Hi everyone,

At Kathy D's suggestion, I visited Dr. Paula's web site and checked out
some of her links.  One is:

http://www.medicinenet.com/mainmenu/encyclop/article/Art_B/breastfd.htm

which you might want to look at if you get some time.  Same old, same
old.  The basic message:  Breastfeeding is pretty inconvenient and while
we're at it, here are some other excuses why it might not work for your
family....

I sent a very long comment as a concerned citizen (thanks Kathy A.) which
I copied below:

Although I only browsed a very small portion of your site, I've
bookmarked it as I'm sure it will be of use to me in the future.

One area I did look up was breastfeeding.  I must admit I was
disappointed with the information I found--I could have gone anywhere to
read that.  It just wasn't that helpful or insightful.  In fact, you make
breastfeeding sound like a difficult chore!  I can open any parenting
magazine or visit a dozen sites on the web and find the exact same
message!  Why not do something a little more innovative, give several
good links (they're out there!), include a personal narrative from a real
family and why they chose to breastfeed?  I think doctors have this
idea that they have to "pad" the facts with all sorts of excuses in case
we moms decide to go against what the research shows.  Please, hold the
patronizing padding!  We want to know the facts!  *That's* how we make
informed decisions out here in the real world of parenting.  If you hand
us a bunch of excuses for why breastfeeding might not be the choice for
us, your message comes through loud and clear.  What you are saying is
that breastfeeding and bottlefeeding are equal and it really doesn't
matter which one you choose.  While you might think you are saving a mom
some guilt in the short run with this "it doesn't really matter" message,
it's really not as helpful as you think. If I go to the doctor for
hypertension, I don't expect him/her to give me such mixed messages as,
"While it is best for you to take your medicine as prescribed and pay
special attention to your diet and get regular exercise, many people find
this inconvenient and would rather rest than get out and walk.  And it
can be so hard to choose five vegetables a day over fried chicken.  The
best thing for you to do is read some books, talk to some people, but
don't feel pressured by well-meaning friends, doctors or family members
and just do what you feel like doing.  Basically, it's not going to
matter one way or another."  Would you say this to a patient?  Would you
include all these built-in excuses?  Probably not.  Unless you really
didn't feel like it mattered. But this is the message that comes through
with the information you provide concerning breastfeeding on your web
page.  You have no idea how much stock a new parent puts into a doctor's
opinion when it comes to this decision.  Why do you feel the need to
include all these excuses? What is it you fear?  Do you actually feel
like you're being helpful because we can't handle the facts ourselves and
make an informed decision that will work for our family?  That's what an
informed decision really is all about, isn't it?  I think if you were on
the receiving end of this kind of mixed message it wouldn't take you long
to see how confusing and patronizing it is.

Sincerely,
Kendall Cox
Greenville, MS
A concerned citizen

____________________________________________________________

Enjoy your Sunday.  Thanks for all you do.

Kendall
who is glad to hear Kathy D. is OK after all the tornados in Texas