It’s been 4 days since I left this comment on lactation professional Dr. Jack Newman’s Facebook post (see below) and he wouldn’t respond. Indeed, after people stopped commenting on the post, he surreptiously removed my question.

Why is Dr. Newman so afraid of a simple request to provide evidence that breastfeeding term babies has had any impact on infant mortality or any metrics of major term infant morbidity? Could it be that he is well aware of, and trying to hide, the fact that the benefits of raising term breastfeeding rates in industrialized countries are so trivial as to be undetectable?

Please sign the petition if you would like to see Dr. Newman answer the question!

My original question: ”Dr. Newman, since you are so sure breastfeeding has substantial benefits, can you please show us any impact that changing breastfeeding rates have had on term infant mortality or any metrics of major term infant morbidity. To my knowledge, the only impact breastfeeding has had on these parameters is a dramatic increase in the rate of neonatal hospital readmission. Indeed exclusive breastfeeding is now the leading risk factor for readmission. So I see the risks, but I can’t find the benefits. Can you show us the population data that supports your claims?”