12/14/97

Washington Post:

I am sorry you are actively discouraging women from trying harder to
better nourish and nurture their babies.  Babies who SURVIVE on formula,
could THRIVE on breastfeeding.

Your article says that the new AAP guidelines on breastfeeding are
inflexible.  Well, they are GUIDELINES for what is best for the baby,
they are not the LAW.  If new information becomes available on nutrition
for children with cystic fibrosis or juvenile diabetes, would you fault
the AAP for publishing new guidelines on that?

Your article says that some women cannot breastfeed due to physical or
medical reasons (this is the exception, but is true), and that these new
guidelines might make them feel guilty.  However, some women cannot carry
a pregnancy to full term, even though continuing the pregnancy to full
term would certainly be best for the baby in almost all cases.  Should we
be advocating ending pregnancies sooner because some moms cannot gestate
their babies this long, and might feel guilty? Should we accept that some
babies just want to come out early at 6 months or should we try to
prevent a premature birth?  We should and we do try to prevent
prematurity - because while preterm infants can and do survive, as a
group they have more health problems.  DITTO FOR PREMATURELY WEANED
CHILDREN.

Laurie Wheeler, RNC, MN, IBCLC
Louisiana Breastfeeding MediaWatch
[address and ph. no. omitted]