Customer Reviews

The Politics of Breastfeeding: When Breasts are Bad for Business

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a breastfeeding advocate myself, I wish that all young men and women were required to read this in high school, before parnethood. This book lets the reader see the conection between money, big business, and formula marketing. The book educates on the vast differences between artifical feeding and human milk, differences that the general population is unaware of. If you want to get fired-up over an issue, this is the book for you.

As someone who had to defend breastfeeding my child, I already had strong views about how society looks at the practise. The first time I read this book (first edition)I found the history behind it fascinating. What really alarmed me, though, was the truth behind formulas and what used to pass as formula! After getting the second edition, I was dismayed to find that nothing had improved in 10 years. This book is well researched an passionate. Be warned! After reading this, you may just become an activist!

Already over ten years old, Gabrielle Palmer's eye-opening book pioneered some of the breastfeeding advocacy arguments being used by activists today.

Links obstacles placed in the way of breastfeeding mothers to the devaluation of the motherhood role which occurred during the growth of the industrial revolution.

Detailed history of breastfeeding and wet-nursing. Narrates the history of the Nestle scandal, in empathy with 3rd World perspective. A strong advocate for the rights of all babies to be nourished from the breast.

Counters anti-breastfeeding sentiment in today's society. Explains away sexuality myths which hinder women from breastfeeding in public. Terrific book for the breastfeeding professional who wants to boost their arguments!

"The Politics of Breastfeeding" has been revised and updated for 2009. The author is none too happy about the on-going need for this book. "Twenty years ago when I was writing the first edition, more than three thousand babies were dying every day from infections triggered by lack of breastfeeding and by the use of bottles, artificial milks and other risky products. This is still happening."

In many industrialized countries the issue is airbrushed away with the cocky self-assurance that these risks don't apply to "us". Think again. Powdered infant formula is not sterile and is sometimes contaminated with pathogens such as Enterobacter sakazakii, salmonella and staphylococcus aureus which can cause serious illnesses. The "2002 outbreaks of serious infection and one death amongst babies in a US hospital intensive care nursery" and the deaths of twins in Belgium cited by Palmer, are only the tip of the iceberg.

A 1988 analysis "found that one in five of the US babies who died at between seven days and 12 months of age did so because they were not breastfed". Since that time there has been no official action to reverse this and formula promotion has increased. This is not just down to the skullduggery of industry. It is also about the collusion of governmental bodies and medical powers-that-be which are supposed to have our best interests at heart.

A 2004 Department of Health and Human Services breastfeeding promotion campaign highlighting the risks of artificial feeding was derailed by industry pressure, the solid science behind it - supported by DHHS' own Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - trashed by DHHS upper management.

A 2008 CDC report ranked US infant mortality rate as 28th world-wide; Time magazine for August 3, 2009 puts it in 30th place; the CIA World Fact Book estimate for 2009 was 43rd place. There are many reasons for this but lack of breastfeeding gets no mention at all in these reports.

The reasons for this silence - and for the enduring campaign against breastfeeding - are very complex. Palmer unravels much of the mystery behind it - in 400 meticulously documented and beautifully written pages. It's absorbing reading - not just about breastfeeding but also about how we get bamboozled into needing" foods of all sorts that do not promote health. Reviews of earlier editions gave it 5 stars - I'd give it 7 if I could.

I didn't understand breastfeeding advocacy until I read this book. Gabrielle Palmer covers all the bases on why we need to protect future generations from the mass marketing of infant formula, and how those products have become so prevalent throughout our society and the world. Covers the Nestle' illegal marketing tactics so thoroughly that I can't even consider buying any of their products. Background on the World Health Organisation's stance on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes made me realise what an all-encompassing public health issue breastfeeding is.

I didn't understand breastfeeding advocacy until I read this book. Gabrielle Palmer covers all the bases on why we need to protect future generations from the mass marketing of infant formula, and how those products have become so prevalent throughout our society and the world. Covers the Nestle' illegal marketing tactics so thoroughly that I can't even consider buying any of their products. Background on the World Health Organisation's stance on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes made me realise what an all-encompassing public health issue breastfeeding is

I am faculty member teaching a three credit graduate course in Human Lactation. During developement of the curriculum the first book that came to mind was this book. I have read prior editions and this was the first book recommended to me by my mentor 25 years ago. I could think of no other book to use as a foundation for the course content on political/social aspects of breastfeeding.
Don't give up, the students of today take this in, it is with knowledge that we can change things.

Gabrielle Palmer's book was first written some twenty years ago. She herself feels sorry for the fact that today's situation is not that different from what it was like in the eighties, that it made a new edition redundant.
She has done a marvellous job of dissecting the influence of commerce on the immeasurably valuable process of breastfeeding. The book made me sick every so many pages. It is appalling to see how unethical marketing of formula has killed and still kills millions of babies around the world. The more research is done, the more we find out about the effects of (not) breastfeeding. Use of formula also puts an enormous burden on the environment: cows have to graze, milk has to be transported and modified (demanding enormous amounts of water, just like for preparation), tins have to be produced, as well as bottles and teats, milk has to be prepared using up precious energy, mothers who formula feed have an earlier return of their menses, which asks for more sanitary towels.
Underpinned by a lot of research, she illustrates the criminal practices of companies trying to increase their turnover by reducing and sometimes almost destroying breastfeeding.
She also describes the fear that women can cause in men who see the female independence and strength that flows from the pride of feeding own's one baby and seeing it thrive.
There's much, much more in this groundbreaking book.
If you think formula is innocent... read this book and see how you feel afterwards...!

This book is a must read for men and women. I think that it should be part of a politics class, white collar crime class, even a history class in high school, community colleges and universities. It is wonderfully researched, thoroughly insightful and informative!

I have breastfed all 5 of my children and do not regret it for one minute. I can honestly say that I would send this book to friends, who breast feed and those who don't.

Thank you so much for taking the time to research and write this book.

I read this book in 1992 as new postpartum doula, and childbirth educator.
This book alone created the foundation for wanting to learn so much more about breastfeeding and infant feeding industry. It should be mandatory reading for every doula.

One book facilitated so much change in thinking about the formula industry and the politics of breastfeeding!
Thank You.