Why The Politics of Breastfeeding Matter

Before I start talking about this little book, it's worth quickly discussing what is meant by "the politics of breastfeeding:" we are not talking about the "mommy wars" here. This is not about how women chose to feed their baby, and the author defends Sheila Kitzinger's statement that the only reason a woman should not breastfeed is if she does not want to. This is about the policies and commercial practices that affect breastfeeding rates and therefore public health outcomes.

Why The Politics of Breastfeeding Matter is written by Gabrielle Palmer, author of the bigger work The Politics of Breastfeeding. Gabrielle has done an amazing job of condensing down into this smaller volume all the salient points required to explain these complex ethical issues, whilst providing signposting to further information and activities.

This book discusses not whether you should breastfeed or not, but how external factors have influenced the making of this choice, especially for financial gain. From describing how the market for breastmilk substitutes came about, the book shows how it has become a major global industry, and puts its efforts into persuading carers to choose its products over breastmilk. The book then goes on to explain the unfair ways in which companies who produce artificial milks have marketed them: both historically and contemporaneously; in developing countries and in the richest parts of the world. For example, by making claims that are simply untrue, by giving out free samples to create a need when the mother's milk is gone, or by presenting advertising propaganda as medical fact. The ethical ramifications go far beyond trade descriptions: when we replace breastmilk with artificial milk we introduce serious health risks; and artificial milks and the resources needed to prepare them safely can be a serious financial burden. Gabrielle states: "The majority of people in our world live in conditions where the consequences of not breastfeeding are devastating."

This unethical practice is only half of the story of this book: the other half is what happens when governments, international bodies, activists and individuals try to fight back. Gabrielle demonstrates how these companies have used their economic power to undermine regulation, and how brazen they are in the face of the facts of their transgressions. Gabrielle shows us who is fighting for a fairer practice for families and the vulnerable, and signposts both to further factual information, and to where we can go to help.

This guide is so helpful for understanding the complex issues surrounding the marketing of breastmilk substitutes, and is impressive in its brevity. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the ethics of consumption, and to those looking to choose breastmilk substitutes for their won family, to support them in making an informed choice. And if you find this interesting, and have the time, please do read The Politics of Breastfeeding too!

Why Breastfeeding Matters

This week I am pleased to be reviewing Why Breastfeeding Matters, by Charlotte Young. I have been a fan of Charlotte's website The Analytical Armadillo for years, and I'm a big fan of this concise series of guides, but I have read so many books on breastfeeding that I was initially skeptical that this would have anything new to offer this market.

I'm sure it won't come as a surprise to you that I was completely won over by this book. What Charlotte really conveys is not just why we should care about breastfeeding, but also why we should talk about breastfeeding. She points out that we lie in a society where midwives trained thirty years ago are featured as "experts" in the media, where misinformation is rife, where GPs are the first port of call for new mothers but aren't interested in understanding breastfeeding, and where formula companies have managed to flip the dialogue so that we talk about the "benefits" of breastfeeding rather than the risks of feeding artificial milks. As a result many people genuinely don't understand that formula can be harmful, that it has negative long term health implications, and that nearly all women can breastfeed, if they get the appropriate information and support. We have no general understanding of normal infant behaviour, and so many mothers look to artificial milk to solve their "problems." When obesity is in the news as a public health crisis, nobody mentions that breastfeeding rates have a strong negative correlation. The gut microbiome is also emerging as a public health concern, but few know that the gut of a breastfed baby is more acidic than that of an artificially fed baby, and as a result cannot sustain the same microbiome even if it received the same seeding. Not breastfeeding is also a major risk factor for SIDS. At the same time the NHS, local and national government are cutting breastfeeding support funding.

 This short book manages to provide great information on why we should care and talk about breastfeeding, as well as how we can support breastfeeding mothers, and ends with a handy guide to where mothers can find more information and support, because those are the true factors determining breastfeeding rates and longevity. This is a great little guide for expectant parents looking to make informed choices, and for those supporting them, especially those in a position of trust and responsibility. Yet another great guide from the Why It Matters series.