For decades, science has proven, and pediatricians confirm, that breastfeeding is far and away the best way to feed infants: better nutrition, better immunity, better mother-baby bonding, better physical health for the mother…the list goes on. Still, because of our infatuation with new things (like plastic bottles, instant food, disposable anything, etc.) and the increasing need and desire of mothers to work in the marketplace, we have been led away from the miraculous blessing of breastfeeding and into the world of artificial baby formulas. The result: today, fewer and fewer women breastfeed.

In America, it has become an institutional problem. Over the years, the companies that make infant formula have forged questionable partnerships with hospitals to provide free samples of formula along with free coupons to new mothers, even while hospitals say they promote the more natural alternative, breastfeeding. At a time when many new U.S. mothers can’t even afford health insurance, they are encouraged to spend money on formula that they don’t need. While bottle feeding is a personal option and some may argue that giving free formula samples helps low income mothers, there is nothing cheaper than breastfeeding! Even more important, infants born into poverty are the most needy of the healthy aspects of breast milk!

This is an issue of babies vs. big business. It is time for us to use our power of influence on behalf of healthier families. We can inspire change by contacting hospitals, doctors and government officials to speak truth to power.

You can read more about this at my blog, InSpiritry – InSpiration for the Greater Good: http://www.inspiritry.com/wordpress/, where I welcome comments!

We can be a blessing!