Barriers to Fully Informed Decisions on Whether to Breastfeed or Formula Feed in the United States

2019

Hastings Women’s Law Journal, Volume 31, Number 2

The choice to feed an infant with breast milk or formula is an important and personal one. Although the nutritional benefits of breast milk are clear, it is not always the best solution and should not be mandated. Instead, informed choice is of the essence. Each mother faces a variety of factors that makes her situation unique. What each new mother needs is unbiased, thorough information that will help her make the best choice not only for her child but also for herself and her family. However, within the United States, a variety of barriers all too frequently prevent or make difficult the weighing of appropriate factors. These barriers often stem from the desire for corporate profit, often with the approval and even support of the government.

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