Infant formula: a mass, uncontrolled trial in perinatal care

Breastfeeding throughout legal separation: women's experiences of the Australian Family Law system

In 2006, the Australian Government introduced the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006 (Cth), which put in place a legal presumption of shared parental responsibility for children after separation and which emphasizes "equal-time" parenting arrangements regardless of the child's age. A qualitative approach was taken to investigate breastfeeding women's experiences of the implementation of the act and its impact on their ability to maintain breastfeeding. Fifteen women responded to questions related to their breastfeeding and their engagement with the family law system. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, and data were then analyzed thematically. These women experienced inconsistent advice from all facets of legal services, including opinions about the inappropriateness of breastfeeding for infants over 6 months of age. Breastfeeding was considered only as nutrition, without recognition of its immunological and cognitive benefits and the security and comfort it provides. Many participant women felt that they had been persuaded against discussing breastfeeding in the legal system, resulting in a sense of disempowerment.

A fresh look at the risks of artificial infant feeding

Declining breastfeeding rates and the aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes has blurred the distinction between breastmilk and formula. Claims that infant formula is safe, economical, easy to use, and nutritionally complete are challenged in this article, the intent of which is to raise the awareness of health workers to the non-publicized side of infant formula. Non-proprietary, referenced data is provided to illustrate that formula and breastmilk are not the same thing, and that health outcomes of infants who consume each may be different. Guilt is often cited by health workers as a reason to avoid informing parents about the risks of artificial feeding. Suggestions are offered for addressing this reasoning.

Breast feeding, birth spacing and their effects on child survival

It has long been known that breast feeding inhibits female fertility and that it is a factor in restricting population growth. But just how important is it?