April 10, 2005
Sunday

Colin Knau's response to the James Glassman rant was excellent. I only take exception to the way the following was stated: "Risk of common cancers and post partum depression is significantly reduced. Babies suffer less stomach problems, enjoy reduced risk of diabetes, obesity, allergies and eczema, respiratory and heart disease, and more. They have higher IQ and self esteem, and generally eclipse North American milestones of development. Physical touch so vital to health is cherished, fostering healthy brains, social adjustment and precluding violent behavior.

Suckling develops and aligns baby's palate, epiglottis, eustachian tubes, teeth and eyes. Resulting in a decrease of - SIDS, acute inner ear ache (AOM2), corrective surgery, dental work and glasses."

This perpetuates the common idea that formula feeding is the norm. Breastfeeding should be the norm against which any other methods are compared, which would make the following more a more appropriate statement:

"Risk of common cancers and post partum depression are significantly increased when mothers do not breastfeed. Babies suffer MORE stomach problems, INCREASED risk of diabetes, obewsity, allergies and ezcema, respiratory and heart disease and more when not breastfed. They have LOWER IQ and self esteem, leading to lower potential North American milestones of development.
Because suckling (at breast) develops and aligns baby's palate, epiglottis, eustachian tubes, teeth and eyes, those who do not get it show an increase in SIDS, acute inner ear ache (AOM2), corrective surgery, dental work and glasses."

Artificial infant feeding has become so pervasive in our society that current rates of ear infections, for example, have become viewed as normal for babies. Has God, evolution or whatever you attribute human development to, been so disfunctional as to make such a painful condition "normal". I think not!

The fact that some may view breastfeeding as "inconvenient" for "modern" women in no way negates its importance to the child. Let's face it, pregnancy and giving birth might also be vied as "inconvenient". I suppose those of Mr. Glassman's view long for the day when artificial wombs will relieve women of that inconvenient duty also. Equal rights, importance, value of the sexes doesn't have to mean equal functions.

Winnie Mading
Working for the best for mothers and babies for over 35 years.
Sussex, WI - USA

Related Viewpoint:

Time for Congress to get serious about WHO's excesses! by Colin Knau - Pickering, Ontario - Canada

Related Commentary:

Time for Congress to get serious about WHO's excesses by James Glassman

 

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