Oct 31, 2015 1 min read

Nicholas Kristof’s column on breast milk that appeared Tuesday was interesting and informative.

I was surprised, though, that he did not mention one very important fact about breastfeeding in impoverished areas of the world: If the mother is herself malnourished, she will not be able to produce enough milk to properly feed and nourish her baby.

I am a retired registered nurse whose training included work in obstetrical units in poor areas. During this time, I saw firsthand the effects of poverty on the ability of some mothers to feed their babies properly with only breast milk. Any efforts to encourage breastfeeding in Third World countries must take into account the health of the mother and her own access to nutritious food.

Virginia Kiger Roth

Waynesburg