Contents
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Introduction Introduction
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I. A History of Breastfeeding in America I. A History of Breastfeeding in America
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II. Is It “Risky” Not to Breastfeed? II. Is It “Risky” Not to Breastfeed?
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A. The American Academy of Pediatrics: How a “Recommendation” Became a Mandate A. The American Academy of Pediatrics: How a “Recommendation” Became a Mandate
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B. How the Government Became a Key Player in Efforts to Increase Breastfeeding B. How the Government Became a Key Player in Efforts to Increase Breastfeeding
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1. The HHS Campaign for Breastfeeding: “Babies were Born to be Breastfed” 1. The HHS Campaign for Breastfeeding: “Babies were Born to be Breastfed”
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2. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action 2. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action
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C. The Overselling of Breastfeeding C. The Overselling of Breastfeeding
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1. History Gives Reasons to be Skeptical 1. History Gives Reasons to be Skeptical
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2. The Science in Support of Breastfeeding’s Benefits is Weak 2. The Science in Support of Breastfeeding’s Benefits is Weak
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3. The Risks of Breastfeeding 3. The Risks of Breastfeeding
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III. How Social Pressures, Law, and Government Policy Support or Discourage Breastfeeding III. How Social Pressures, Law, and Government Policy Support or Discourage Breastfeeding
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A. Obstacles to Breastfeeding A. Obstacles to Breastfeeding
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B. Cultural Constructions of the Breast and Breastfeeding B. Cultural Constructions of the Breast and Breastfeeding
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C. Failures of the Health Care System C. Failures of the Health Care System
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D. Workplace Obstacles D. Workplace Obstacles
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E. Legal Obstacles E. Legal Obstacles
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Conclusion Conclusion
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6 Caught in the Crossfire: Breastfeeding (or Not) as Dangerous Behavior
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Published:March 2017
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Abstract
This chapter examines the current breastfeeding debate, demonstrating how weak medical and scientific evidence can be easily distorted. The evidence that American children are at risk of serious childhood illness as a result of a lack of breastfeeding is, at best, extremely weak; nevertheless, many physicians and the federal government have endorsed breastfeeding as the sole way to nourish infants. This is troubling, given the myriad reasons why many women are unable to breastfeed easily—if at all. Structural obstacles prevent many women who would choose to breastfeed from doing so, particularly the lack of maternity leave and financial and other support for breastfeeding. The Affordable Care Act has improved the situation but not enough.
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