A breastfeeding form given to new and expecting moms in the Fraser Valley is being called an insult to those who feed their babies formula.
The document contains several startling warnings about formula feeding, including claims that babies who aren’t breastfed are more likely to face certain cancers, diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome.
“Non-breastfed children may score a bit lower on IQ tests,” it adds.
Mothers who receive the form are asked to sign a Mother-Baby Feeding Plan indicating how they will feed their child, and acknowledging the listed risks.
Many moms have taken offense to the document, pointing out that not everyone is able to nurse their children.
Related: Read the full Fraser Health breastfeeding form.
Huffington Post B.C. news editor Andree Lau, a mother of two boys, wrote a column criticizing the form, which she said amounts to a “guilt trip” laid on women who’ve just spent hours in labour.
“This is very aggressively pro-breastfeeding and it really makes formula be an evil kind of choice,” Lau told CTV News. “What new moms need is support and information so they can make an educated, balanced choice.”
The Fraser Health Authority apologized for the form Wednesday and promised to pull it from circulation.
The document, which has been in use for years, has undergone revisions before and will be revised once more before it’s distributed again.
“We’re sincerely sorry for the offence that it has caused, [that] was not our intention,” said Tamara Van Tent, prenatal clinical program director at Fraser Health.
“I think we’ve determined that some of the language could be softened a bit.”
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Maria Weisgarber
