Kudos to The Salt Lake Tribune for taking a stand against the separation of FLDS breast-feeding mothers and babies ("Texas abuse: Nursing mothers should be with little ones," Our View, April 22). It is ludicrous that the judge would compare separating these nursing dyads to mothers returning to work at six weeks postpartum. Thankfully, the judge reversed her initial order ("Judge budges, won't split up moms, babies," Tribune, April 24).

With appropriate lactation support practices, infants of working mothers need not be deprived of their mothers' milk. On the other hand, abrupt discontinuation of breast-feeding would pose medical risks associated with premature weaning and artificial feeding to both FLDS mothers and infants. In addition to the excellent statements made in your editorial, separating mothers and their nurslings would also result in unnecessary costs (in health care and infant formula) to the state of Texas.

Breast-feeding is not about religion or politics, it is about every child's right to normal nutrition. Child protective service laws and policies in all states should protect this right whenever possible.

Patrice Isabella

President

Utah Breastfeeding Coalition

Salt Lake City