Deborah, Here's my letter - mailed today.  laurie wheeler

2-24-97

Megan Otherson, Managing Editor
Prevention Guide for New Moms
33 East Minor St
Emmaus PA 18098

Ms. Otherson:

I am writing about an article entitled "Breastfeeding or Bust" by Annabelle
Lee.  I saw the article
in the Prevention Guide for New Moms in my doctor's office.

Judging by the author's slant and tone, she must have had a difficult
breastfeeding experience.
Because healthcare workers (including obstetricians, pediatricians, and
nurses) know so little
about breastfeeding and because breastfeeding is not the norm in our culture,
many women do.

Consider this:  a little girl sees her mother preparing food and cooking
meals almost daily.  She
sees the same activity on TV shows, learns about it at school, and sees it
when she visits her friends homes.  People talk
freely about it.  Over many years she gradually learns the ins and outs of
meal preparation.
Unfortunately, most women never get this kind of education about
breastfeeding.  Some
mothers-to-be read books during their pregnancy or take a class during their
last trimester.  This
preparation is helpful but often inadequate, especially in light of the
misinformation and
mismanagement they are likely to encounter in the healthcare system.
 Breastfeeding is not so
hard in other parts of the world where it is the normal and natural thing to
do, and is not even given
a second thought.

Thank you for mentioning La Leche League (the mother to mother breastfeeding
support
organization) and lactation consultants (health professionals with expertise
in breastfeeding) as
sources of help.  Fortunately, these breastfeeding supporters and many others
are working
toward making breastfeeding the cultural norm in our society.  Watch for news
about the Baby
Friendly Hospital Initiative, the Healthy Children 2000 Project, and the
American Academy of
Pediatrics statement on breastfeeding.  Breastfeeding should get easier for
U.S. mothers.

There are many myths about artificial (formula) feeding, perpetuated by the
infant formula
industry, which are extremely dangerous to the health of mothers and babies.
I hope future
articles will address this.

Sincerely,
Laurie Wheeler, RNC, MN, IBCLC