Hi everyone,

        I just sent this letter to TIME:

Re: your Health Report Good News item "Suck it up", I would like to
remind your health editor that it takes 6 hours each day to feed a
*newborn*, whatever method of feeding is chosen.  If the infant is fed
formula, add the time it takes to wash bottles, scrub the nipples,
sterilize them, boil water for diluting formula, mixing formula,
reheating formula--about another 4 hours each day.

When discussing breastfeeding of a 6 month old or 12 month old, the
amount of time spent feeding the baby decreases dramatically, and the
amount of time playing with baby increases.  The amount of time preparing
formula stays the same.

Research shows that the mother takes care of 95% of *all* infant
feedings, regardless of promises made antepartally.  Mom's time is much
better spent in the rocking chair with baby than in the kitchen washing
bottles.


Margie Forrest, RN, BSN, IBCLC, and mother of two children who breastfed
for 3 years and 2 1/2 years.

Wellington, FL

We'll see what happens next.