Breastfeeding as a medical expense

Last week, on Thanksgiving I blogged that one of the things I'd like to see happen next year is the IRS recognizing lactating and breastfeeding as a medical condition, and as such, equipment associated with it--like pumps--should be tax deductible.
Well, this week, House and Senate Democrats wrote to IRS Commissioner, Douglas Shulman, asking him to do just that.  If he agrees, it would make buying and renting breast pumps and other breastfeeding supplies deductible items.  It would also allow the use of flexible health spending accounts to pay for them.  Several lawmakers in both the House and the Senate have already signed on.  Now it's up to Shulman.  So write or email him yourself.  Voice your opinion.  In this era of economic hard times, it could help so many people.  It also makes sense.  If you can do it, breastmilk contains valuable antibodies and anti-infective agents that help prevent disease in babies.  Breastfeeding is a medical condition and our government--which by the way wants more women to breastfeed--should recognize that.