Testimony Before the Ohio Women's Policy and Research Commission , April 29, 1997, Columbus, Ohio

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC

Women spend approximately half of their lives in their childbearing years. Pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding - and all the choices and decisions surrounding these issues - have a profound impact on women. While men are no less effected by many children's issues than women, the biological impact of childbearing events on women is simultaneously immense and unique. Integrating women's productive lives with their reproductive lives is a major issue in child survival and overall societal health. This testimony focuses on an aspect of childbearing that many women encounter over several years, even decades, of their lives: breastfeeding. Increasing the percentage of women who choose and implement the decision to breastfeed is a major global and national goal.

1. Economic implications of infant feeding decisions
   1. Increased infant & child illnesses are linked to artificial feeding
      1. Respiratory and other infections
      2. Diarrhea and other GI illnesses, and hospitalizations
      3. Chronic illnesses: diabetes, autism, asthma, etc.
   2. Workplace productivity is decreased when babies are not breastfed
   3. Environmental impact of artificial feeding
   4. Educational implications of infant feeding decisions
      1. Cognitive development is weakened in artificially fed babies
      2. Learning and developmental milestones are different
      3. Vision and speech differences are linked to artificial feeding practices
2. Health implications of infant feeding to women
   1. Breastfeeding improves women's health as well as infants' health
      1. Breast Cancer
         1. Breast cancer risk higher if she does not breastfeed her children
         2. Increased risk of later cancer if not breastfed
      2. Ovarian Cancer is reduced by breastfeeding
      3. Osteoporosis is increased when women do not lactate
      4. Multiple Sclerosis may be affected by infant feeding decisions
      5. Childbearing
         1. Breastfeeding significantly affects & improves Family Planning
         2. Breastfeeding lessens postpartum hemorrhage and obesity
         3. Lactation improves mothers' ability to cope with stress
      6. Domestic violence may be linked to infant feeding decisions
3. Legal implications of infant feeding - the Texas Model Proposal
   1. Breastfeeding is a constitutionally protected right
   2. Health laws are inadequate
      1. MCH Block Grant inadequately addresses breastfeeding
         1. Testimony: BF related to MCH Block Grant Goals
   3. Family laws are deficient and unclear
      1. Divorce and custody decisions fail to protect breastfeeding
   4. Civil remedies are absent or lacking when mothers' rights are infringed
      1. Public opinion surveys verify that most people approve of women breastfeeding in public.
      2. Discrimination in public places
      3. Sexual harassment for breastfeeding
   5. Employment law needs to include breastfeeding
   6. Criminal statues may be vague and ambiguous