Hey there, it's Steven Dubner and we've got something special for you this week, an episode of Free Economics MD, one of our sibling shows from the Freakonomics Radio network.
Freakonomics MD is hosted by Bapu Jenna, who is both a physician and an economist.
Every week he tries to answer a thorny question at the intersection of economics and medicine.
Recently he's looked at why doctors over prescribe antibiotics, whether Americans are going overboard with colonoscopy, and what happens when physician assistants and nurse practitioners replace doctors.
You can get all those episodes, and many more wherever you get your podcasts.
As for the episode we're about to play for you, there aren't many questions thornier than this one.
It is a classic example of how it can be really hard to prove cause and effect in healthcare.
I hope you enjoy this episode.
I hope you will follow or subscribe to freeconomics MD on your favorite podcast app.
And I hope youll stick around to the end of this episode to hear a preview of a special series that were about to run right here on free economics radio, with me back in the hosts chair.
As always, thanks for listening.
My interest in breastfeeding, I suppose, came from my own personal experience.
When I had my first child almost.
14 years ago, Emla Fitzsimons gave birth on a Saturday afternoon and stayed in the hospital until Monday morning.
At first she didn't think much about what day of the week it was.
Her mind was on something else.
I really struggled in the early couple of days with breastfeeding.
I found it very hard to access support in the hospital, but by Monday I just noticed quite a stark difference in the availability of support.
So my midwife was able to spend some time with me and to help me, which I hadn't had available over the weekend.
Emila happens to be an economist and researcher at University College London, and this experience stuck with her.