceless and why. Economic models are a limited tool.



Naomi







On May 7, 2023, at 12:00 AM, LACTNET automatic digest system <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:





Naomi asks for thoughts on this piece. She says, in part, "The J

Perinatology piece was trying to quantify this for policy makers who need

numbers in order to set responsible policies."



How is it possible to put a price, a number, a monetary value, on health

and life? On all the aspects of life, including mental health, physical

health, environmental health, relationship health and the development of a

little human being with a better chance of realizing its potential?  How

could we possibly put a price tag on every short- and long-term benefit

to mother/lactating parent and baby? (As one example, I am remembering the

study showing that breastfed babies have a greater chance of upward social

mobility.)



Breastfeeding is priceless.



Capitalism is a limiting philosophy, where something priceless can be

deemed to be without value.



These are some of my thoughts.



warmly,

--

Nikki Lee, she/her/hers





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