On Tue, 8 Apr 1997, Jeanette F. Panchula wrote:

> My gut hurt for that baby!  I am sure (I hope) that the producers taped a series
> of the most extreme interactions between this mom and baby on that particular
> day.  However, what we saw was a series of very negative interactions between
> mother and child - especially, but not exclusively, during breastfeeding.

I agree with *everything* you had to say about the show.  but I'd like to
add that the advice given to this mother to wean cold turkey was some of
the WORST advice I have ever heard!!!  This child was nursing supposedly
around 12 times per day.  I can tell you from experience, if this mother
stops cold turkey she is likely to end up at *best* with a horrific case
of engorgement, and at *worst* with mastitis.  Nevermind the emotional
problems that the child could face.

I agree that the ambivilence on the mother's part was making matters
worse, but better advice both biologically and psychologically would have
been to have her set limits WITH the child-- i.e. we will only nurse at
these times.  And then stick to it for a few weeks, then drop a nursing
time per week, down to none.  Yes, baby will still be pretty upset, but
mom won't be engorged, and baby won't have the only source of security
suddenly ripped away.

I was also QUITE disturbed that both "experts" felt it was FINE to have a
blanket or a dolly or a pacifier-- as long as it was an *object* and not a
*person* it was FINE.  How sad.

Heidi Murphy