In the off-chance that I was the only who heard it, here is a brief
synopsis of a program on "Talk fo the Nation," a call-in talk show out of
Wash., DC. The topic today (Jan. 17) was *Breastfeeding: benefits and
politics*.  I am happy to report that the primary speakers were Miriam
Labbok (yeah) and Naomi Baumslag (yeah). A lower-level (call in by
appointment) guest was Marianne Neifert. Other people also called in with
comments and questions, but I was unable to do so. Got nothing but empty
rings right before the program began and then nothing but busy signals
thereafter!. Oh well.

I felt the program did a good job highlighting some of the problems (no
education of MDs, RNs who care for or are aksed for help by mothers), a
culture that does not support breastfeeding, the role of multi-nationals in
"selling" bottle-feeding, etc.

The issue of mothers unable to breastfeed came up--by Neifert--but was much
more soft-pedaled than her views as expressed in the infamous WSJ article
two years ago.  Miriam also mentioned the availability of help through LCs
(some certified by IBLCE and some not), as well as LLLI and other mother
support systems. ILCA was not mentioned by name, however.

The host raised issue of mothers nursing longer than 2 years in the context
of "fanatics".  However, this was handled beautifully by Miriam who also
responded to concerns raised by a father of a 2 year old who nursed that
long because he was "addicted" (his words) to the breast and whose second
child was only nursed for 3 months. (I wondered if that was a delibertate
decision of the father--could not believe it would be the baby's
preference!)

The only thing I would have preferred to hear that was not was a rephrasing
of benefits of breastfeeding into the normative health status which is made
worse when breastfeeding does not occur. Instead, the usual platitudes
about fewer diseases if breastfed, and the like were made. Comfortable
messages for most, but not as thought-provoking as the obverse.

Did anyone else hear this program?  If I could find the email address for
Talk fo theNation, I would write a letter to them commending them for the
coverage and asking a few (provocative?) questions.




Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Homewood, IL)- [log in to unmask]
WEB PAGE: http://www.mcs.com/~auerbach/lactation.html