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The Breast Policy?
Emily, I noticed while reading your piece on breast-feeding and IQ that you touched on a point that has always been mind-boggling for me:
Previous studies have also linked breast-feeding to higher IQ, but they generally haven't ruled out the fact that breast-fed kids are also more likely to come from wealthier and better-educated families than formula-fed babies. [italics mine]
You've written on this topic frequently, so I wonder if in your research you've seen anything that explains why mothers who are less well-off are more likely to use formula. It seems like a contradiction to me. I nursed both my sons for all the reasons you cite--it's nurturing, it's practical, it's portable!--but also for the fact that it's just plain cheaper.
I realize that WIC lessens the financial burden of formula to some extent. But WIC also tries to promote breast-feeding and rewards moms who make that choice. And, while breast-feeding might not offer an IQ boost for everyone, it still seems that in almost all cases the pros outweigh the cons. Should we be doing more to encourage low-income moms to breast-feed, or is that paternalistic?
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