I don't think breastFEEDING should be compulsory for six months, but perhaps we should make breastMILK compulsory for six months.

Let me explain:

I totally get that some mothers can't or don't want to breastfeed their child. We do need to address some society attitudes and support offered to new mothers, but let's put that to one side.

Why can't breastmilk be made readily available to those mothers that aren't breastfeeding themselves? Why can't a mother go to the chemist (and their well-stocked fridge - in my world) and buy homogenised pastuerised human milk instead of cows milk for their babies? Why can't we place the same value on providing human milk to all babies, not just those whose mothers personally breastfeed?

I understand why that hasn't happened. But if we're going to throw around suggestions like giving mothers no choice about breastfeeding, why can't we suggest that instead we make a human milk product readily available and let them still have the option of choice.

Better outcome for babies and no deprivation of civil rights.