Trump Regime Hostility Toward Breast-Feeding
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Hard to believe? Believe it.
His regime is all about advancing America’s imperium, smashing sovereign independent nations, supporting interests benefitting corporate predators over the general welfare, and cracking down hard on resistance for justice.
He’s more hostile to unwanted aliens than any of his predecessors. The same goes for worker rights.
His economic, financial, and trade policies harm workers and consumers.
His hostility toward due process and equal justice under law aims to undo earlier civil rights legislation, affirmative action fairness, and High Court rulings.
He supports the scourge of terrorism he claims to oppose. He’s pro-war, pro-Wall Street, pro-Big Oil, pro-other corporate predators, anti-beneficial social change, anti-protection of constitutional rights, and anti-Net Neutrality, wanting the last frontier of media freedom abolished.
He’s hostile to women’s reproductive rights, free from government interference.
Astonishingly, his regime opposes breast-feeding – in deference to baby formula producers. According to BabyCenter.com, breast-feeding benefits mothers and babies as follows:
It “protects your baby from a long list of illnesses.”
It “can protect your baby from developing allergies.”
It “may boost your child’s intelligence.”
It “may protect your child from obesity.”
It “may lower your baby’s risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).”
It “can reduce your stress level and your risk of postpartum depression.”
It “may reduce your risk of some types of cancer.”
“Breast milk is best for your baby, and the benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond basic nutrition.”
“In addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients your baby needs in the first six months of life, breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that protect your baby from illness.”
Maybe all of the above benefits explain the Trump regime’s opposition to what’s best for mother and child.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months of life. Scientific studies show it’s beneficial to mothers and babies.
A Lancet published 2016 study concluded that universal breast-feeding would prevent 800,000 infant deaths annually, along with saving about $300 billion in healthcare expenses.
Exclusive breast-feeding without solid food, formula or water for at least the first six months of life is best for protecting newborns from stomach viruses, lower respiratory illnesses, ear infections, meningitis, and other issues harming their health.
Why would anyone oppose what benefits mothers and babies over alternative choices?
The Trump regime opposed a UN World Health Assembly resolution, supporting breast-feeding as the healthiest choice for mothers and newborns – in deference to baby formula producers, wanting their bottom line priorities served over human health.
Ecuador was set to introduce a resolution supporting breast-feeding. Trump’s HHS secretary Alex Azar, a notorious drug industry bandit, a former president of Eli Lilly’s largest affiliate company, championing profits over public health, pressured, then threatened Ecuador with cuts in US trade if it defied the Trump regime.
He also threatened to cut amounts the US contributes to World Health Organization funding.
Baby Milk Action director Patti Rundall responded, saying “(w)e were astonished, appalled, and also saddened.”
“What happened was tantamount to blackmail, with the US holding the world hostage and trying to overturn nearly 40 years of consensus on the best way to protect infant and young child health.”
Ecuador backed off. Russia stepped in responsibly, introducing the resolution, its delegate saying:
“We’re not trying to be a hero here, but we feel that it is wrong when a big country tries to push around some very small countries, especially on an issue that is really important for the rest of the world.”
The Trump regime’s anti-breast-feeding pressure and threats failed. The measure was adopted, most of its original text preserved.
Only language calling on the WHO to provide technical support to member states seeking to halt “inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children” was removed.
The breast-feeding issue is one of countless examples of Trump regime hostility to right over wrong – supporting militancy, dominance and corporate profits over peace, equity and justice for all.
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