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Lactivism: How Feminists and Fundamentalists, Hippies and Yuppies, and Physicians and Politicians Made Breastfeeding Big Business and Bad Policy Courtney Jung © 2015, Basic Books, 269 pages, hardcover, $26.99
IBCLCs may have read with interest excerpts from the recently published Lactivism written by Canadian political science professor, Courtney Jung. These excerpts were almost impossible to miss in print and online media. There were sensationalized headlines, interviews with emotional stakeholders, and rebuttals by breastfeeding supporters and professional lactation care providers quickly following via social media.
After reading the book, however, it is important to observe that although it made some very salient points, there are also some major fundamental flaws, not the least of which is that Jung perpetuates the concept that science bears the burden of proving that there are benefits to breastfeeding. She also conveniently overlooks the fact that breast milk substitute is not the same as breast milk and that its use results in altered health outcomes. By focusing only on the "infections prevented," she has missed the entire scope of health regarding epigenetics, the microbiome, human milk oligosaccharides and brain development, hormones, and so much more. She accuses "lactivists" of selecting the science, but then she does the same.
She spends a large portion of the beginning of the book setting up her viewpoint with background about her own personal breastfeeding experience and feelings, creating the impression that this is yet another insubstantial piece by a disillusioned modern mother. This is a book attempting to make some important points about the promotion of breastfeeding, but overall, the book lacks accuracy, confounds issues of public health messaging versus individual counseling and choice, and ultimately, leaves the reader lacking the sense that the author took a truly scientific and professional view.
Unfortunately for Jung, the book loses strength immediately when she questions the validity of public health messages about breastfeeding. By looking to research for evidence that "breastfeeding is better," she reveals the fundamental flaw of this book. Her doubts about the research backing...