Milking more money out of new moms
When I was pregnant, I couldn’t wait to breastfeed my baby but I had no idea how hard it would be.
I’m thankful I persevered and with the help of some really kind nurses and lactation consultants, I was able to pass along the many health benefits to my son.
I get that it’s not for everyone, but every mother should be encouraged, educated and supported to do what’s best for her baby. The billion-dollar formula companies shouldn’t be allowed to influence a mother’s decision.
During the World Health Assembly this spring, President Trump’s administration tried to remove language from an initiative urging governments to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, as well as language that called on policy makers to limit the promotion of food products, such as infant formula, that can be harmful to young children. The effort failed but the administration’s position is loud and clear: money before health.
In Massachusetts, about 80 percent of new mothers say they plan to breastfeed while formula gift bags are banned from hospitals. Another reason why Massachusetts is ahead of the curve.
Breastfeeding reduces acute and chronic diseases among babies, such as diabetes and obesity, and protects babies against ear infections and gastrointestinal disease, said Marsha Walker, a nurse and lactation consultant who is also a member of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition.
Women who don’t breastfeed are at an increased risk for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, being overweight and obesity, said Walker.
“If we have a government that is putting profits above health, then we need to step back and take a look at what our priorities are,” Walker told me yesterday. “And the priorities should be the health of the citizens of this country.”
Trump backtracked yesterday on Twitter, writing, “The U.S. strongly supports breast feeding but we don’t believe women should be denied access to formula. Many women need this option because of malnutrition and poverty.”
But, as Walker points out, a year of formula costs a family between $1,200 and $2,000.
“We consider breast milk to be complete nutrition for infants. It really covers everything that they need. That’s something that formula can’t quite do, particularly for immune benefits,” said Jennifer Riley, a nurse and lactation consultant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Breastfed babies tend to get sicker less frequently and have a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome. And nursing moms decrease their risks of breast and ovarian cancer, Riley said.
Still, Riley said that mother’s choices should not be “influenced by formula marketing.”
Sherry Spacco, a lactation consultant and chairwoman of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition, said she supports mothers either way but just wants them to have all the facts.
“If they were saying let’s help moms do this then it would be different, but what they’re saying is this is the way that we get moms to feed their babies more formula,” Spacco said. “It’s all about the money.”