ABM President responds to Obama/Bachman controversy
In response to “Breastfeeding Plan Mixes Partisan Reactions” (2-17-11), it is essential to first be reminded that breastfeeding is a health issue, not a political or social one. The data are well substantiated to show the value of breastfeeding to babies, mothers, and the community as well. Breastfeeding provides the perfect nutrition as well as infection protection, immunology protection, allergy protection and obesity
protection. Formula is a solution of nutrients with no antibodies, enzymes, or other protective factors.
It’s about time we remove barriers for breastfeeding mothers. After years of exhorting mothers to “try harder”, we’ve finally started to implement policies that remove the “booby traps” that undermine success. With the WIC Program spending billions on infant formula, the now available IRS one-time deduction for breastfeeding equipment is merely a drop in the bottle!
Gerald Calnen, MD
President
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
New Rochelle, New York 10801
914 740-2115
http://www.bfmed.org
This letter was submitted to the editor of The New York Times
EBS, MD, MS
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Breastfeeding Medicine 
Ideally breastfeeding should just be a health issue, but it has become is both a political and social issue. We, therefore, not only have to address the issue from a medical aspect, but social and political ones as well.
Rita Dianati
February 23, 2011 at 3:46 pm
why do people even care what michelle obama has to say about anything, especially politics? She is not the elected official. Her job is to shut up, wear a dress suit and smile for the cameras while her husband speaks.
That said, I do support breastfeeding but its pretty hypocritical that democrats thinks its ok for me to take my baby’s life in the womb and then tell me whats best for him a few months later. Hands off my entire body please!
What a woman does with her pregnancies and breasts are not the governments business and certainly not michelle obama’s.
ashamal
February 23, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Ashamal, Clearly you do not understand the issue of a woman’s right to choose. Yes choose to not have an abortion, choose to breast feed, choose to bottle feed, choose to have an abortion… that is the position of the Democratic party – Protecting your right as a woman to choose. Now govt involvement? how to collect and then divide the resources of our great country? How to help people make informed decisions? Michelle Obama is a citizen and a right to be heard. Thankfully she is using her voice to promote evidenced based healthy lifestyles. By the way, do you know the meaning of politics? It is the opportunity of the people to govern. So yes, Mrs Obama as well as you have the right and the obligation to participate in politics.
Janice
March 2, 2011 at 1:24 pm
I believe breastfeeding is far more than a health issue. For me, it was a way to take care of myself and my babies, not just a way to feed them. It was an activity, a life stage, that shaped me as a person and permeated my relationships with my children, family, and friends.
I don’t think we should have to “sell” breastfeeding on the grounds of health or cost savings or anything else. It is something that women do and have a right to do. But how will women know enough to want to breastfeed unless the people they respect will tell them about it? That’s why I am happy that Mrs. Obama is speaking up about breastfeeding.
Chris Mulford
February 23, 2011 at 9:20 pm
The whole thing is so darned nuts. Accepting bf’ing equip to be an allowed medical expense on a person’s FSA or HSA is *not* the same thing as “paying for a woman’s breastpump”…it means the govt is just not charging the mother taxes for it…simple. Where the heck do they get this stuff??? Bachman is twisting the truth and trying to use mothers’ feelings for political gain. Sad to see so many women falling for yet another politician’s lie. Shameful.
Rachel
February 23, 2011 at 9:37 pm
It seems to me it is magnificent thought
Иса
March 8, 2011 at 7:30 pm
[…] I truly don’t criticize or judge mothers about their breastfeeding. I’m way too busy criticizing doctors who give poor advice, formula companies that use unethical marketing practices, and the hospitals that participate in exchange for free formula ). Oh, and clueless politicians or pundits who oppose reasonable policies that could help mothers nurse in public or at work. […]
A Word on Weaning « the other baby blog
April 11, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Social issues these days are mostly related to poverty and health insurance. We would really love all social issues to be solved by the government. ‘;”*:
Warmest regards
http://www.healthmedicinelab.com“>
Shonta Dunsworth
July 24, 2012 at 7:54 am
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