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Subject:
From:
Andrea Mass <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 24 Jul 2003 20:16:19 -0400
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On 7/24/03 8:01 PM, "J. Marcus" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


> It would really help me if all those who felt
> comfortable doing so forwarded me copies of what she sent and any
> response she received.
>

Glad to help - here's my original letter

>I was shocked to read in "20 rules to break now" that the worst that can happen
if you don't breastfeed is you miss out on some bonding.
>Dr. Petrikovsky seems to have an odd definition for worst. the worst thing that
can happen if you don't breastfeed is your child could die of SIDS. Your
child could get cancer, diabetes, be overweight, have multiple ear
infections, and asthma. I find it strange that Dr. Petrikovsky feels a lack
of bonding is worse than all that.
>Also I was quite surprised to see a magazine dedicated to simple living would
advocate the most inconvenient method of infant feeding. Bottles and
formula? you need to wash the bottles, mix the formula, purchase it -
sometimes driving miles to buy the brand your child needs - and if you run
out in the middle of the night - well let's just say it's not "real simple".
But breastfeeding? What could be more simple than laying on the couch
nursing your baby on a lazy summer afternoon?

Here was their canned response

>Thank you for your letter regarding the August story "What's the Worst Thing
That Could Happen If..." We have received a great number of passionate
reader letters about the breast-feeding issue. This came as no surprise to
us as it generated strong opinions among the editors as well. Ultimately,
everyone on staff agreed that breast-feeding is always better than not
breast-feeding (and in the article we clearly outline the benefits) but also
recognized that not every mother is capable of nursing for the 12 months
recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are women who are
forced go back to work after 8 weeks of unpaid maternity leave and don't
have private offices or convenient, discreet stations for pumping. There are
women who suffer from infections during breastfeeding, making nursing
unpleasant and painful, and ultimately interfering with the enjoyment of
their babies. This article was for the benefit of those women, who try their
hardest to do the right thing, but are defeated by circumstance and
subsequently saddled by guilt.

I was angry so I wrote back again - still haven't received a response to
this one....

>Thank you for taking the time to respond, though I am well aware your response
is a form letter sent to everyone who called you to task for publish this
piece. As a mother who has faced NUMEROUS obstacles I find your need to
assuage the guilt of mothers a bit condescending. You say in this form
response that "in the article you clearly outlined the benefits" - you most
certainly did not. In fact you called it "an idea whose time has come and
gone."
>I personally found the article shocking and gratuitous. There really was no
need for you to publish a "what's the worst thing that can happen if you
don't breastfeed right along with what's the worst thing that can happen if
you bathe your dog in your shampoo. You aren't even a parenting magazine.
BUT since you have taken on the task I hope your next article takes on not
using carseats and not quitting smoking. It seems you have a lot of guilt to
relieve.

I also wrote to the doctor

>I am saddened and disappointed that a medical professional would view
breastfeeding as a "time wasting rule to break now"

>When asked what happens if you don't breastfeed you stated "In the long run,
nothing,"

>Hmmm - breast cancer? Nothing? Obesity? Nothing? SIDS? Nothing? Diabetes?
Nothing? Obviously you and I have a very very different definition of
"nothing"

>You continue, "When you're bottle feeding, you know exactly how much food the
baby is eating" So? This is important...why? I trust my baby and my body -
and guess what? My baby has a lower chance of obesity because of it.

>"and Mom may be less tired because dad has no excuse to sleep through 3 a.m.
feedings." I nursed all three of my kids and I was very very well rested. Do
you know why? Because I slept through ALL of their feedings. No-one had to
get up and mix a bottle - just roll over, latch on and go back to sleep.
"real simple."

>"There is also absolutely no conclusive data on breast milk's effects on brain
development" Really? I noticed on your bio that you received a traveling
fellowship from the makers of enfamil - is that who told you that little
tidbit?

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