The health system and the baby formula firms are feeding off mums’ guilt

Victorial White's article last week about the immorality of SMA sponsoring ‘pregnancy and baby’ fairs, in Cork and Dublin, drew a phenomonal response, some of it positive, some of it angry. Here she expands further on her arguments and responds to the criticism. (Comment on this story) 

The anger was sad, because it was from the usual source: mothers who wanted to breast-feed, but who had to formula-feed. It was claimed that I made formula-feeding mothers feel guilty, which is the usual mantra when anyone lists the advantages of breast-feeding.

The charge of making women feel guilty keeps breast-feeding out of the media in this country, and it is a major tool of the formula companies.