Hi, everyone:  A brief re-introduction; never formally introduced myself
(kindly done by Harry Chaikin).  My name is Alicia Dermer; mother of 13-  and
4-yr-old girls (both breastfed); family physician on faculty of University
of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School,
henceforth UMDNJ-RWJMS; became "militant" bf advocate when given grief about
nursing second child in office (back room, no contact with patients!).
Seeing the negative societal influences on bf, searched literature,
confirming personal and professional observations; on New Jersey
Breastfeeding Task Force;bf committees in my two hospitals(working on BFHI
status); incorporating lactation curriculum into medical school(using
Wellstart model); member Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine; member ILCA;
medical associate LLLI; giving community lectures entitled "breast or bottle:
making an informed choice" to expectant parents "on the fence"(although well
received by attendees, have had disappointingly low turnouts - I think media
and formula companies have had effect, and possibly women think an MD can't
give credible bf presentation); publishing CME bf reviews for MD's; will sit
IBLCE this July (very nervous!!). Will attend LLLI Chicago; hope lactnet
group there (wish I could get to ILCA as well, but have attended too many
conferences this year).
Saw 20/20 episode, taped it, sent "Video Mail" response(not surprisingly
didn't air).  One  point concerns tearful mother's statement "if only I had
given him a bottle..".  People need to know about alternative supplementation
methods.  Also, baby's problem not necessarily due to lack of milk as
implied, possibly ineffective sucking or poor latch-on (perhaps underlying
neurologic problem, or secondary to prolonged epidural, etc.) leading to
inadequate stimulation of milk supply.  Most crucial is lack of adequate
follow-up by lactation knowledgeable professionals (if mother's concerns
really answered by phone without assessment of baby and breastfeeding
technique, then that constitutes mismanagement).  Goodluck with your talk.

Alicia Dermer, MD
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