Dear Mommy,

You and I need to have a serious talk! It's pretty comfy here in your tummy and I'm getting really great nourishment from you right now (in fact, it must be miracle food because I already have superior written communication skills!) Speaking of nourishment, since I'm about to make my debut in the world, you have a really important decision to make right now about breastfeeding. I really want to get my milk from you and here's why:

1. I want to be close to you and to smell and feel your skin. That sounds much better to me than a rubber nipple! Let's be warm and snuggly together!
2. I want to be healthy. I don't want to get sick a lot or go to the hospital. Did you know that if you don't breastfeed me, I will be at higher risk for allergies, asthma, ear infections, respiratory viruses, and even more serious diseases like diabetes and some types of cancer. Would you eat a food that put you at that kind of risk?
3. I want to save the family some dough. Do you have $1200-$1500 set aside for formula this year? It may cost you even more if I don't tolerate formula well and need a more expensive specialty formula. Oh, and I may be able to save you some bucks on braces later on!
4. I want some extra advantage when it comes time for college. If you breastfeed me I will likely have an IQ that is 3-11 points higher than if you formula feed me.
5. I want you to be healthy mommy. If you breastfeed, you'll reduce your risk of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, thyroid cancer, osteoporosis and lupus. Plus when you nurse me your body will produce a hormone that will make you feel happy and nurturing.
6. Hey, let's do what we can for the economy and the environment! The cost of not breastfeeding to insurance companies (read: rising health care costs) is 3.6 BILLION dollars per year. Manufacturing formula uses up a lot of energy and produces a lot of waste.

I know you want to do what's best for me mommy. Please make sure you have all the facts before you make this really important decision that will affect you and I for the rest of our lives. Please also realize that recent cultural and perhaps even your own family tradition may send the message that bottlefeeding is almost as good as breastfeeding. It's really not. Science is proving this fact more and more every day. Formula companies add to this myth too with their marketing practices. For example one large pharmaceutical company makes 50% of its profits from formula sales. Do you think they really want to let the cat out of the bag about how inferior their product really is?

Please mom, at least give breastfeeding a try. Even if you or dad thinks breastfeeding is kinda weird, you'll probably change your mind after you've tried it for awhile, especially if you really understand what the benefits are. Also, if you have trouble nursing me, please ask someone for help. There are people who know a lot about breastfeeding and know that sometimes it is tricky to get started and they can really help!

Thanks mommy for giving me the best!

Love,
Junior

P.S. Click here for additional links about the benefits of breastfeeding.