New Breast-feeding guidelines: dropping word “promote”
Breast-feeding is a practice that for one reason or another, has divided Americans. But according to ABC News, the Preventative Services Task Force wants to remain neutral, which is why they are changing their recommendations. In written form, instead of promoting and supporting breast-feeding, they are now only supporting it.
47 ABC spoke with Stephanie Amsel who is the leader of the local La Leche League, an organization that helps promote the benefits of breast-feeding. She says, “Regardless if you’re going to say promote or support or whichever, just give people factual information.”
When asked how Amsel feels about completely deleting the word promote, she tells 47 ABC, “I think it’s unfortunate, but I would hope that even by removing that word that they’re still providing the best and most accurate information for mothers and parents to make the best decision.”
However, according to ABC News, the main reason for removing the word was to relieve pressure on women who can’t breast-feed or make the choice not to do so. According to the Mayo Clinic, when prepared as directed, infant formula is enough to support healthy babies who have typical dietary needs.
Ellen Pinker, lactation consultant at Peninsula Regional Medical Center says by choosing to breast-feed, it protects the baby against a lot of diseases and builds a strong immune system, just to name a few. Another plus to breast feeding? Saving money.
Pinker tells 47 ABC, “Formula can cost as much as two thousand dollars for the first year and if your baby needs a specialty formula it can be four thousand dollars for the first year.”
But regardless of how you feed your kids, officials say research is key.
Amsel tells 47 ABC, “If you’re a mom looking for support, find it, if you want information look for it, you’ll get the information that you need to make the appropriate decision regardless of the terminology someones used.”
Amsel also tells 47 ABC, for those mothers who choose not to breast-feed, she thinks that’s ok. In fact she knows some women who chose not to breast feed and they were ok with their decision, the only regrets they had in the end were not having the proper resources.
